Recent Entries

Entry tags:

victory road

PETAL GYM INFORMATION

LEADER: Emporio Alniño

BADGE: Petal Badge

LOCATION: New Bark Town

HOURS: 24/7

THEME: Camping + Safety

PRIZE: Safety Goggles

NEW-BARK PETAL GYM

"FLOWER IN ADVERSITY"

GYM OVERVIEW

TAGLINE: "Prove yourself to the wilds of Johto and elsewhere, by taking the challenge of a Pokemon Triathlon!"

INFO + STAFFING: At the Petal Gym, one can take courses for survival in the wilderness, or alternatively test their might and knowledge against the very same field used to learn about the outdoors. Characters will be assisted or supervised by Ranger and Camper/Picknicker class trainers hired by the gym facility.

PETAL CAMPING CO-OP Located in New Bark Town, at the border to Route 29, characters entering this building will find themselves in a storefront stocked with tents, sleeping bags, and many other useful items for those setting out on their journey. To assist such hopefuls, Petal Gym operates on a loan system- those who cannot afford the goods are allowed to temporarily borrow them in return for a later payment. At such time the payment is given, they may either keep the equipment, or use the payment toward a better purchase (such as a larger tent, and so on.) For information on the Gym Programs and Challenges, see their respective tabs.

CURRENT STOCK:

Camper Tents - Basic Galarian-style camping tents, which are outfitted with a camping wood-stove and enough space for two cots. They're all-season approved, though any fancy designs or upgrades require extra payment up-front.
Sleeping Bags, Cots, and Sleepwear - While bags trainers arrive with include a sleeping-bag, Emporio is willing to help trainers trade them in for one of better quality if needed. Or even replace it, if needed. He also provides cots to keep sleeping arrangements off the ground- and sleepwear, which many just won't arrive with.
Packaged Foods + MREs - Meals Ready to Eat, as MRE means, are essentially bags that can simply be heated and eaten from. They're a form of ration, as students will learn, and as can be read from books available, but they're not the only food stocked here- trainers can also get simple foods capable of being cooked on the tent woodstove, and cookbooks to better help things along.
Camp Utensils + Supples - Anything from cooking utensils, to flares, to spark-rocks can be found here, though they're all fairly simple. The store is meant to get people going, not outfit them like the pros; but safety comes part of that, and the store supply reflects this.
Basic Clothing + Weather Clothing - In addition to storing basic seasonal gear according to the time of year- snowsuits and boots for winter, rain ponchos for spring, so on- there's a good stock of basic pants and shirts in various sizes! A lot of these clothes are donated, but it's for a good cause; trainers come in with nothing but the clothes on their back and in their backpack, and for many, that's not necessarily enough to last until they can buy more.
Informational Books - Last of all is a stock of supplementary books to add to the basics included in every trainer manual; things like how best to orient a tent, how to recognize an incoming storm, and more can all be found inside, and there's also specific books as well. Like Cookbooks, or Pokemon Field Guides.

GYM STRUCTURE + LAYOUT

EXTERIOR: The main exterior of Petal Gym is deceptively simple; constructed akin to a wood cabin, it has a modest two floors with a large double door entryway. With its sloping rooftop and natural chimney, it looks all the part of a cozy cottage...aside from those doors of course. Not to mention, the sign up above said doors- carved in wood beneath the image of the petal-free gym badge can be read 'NEW-BARK PETAL GYM', painted in bright, reflective colors. Rather than listing hours, one can find that the doors inside are always unlocked- and looking through the glass, someone is always at the desk as well.

INTERIOR: Inside of Petal Gym, and one finds that same cozy experience, with rustic furnishings and posters detailing basic camping tips. Considered staff only, the upstairs floor can be accessed by the stairs at the back and right of the building, near to the washrooms. Standing under sloped ceilings due to the building's construction, this is where sleeping quarters for current trainers on staff can be found. There is also a small kitchenette area near the stairway that serves as both a break-area and a room of separation to keep stairway noise from anyone sleeping.

On the main floor however, is of course much more; the doorway opens to the entire 'store front' of the building, as well as the reception desk where courses, challenges, and purchases are handled. Given that the store is meant to carry only basics and in small amounts, there aren't really any 'aisles'. It would be more accurate to say that there are shelves, with a table of goods in the middle, along with a chair or two for anyone waiting for friends to either register or return from the back. People can also find chairs to wait in to the left of the desk, near the back door- it's a more private area, and better for longer waits. The fireplace can be found here as well.

FIELD OVERVIEW: Upon leaving the backdoor of the Petal Gym, one enters an area considered 'wild' by most cartographers in the region. Carefully carved away using a combination of quick work and the move Secret Power, a massive obstacle course stretches onward among the trees, its full appearance altered by the patterns of the weather. While part of this is only made possible by a few clever mechanics designed by Emporio himself, most of it is entirely natural.

There are three core components to the gym field, which are reflected in the path expected of anyone moving through. The first portion of the field is built on a staggered incline, using a false hill- grass and trees grow along this structure, with grass reaching absurd length during the watery seasons, and the inside of the structure has been constructed to create a cave, with obstacles throughout.

The second component includes similar obstacles, but with either pathways or even markers to designate proper traffic; this is the section of the course used for vehicular training, and for the sake of those who made good time in the section prior, has a few camping sites dotted throughout. This does not change for the hidden 'tunnel' version beneath it.

Lastly, the third component is always dedicated to travel with pokemon- it is far more rugged than the earlier zones, but due to its length between it and the platform arena Emporio waits at, trainers are expected to cross it within a matter of hours on pokemon-back. It is these distances combined which make it possible for such a quick exit as well; upon completing a course or a challenge, trainers are flown directly back to the gym's back door, a process that takes hardly any time at all.

TEAMS + CHALLENGES

GYM BASICS: In order to challenge the Petal Gym, characters must have fulfilled one of two requirements; either they will have four badges to present to the trainer on staff, or they will have previously taken one of five different instruction courses on survival camping. Once a gym challenge begins, challengers may either bring their own ride pokemon, or borrow from the gym for the duration of the course. It is anticipated that completion of the obstacle course will take no more than two days, but staff are available to assist in emergencies.

At the end of this obstacle course, challengers will meet Emporio in battle- and depending on their skill, may either defeat him, or otherwise fail. Failure however does not mean an immediate loss- those who recognize their inexperience and forfeit the match will be presented with the badge for recognizing their own limitations. The gym emphasizes safety and survival above all else after all, and one must remember they can run from wild pokemon.

Depending on the season and weather, differing courses will be available for challenge. It is for this reason that the Gym Badge has five hollow petals attached; completion of one particular challenge nets a colored glass petal to insert into the frame, with the option to re-take the challenge up to five times for a completed flower.

SNOW TEAM:

❄️

FRIGID PETAL: The obstacle course for the Frigid Petal is covered entirely with snow, and scattered with patches of ice. During the foot portion of the trek, challengers will need to watch their step carefully, lest they fall through snow or even ice itself into a small chamber below. Doing so will simply force them to navigate their way out of a now iced cave, but may require outside assistance worst case. Challengers then proceed to a cross-country skii maze, testing their ability to further navigate in more dizzing conditions, with their final portion of the maze involving pokemon-riding across entirely iced grounds.

Upon reaching the end of this course, trainers will find Emporio garbed heavily in a parka set resembling the Hisuian Zoroark. While he'll offer challengers a minute inside his own tent from the cold, a battle will very quickly begin on a field of Snow- a non-damaging battle condition which increases the defense of Ice Type pokemon, while halving the power of any moves reliant on the sun. Blizzard, as well, will consistently hit.

RAIN TEAM:

⚡

WEEPING PETAL: The field for the Weeping petal is unique, with tall grass along the hilly (and sealed) 'cave' creating a foot-maze that must be traversed without the help of any vehicles or pokemon whatsoever. While challengers can technically cut through the grass on their own, they'll find it unpleasant at best, and dangerous at worst, as wild pokemon yet live in the course. While portions of the course reach onto the trees via platforms, it quickly becomes groundbound in the rain- with trainers made to use dirt bikes as well as skilled climbing pokemon to navigate the remainder of the course.

Upon reaching the end of the obstacle course in these conditions, trainers will have a brief moment to take shelter from the rain after Emporio- garbed in luminescent rain gear remniscient of the Sensu Oricorio- leads them in. Their battle will bring them right back into the Rain however, and while non-damaging, all fire damage is halved while all water damage is doubled. On top of this, Thunder will now strike with exact precision.

SUN TEAM:

💧

HORIZON PETAL: During any run for the Horizon petal, the entirety of the obstacle course becomes flooded. The blocked cave portion creates a somewhat safe field for trainers to swim through, with still present tall grass creating a deterent for those intending to bypass the maze. Upon reaching the edge of the shallow waters, challengers will switch to boating of some sort- kayaking, rowing, etc- but will be flagged down at a floating dock partway between here and the end of the course. From this point, trainers must travel entirely via the move 'Surf', or if capable, even Dive.

While a part of the arena provides floatation support for trainers, and for their pokemon, it's implied that they should be ready to fight in the open water- and indeed, that they won't have so many luxuries on the open sea routes. On these waters however, the weather will be calm and Sunny, as Emporio comes to face them in swim and dive gear resembling his Basculegion. While under the Sunny condition, fire type moves will increase in potency, while water type moves will have their damage halved; pokemon cannot be frozen on top of this, and moves reliant on sunlight become more potent.

FOG TEAM:

🌫️

SHROUDED PETAL: For the course to challenge the Shrouded petal, trainers will immediately enter the now opened cave structure at the entrance of the grounds, with deeper tunnels revealed for the sake of the challenge. The initial part of the course is lighter than the rest, but the lowest level is pitch black, demanding skills in illumination and navigation both. After navigating the upper level by foot and hand-climb, the lower level will involve narrow planks bridging waterways, to be run using an Acro Bike- preferrably one with a headlamp. Climbing back out at the other end of the course will require assistance from climbing pokemon, with the use of Strength and Rock Smash equally encouraged.

Before fully exiting the near vertical ascent along various ledges, trainers will find themselves at the arena; now uncovered from where it's hidden from other courses. Emporio, garbed in climbing gear with the appearance of a Gholdengo will be a beacon in the thick Fog that coats much of the course, and once ready, the battle will begin. Due to the fog, no pokemon are harmed by weather, but accuracy of all moves will be lowered- unless they are guaranteed to strike.

SAND TEAM:

🌞

ARID PETAL: As the driest of course challenges, the Arid petal begins with careful navigation down the mini-mountain that is the covered 'cave', entirely by foot. A light sandstorm may or may not run through the area, depending on the wind conditions, further complicating travel. While dry conditions prevent a risk of slipping, danger lies in the ability to pace oneself among the rocks until they reach the bottom. At this point, a Mach bike will be required to continue forward, ascending small ledges that would otherwise be too difficult to climb over. The final portion of the course is rugged and sharp, requiring hard-footed pokemon to ride to the other end, but is otherwise straight forward. Trainers will be encouraged to rest before tackling this part, as it's incredibly difficult to camp on the final portion here.

With the obstacle course conquered, Emporio will be found under shade, garbed in flowing clothes that draw inspiration from Sinestcha. The battle will begin as soon as both sides are ready, but when it does, a sandstorm will whip up regardless of whether or not the wind created one on the course. In these Sandstorm conditions, all pokemon who are not rock, ground, or steel type will take damage at regular intervals- and as well, rock pokemon will find their defenses partly increased.

AVAILABLE COURSES

OVERVIEW: As one of the options to challenge the gym is to have taken available survival courses, it comes as no surprise that the trainers maintaining the building (including Emporio himself) also act as instructors and teachers in their own right. While much of the instruction takes place within the grounds of the Gym, occasional trips to Route 29 may also happen, so as to include experience with wild pokemon. Each course is uniquely geared toward camping and travelling within specific weather conditions, and may be taken either individually, or in groups of 2 to 5 depending on; the more students are involved, the longer each course is likely to take, with prospective trainers being warned to prepare for up to a full week of straight camping.

BASIC COURSE FEATURES: At the start of every course, whether teaching veterans or otherwise, students will be treated to an overview of the course schedule along with a single day of basic camping training. Those who have already experienced the lesson may be asked to help, which aids in speeding up proceedings. Regardless however, there are a small few things that everyone leaving for a pokemon journey must know-

Namely, how to pitch a tent, start a campfire, cook with said fire, find food, and more than that, make certain that their livlihood isn't sabotaged by curious pokemon. While it's assumed that incoming trainers also know how to handle a pokemon fight or capture a pokemon as well, these lessons will still be included- even if simply as a review. Lessons of rapid pokemon safety will also be included, as the easiest way to keep a pokemon from harm in any situation is ultimately the same across the board: put them in their pokeball.

From here, the specifics of each survival course depend on the current season and time, with the Caving Course sporadically available.

WINTER SAFETY COURSE: With snow on the ground, a quick and expected intro to this course involves a lesson in properly preparing for the cold and avoiding it. Students will learn how to dress for the weather in advance, and in emergencies as well, while learning how best to protect their campsite from the prolonged effects of snow and melting snow as well. Preparing a campsite so that it stays both dry and warm is more difficult than some may predict, and there will even be lessons relating to camping on ice, as such risks are very real on the pokemon journey.

Travel through the snow is another vital portion of the course, which includes the ability to recognize when snow may be too deep to safely walk through. Travelling to avoid snowblindness will be one matter, but learning when best to shelter up inside a tent or similar is yet another, as the severity of snow storms and squalls will not and cannot be understated. Visibility is a constant danger, but even without visibility, the cold can do one in much faster. A unique part of this lesson, students will learn how to make their snowshoes- and keep the results when they leave.

RAIN AND STORM SAFETY COURSE: While some may consider rain and storm safety a matter of basic common sense, students will quickly find it anything but. A primary part of this lesson involves not merely learning to properly stay dry in such conditions, but also how to avoid the natural dangers that can come with it; mudslides and mudsinks, fallen trees, and even lightning are all hazards, and especially at night. Visibility in these conditions are vital, and especially stability, no matter what one walks along.

The ground is not the only thing students will learn about either; keeping dry extends to campsites and campgrounds, with students learning well how to not only stay above wet soil, but even how to put their camp in the trees themselves if potentially needed. Identifying the risks of tall grass and shaking trees come hand in hand with the danger of the storm, but it will be well worth it for the security of confidence after. Students also leave with a set of walking sticks- specifically, sticks that reflect and glow, helping to make them visible in the heavy rains.

OCEAN AND WATER SAFETY COURSE: As those challenging the Horizon Petal will note, the sunny weather conditions of the field dominate an entirely aquatic region. This is because of a lesson carefully imparted by the OW course at Petal Gym; it isn't the sun that will necessarily do you in, but rather, everything else. While the dangers of heat exposure are covered in the Volcanic Course, students here still get a briefing about what not to do when in need of hydration On the water.

Namely, drink the water. The importance of salt vs fresh, how to clean water, how to recognize poor swimming and boating conditions, and for that matter how to swim at all are all covered in this course (Though students will be leaving the course with a life jacket for themselves)- but in addition, comes lessons in how to safely set up temporary camp along the many shore rocks one might find in the middle of Kantonian and Johtonian water routes. Important instructions in finding and acquiring food is also made, what with the lack of typical foraging options to be found. A final warning to the students: Never try to sail, swim, or surf outside of the marked routes, and especially not without wearing floatation devices.

CAVE AND CLIMBING SAFETY COURSE: Available at somewhat sporadic times of the year, the course on cave safety- as a vitally necessary one at all times of the year- is the only one which can be signed up for well in advance. An availability is worked out, and a message sent to applying parties the minute the cave is dry and available, with the class even running during certain moments of winter in order to mimick the Ice Cavern.

The caving course is deceptively simple; many weather conditions no longer become troublesome while in a cave, but in return, numerous other dangers appear. Strict lessons in preparing proper amounts of food- for some can be stranded days on end- as well as instructions for safe cave foraging are given, followed by how best to keep a tent away from pokemon and how best to make one's way along cave walls and ladders. Albeit mostly cave walls. Leaving this course, trainers will be given a hand-powered flashlight, and instructions on its use; having Flash is all well and good, but sometimes, even a flashlight is all anyone needs.

VOLCANO AND DESERT SAEFTY COURSE: A unique course among the line-up offered at Petal Gym, it is here that emphasis on how to cope with heat can be found. Volcanoes being a somewhat possible encounter for any on their journey, careful emphasis on how best to locate places where one can safely pitch a tent without either overheating or even falling victim to rockslide is made here. In addition, there are tips on how to dress for the sun while protecting one's skin- with displays of covering clothing that remains cool included.

In addition to basic camping practice, there are renewed foraging instructions, as volcanoes and deserts are incredibly different from the usual brush. Deserts themselves being a risk only at the Ruins of Alph, an interesting lesson can be found in how best to travel through ruinous locations; not only to be aware of the potential for pitfalls through the sand, but also the risk of wild ghost pokemon especially. A simple gift, students will be leaving this course with a sun-poncho; breathable, covering, and easy to pack.

STAFFING NOTES: Emporio has a small but dedicated team of teachers, each of whom have taken care to brush up on the survival advice they themselves may not have known when hired. Holding their backgrounds as Rangers, Hikers, and even Swimmers, each often have a course specialty they focus on, but will otherwise help to maintain the grounds or store on other given days. When a trainer is unavailable to teach or guard, the Gym's grounds are closed; with Emporio potentially standing in to man the store during this time.

HALL OF FAME

PETAL GYM HALL OF FAME: This page records those who have done one, two, or even both things; challenge the gym and succeed, or taken a course and passed. Depending on the number of times courses and challenges are completed, different symbols will be noted by each challenger's name.

KEY:
FRIGID PETAL CHALLENGE - ❄️ | SNOW SAFETY COURSE - ⛄
WEEPING PETAL CHALLENGE - ⚡ | STORM SAFETY COURSE - ⛈️
HORIZON PETAL CHALLENGE - 💧 | OCEAN SAFETY COURSE - 🌊
SHROUDED PETAL CHALLENGE - 🌫️ | CAVE SAFETY COURSE - 🌙
ARID PETAL CHALLENGE - 🌞 | DESERT + VOLCANO SAFETY COURSE - 🌵

[NAME]: This is a placeholder sample; once the first challenger or course taker is recorded, it will be replaced.

ABOUT THE GYM LEADER

NAME + AGE: Emporio Alniño + 17

APPEARANCE: Standing at roughly 5'9'', Emporio is hispanic, with gold eyes and curled blond hair. Relatively athletic in build, he's not alarmingly muscular (unlike what one would expect of his series), and being a young teen still, can come across as a bit gangling. More often than not, he wears outfits inspired by his pokemon- though he leaves the gym related ones for the gym. Of note, these day-to-day outfits include those inspired by cyclizar, gengar, and dragapult.

LIVING SPACE: Currently, Emporio resides in a houseboat, which was given to him by Armin. Carting it through Johto, it ultimately found itself a dock in New Bark, where Emporio's gym now is. He lives there alone, but it works quite well as a bachelor pad unsurprisingly, and the kids who pass through the sleepy town find it quite the novelty.

BONUS: (More trivia will go here when I think of it)

PERMISSIONS + HMD - NOANGA

While I will at some point make this a little more clean, cohesive, etc, the important thing for the time being is; Emporio's canon involves some serious topics, as does his background! For the sake of keeping it simple, if you have any kind of triggers, topics you wish to avoid, leave a comment below (it will be screened do not worry) and I will make absolutely certain it is avoided.

As well, if you wish to either opt out of tagging Emporio entirely, OR you have some critique/commentary to make regarding his AU, this is the place to do it!

Legends ZA AU History Timeline

Pre-ZA + 'Tutorial'

🌸 Rather than waking up in the 'new world' of JJBA Canon, Emporio wakes within the new world of Pokemon; specifically finding himself in Kemet (equivalent of Mundane Egypt), which is located at the same longitudinal line. (It's lucky he didn't fall in the ocean!)
🌸 Unsure of the world and of the language around him, he does what he's best at; hides, accessing a ghost room with his Stand. As it turns out, a great number of Ghost Pokemon naturally have a similar ability, so Emporio soon finds himself flocked to by curious Pokemon.
🌸 With time - and in part the help of wild Pokemon - Emporio learns enough of the world to venture into it. Unfortunately, his unique abilities and weaknesses cause him to stand out, and become a target to less than savory people within the Pokemon world. Thus, rather than settle anywhere permanently, he's forced into a life of transience.
🌸 For the next three years, Emporio gradually travels first out from Kemet and then into the countries of Avrupa (Pokemon Europe) via the fertile crescent; he is aided early on by befriending a wild Rotom, whom he names Dead Man's Party. Between it and the devices he repairs, he manages to at least pass notice as 'simply another child', moving place to place by sneaking onto trains and busses.
🌸 Eventually, in the autumn after he turns 15, Emporio comes to Lumiose - his preference having moved to large cities that haven't been forced to scatter into regions, as it's easier to fall under the radar. Naturally, upon his arrival in Lumiose, he encounters Urbain and begins the storyline of Legends Z-A.
🌸 (It is worth noting that Lumiose also draws his attention because of their Urban Development program; as 'Ghost Rooms' can only exist when something is built over top of a demolished structure, Lumiose strikes him as a place that will potentially have an abundance of them when he arrives)
🌸 Upon being offered a Pokemon to borrow for the sake of retrieving his bag, Emporio is somewhat pressured into making a choice; he chooses Tepig, as the Pokemon seems interested in him anyway, but the fact is that until this point Emporio has never been in a Trainer Battle. Against Wild Pokemon, he's also relied on either using Weather Report to fight (very possible given its power), or on working with Weather Report and Dead Man's Party. Fortunately his experience in the latter allows him to command the Tepig relatively easily.
🌸 Emporio is long made aware of his fragility within this world; using Weather Report's subtle assistance, he's learned to do his best to avoid attacks, something helped significantly by later instruction in rolling and parkour from Urbain.
🌸 Fortunately able to stay at the Hotel free of charge - as he is (not inaccurately) mistaken for a homeless vagrant - Emporio is soon roped into joining the Z-A Royale to help Urbain. As he only intends to be here for as long as it takes to 'disappear', Emporio agrees - unaware of just how quickly that will become impossible. In the meantime, he names the Tepig 'Blue Oyster Cult', and comes to know the other members of team M-Z.
🌸 Incidentally, when first meeting Naveen, the Trainer decides against giving Emporio a trilby. It doesn't suit him at all, nor does the jacket that Urbain gave him! He therefore meets with him later to suggest some stores to try shopping at once he has funds, noting that given the teen's budding talent in Pokemon battling, he should be able to obtain at least enough for a jacket he likes more. Once Emporio's done so, Naveen happily alters it with the team logo.

Ranks Z to B

🌸 Emporio quickly integrates himself into life within Lumiose, though primarily for the sake of avoiding attention; while his intentions were to quickly hide within Ghost Rooms and reside there within the city, Urbain has quickly made that ideal impossible. As well, he can't help but crave at least some regular human connection, which Hotel Z and Team MZ ultimately provide.
🌸 To that end though, having lacked that connection and social focus for some time, Emporio hyperfocuses his way through the two primary 'mission' focuses provided. During the night, he stealthily blitzes his way through Trainer battle after Trainer battle in order to work his way up the Ranks of the Z-A Royale. During what time he's awake in the day, he then focuses on visiting Wild Areas to catch and research Pokemon.
🌸 Given that Emporio is among those who, due to their experiences growing up in isolation, can 'understand' Pokemon, the latter goes incredibly successfully despite the lack of focus compared to the Royale - though it does not ultimately help much during Rogue Mega battles, which in fact seem far more stressful for him.
🌸 (A noteworthy aside is that while he did take in the Rogue Mega Absol encountered, naming it Breaking Benjamin, he quickly sent it to the research boxes with a note that they did not seem to want to fight after that night.)
🌸 As Emporio makes progress, and as Team MZ is increasingly called upon to combat Rogue Mega Evolutions, members of the Team begin to learn more about Emporio - picking out oddities such as his frailty, his social awkwardness, and more vitally parts of his past; all three eventually become aware in their own time that in addition to housing a wild Rotom in his phone, Emporio has been 'alone' the past three years, with no family, friends, or home to speak of.
🌸 Emma in particular begins investigating matters surrounding Emporio more seriously; while she appears to come close to connecting Emporio to the cryptid reports of 'Weather Related Pokemon' that have cropped up along routes he's traveled though, she makes no move at this time.
🌸 This is notable given her close proximity during their investigations for Ivor's sake; Emma is given a first hand look to how very in tune with Ghost Type Pokemon he is. Like is drawn to Like; in this case, Emporio's natural abilities are very harmonious with Ghosts, to the point that he personally fails to realize that Chandelure's illusory wall is an illusion as opposed to a ghost wall that only he could pass through. Gwynn as well takes notice of his oddities, and it's no surprise that she follows him around somewhat after the subsequent Promotion match.
🌸 The stress created by these suspected investigations, and the awareness of how much harder it is becoming to simply hide away, is only heightened by the events surrounding the next two Promotional matches. Urbain's debt with the Rust Syndicate first gets Emporio involved with the Kalosian mob - with him tensely keeping Lida from speaking out against Corbeau, the boss comes to respect Emporio enough to offer him an 'in' with them; it's when Emporio turns down the offer to join the syndicate that he's truly intrigued, as he can tell Emporio doesn't mean it when he says he's 'already part of Team M-Z'. Tucking away the knowledge that Emporio doesn't seem to view Lumiose as home - and perhaps seeing some of himself in the young teen - Corbeau does what's necessary to get everyone off the hook before wishing them an 'Until next time'.
🌸 What occurs in the next few nights is far more stressful however - when top socialite Jacinthe has Emporio and the rest of Team MZ invited to her tournament. Though initially amused by her antics, the woman's pressuring interventions and harassment after they delay the tournament in order to pacify some Rogue Mega Pokemon lead to Emporio arriving at the event accompanied by a literal storm. Team MZ is unable to ignore that the 'Weather Controlling Pokemon' cyptid Emma has notes on in her office may, in fact, be Emporio.
🌸 Zygarde's appearance at the end of the tournament is fortunately far more important, serving a sufficient distraction for everyone - including Emporio himself. After he's calmed down and had his match, he does whatever he can to avoid being confronted by everyone on what just happened. It takes being called in to battle more Rogue Mega Pokemon to return, and even then only AZ and Floette are able to speak with him for more than a few moments.

Main Story Climax

🌸 During this time, AZ has come to grow close to Emporio in the same way he has to the other three teenagers. They are like grandchildren to the ancient man, and he's already made preparations for their care in his eventual absence. AZ however specifically asks Emporio about what he views as 'home', and what he thinks of the Hotel, the city, its people, and its Pokemon. When Emporio struggles to answer (even to Floette), AZ consoles him by simply asking that the teen give it a better chance - as in the loss of others, it isn't a crime to develop new connections.
🌸 Those sobering words in mind, Emporio and the team pacify the Mega Pokemon in time for Emporio's final promotion match to be announced - though where Emporio didn't realize he could have hidden his identity (though Lida points out that it would have done him absolutely no favors), 'Grisham' is entirely shadowed in his picture, forcing the teen to call on Emma for help.
🌸 Emma fortunately doesn't call Emporio out on any conclusion's she's made, even if information on that Cryptid Hunt has conspicuously disappeared from her cork board. She simply points him to Mabel after a battle, and leaves him to it. In turn, Emporio is able to track down who turns out to have been a former child among the Team Flare group back in the day (as Emporio and Mabel get along quite well in fact). Where his track-record with Ex-Flare Agents has gone on quite strong however - with L in particular feeling uncannily like another 'grandpa' himself - that track record runs out as he meets Grisham and Griselle.
🌸 Through a heated discussion and an equally heated battle, Emporio is shown to the old Lysandre Cafe and the labs within. He goes alone, enjoying the silence and the Pokemon until he finds the secrets down at the bottom - the information about the Ultimate Weapon, and Team Flare's purpose five years in the past. Having come from a world that was brought to destruction by the desires of a deluded and self-righteous man, seeing everything about what AZ and L did brings Emporio to tears in the depths of the lab. L finds him there, at Zygarde's prompting.
🌸 Though Zygarde is able to offer minor comfort, L can't answer the questions Emporio has for him - rather, the questions that Emporio perhaps wished to demand of Pucci. But what he can offer is atonement. While Lysandre has forgotten much of his life, he makes it clear he remembers the important details of his crimes prior Zygarde resurrecting him to atone. Emporio remarks that after all of that, both Lysandre and AZ are unable to truly do that. They still require someone else to fix their greatest remaining problem. Lysandre quietly, and sadly, agrees, before sending Emporio back upstairs with the warning that whatever awakens will affect more than Lumiose if allowed.
🌸 Exiting the lab, Emporio meets with Grisham again and flatly refuses the latter's demand that he steal Floette for Grisham's purposes - instead warning that they will have their promotion match regardless. He returns to Hotel Z to talk to the others, and after a heart to heart where for all that Naveen points out what Emporio himself told L, the teen counters Naveen with the note that 3000 years to wander is still plenty of atonement in itself.
🌸 He then talks to Floette - the Pokemon is as cryptic as ever, implying through her 'language' without words the importance of being able to harness Mega Power, but to Emporio it's just as clear as it always was. She's staying with AZ, and so Emporio goes to face Grisham.
🌸 Facing off the former Flare trainee, he counters Grisham's loathing for AZ with the fact that whether they like it or not, stopping whatever is at the tower is a matter of staying alive. What happens to Lumiose won't stop at Lumiose. Being in charge of another's mess isn't, and can't be a factor, because Floette pointed out one more thing.
🌸 That AZ physically can't handle her power any more, and hasn't for a very long time. The two have an impressive pre-battle debate, with Grisham proving he was more than capable of digging up enough dirt to connect dots on the weather manipulating 'faller' that is Emporio. In his opinion, the life of a wandering teenager can't have possibly been so hard as his own, can't possibly have an ounce of resolve compared to him, and these are words that he regrets when Emporio in turn utterly thrashes his team.
🌸 ...It's an eye opener for Grisham. Apologetic as the barista is, Emporio is rather cold to him, bluntly telling him that it's not smart to assume what anyone has been through. Grisham apologizes then, and...Emporio lightens up, at least a little, as the leader pledges to help the teen when the time comes.
🌸 That moment comes incredibly soon. While L and Zygarde drop in on Emporio to say their piece, celebrations are soon held at the Hotel; both Emporio and Urbain reached Rank A, which means in theory they'll be able to have a wish granted. Unfortunately, disaster takes precedent, as Vinnie calls them to the Plaza. The tower is reaching its limit.
🌸 Emporio and Urbain have a battle to determine the strongest Mega User - one that Emporio wins, but Urbain is the one who takes temporary partnership with Floette to enter the tower all the same. Urbain, and everyone there, understand that power matters little when Emporio lacks the durability they do.
🌸 This choice is proven correct when the tower explodes into the now combative and berserk Ange. With the wreckage and chaos, Emporio prepares to make use of Weather Report in full to do what's necessary to get through the city, only calming down when Urbain calls and confirms he's alright. Many other trainers Emporio has bonded with call in to offer their own help, and it's warranted - Zygarde is waiting for Emporio in the Magenta district. Through their help, he gets there to meet with the dog and join forces as L predicted.
🌸 It goes well. Perhaps too well, even, as the 100% form of Zygarde protects Emporio and his Pokemon in their battle to weaken the device imprisoning Urbain and Floette. Zygarde's own final blows are what at last seem to pacify the machine long enough for Lida, Naveen, and Vinnie to reach Emporio; however as they prepare to discuss how to evacuate Urbain, the tower gains a second wind and prepares to unleash its Light of Ruin.
🌸 This time, Emporio isn't going to hold back. Weather Report is ready to fight with him, even for the smallest things; he uses the wind to erode the 'Pebble' Zygarde gave him into a Mega Stone, at the Legendary's prompting. Rather than throw the stone to Zygarde, Emporio then quietly reminds the others with him that Mega Power is strongest when the Trainer is as close to the Pokemon as possible.
🌸 To their alarm, they watch him jump off the building to glide under the power of Weather Report's wind, letting Zygarde to catch him. Zygarde mega evolves, and the Light of Ruin is successfully deflected and scattered through Mega Zygarde's Nihil Light. Ange is finally defeated, and Emporio lands in time to see Urbain sliding out from the wreckage with an exhausted Floette.
🌸 The boys share a tearful embrace, as Emporio realizes how close he just came to losing everything again. He remembers AZ's words, and quietly decides to stay in Lumiose.

Royale Aftermath

🌸 Unfortunately the celebration of a success is temporary - as Team MZ returns to find that AZ passed peacefully on the rooftop balcony, having watched them save the city and indeed all of Kalos from destruction. The team is left to fumble through grief as they enact AZ's final wishes, including the funeral that he had long prepared in advance.
🌸 Attending the funeral, Emporio gives a heartbroken eulogy in his home language, speaking directly to the grave and asking AZ to, if he can, greet his long lost friends in the afterlife. Shortly after this, Emma - who attended the funeral as well - confronts him with something important; an ID.
🌸 She and AZ had long connected the dots, not only on the cryptid matters, but on the likelihood of Emporio being a 'Faller'...something that AZ in particular confirmed due to Emporio of course not speaking actual Kemetic when slipping into his native language. They prepared papers and files for Emporio so that he could officially have a presence, though she suggests keeping his head down regardless - or at least as much as he already has - hinting that aside from Trainers known as 'Fables', the legal troubles that could come from being a Faller or a Trainer of unknown ability could still be severe.
🌸 It is not until after that funeral that Quasartico finally approaches Urbain and Emporio about their wish. Truthfully, neither really have one; they ultimately agree that keeping the Royale going would be best, which is fortunately something that Quasartico had been seriously considering in the first place. Putting the funds that would have been used for their wishes toward that will help maintain it immensely.
🌸 As life settles down at the Hotel, minor troubles yet emerge in the aftermath of AZ's funeral. L meets with Emporio more frequently in this time, finding himself attached much the same way the old man was. He warns the boy of the return of those who Take and those who Give in particular- leaving Emporio to determine who he can even talk to in order to learn more about those potential risks.
🌸 It ends up being Grisham and Mable who help with these matters, as Lida and Naveen join him. Mable is able to offer information about Xerneas, while Grisham offers intel on Yveltal. Given the danger of these Legendary Pokemon, Emporio encourages his friends to help in any way they can as they fight them - even if it means throwing Pokeballs. As such, Lida becomes Yveltal's current trainer, while Naveen finds himself in partnership with Xerneas.
🌸 Alongside all of this, the Battle Royale continues. Emporio doesn't spend full nights fighting Trainers, but he has himself more than a few rematches before managing to face Urbain himself. The peace settles just in time for Urbain to finally be contacted by Emma regarding his own case.
🌸 The case to locate his family, in Lumiose. As Jett and Urbain have a heartfelt reunion as grandparent and grandchild, Emporio encourages him not only to take the time to bond with Jett - who has now named Urbain her successor in the company, with Vinnie maintaining it until the teen is ready to do so - but to also keep Floette at his side. While Urbain fears that he won't be able to train her properly while getting to know his Grandma, Emporio notes that Floette herself wants to be there with him during this time.
🌸 Emporio then heads home, alone - finding L waiting for him there. The man challenges Emporio to a battle, referring it to Emporio's final necessary challenge; a test to see if indeed, Emporio can survive Zygarde's own, as the Legendary waits for the teen to face him under Prism Tower's remains.
🌸 Emporio manages to face this challenge however - even if it takes everything he, his Pokemon, and even his Stand have, to do so. Zygarde calmly enters a Pokeball, and Emporio has now officially joined his three friends in the ranks of 'Fabled' (as despite being a Floette, Urbain is very much registered as one now).
🌸 And of course with his duty fulfilled, L now says goodbye. Emporio tearfully asks if he must, and L reminds the boy of his words in the lab. AZ wandered the earth for 3000 years in atonement. Now, it is his turn. As he wonders if he can help to make the world better during that time, Emporio quietly says that he believes L can...watching as the old man slowly leaves.

The Mega Dimension Pt. 1

🌸 A full month after Emporio decides to live at Hotel Z for good, and after Naveen has taken up a room there, a girl named Ansha appears at the Hotel; he and the others help her to unlock the pokemon Hoopa's power over creating dimensional holes, leading to the realization that things are going to get chaotic in the city...again.
🌸 As discovered talking with Corbeau, Vinnie, and Phillipe in the Rust Syndicate, a strange portal of energy has opened - and it's leaking further into the fabric of reality, drawing connections to a strange 'other realm', namely 'Hyperspace Lumiose'. Nothing there is truly real - not beyond the Pokemon and occasional berry at least.
🌸 The goal being as simple as using Hoopa to access the realm and gather data until they can safely tackle the massive portal in the sky, Emporio and his friends set out to work. Ansha soon prepares more donuts for Hoopa, Mable upgrades the Pokedex app to accept the research, and they're off.
🌸 Ignoring the fact that they are in a sense literally working for the mob (again), Emporio is soon called in with Urbain to meet with an associate of Corbeau's; Korrina, the former Fighting Type Gym Leader and an expert in Mega Evolution. As only so many people can enter the Hyperspace at once without things going more awry than they already are, it's the perfect solution to a now growing problem; not only can the 'hyper strong' Pokemon come into the normal plane, but they're at high risk of Mega Evolution.
🌸 It only figures that they immediately encounter one such Mega Evolution, creating a good moment to adjust to a new team member. Korrina, as it seems, is the one who owns the Lucario that had been lent to Emporio for his first Mega battle. They chat a while, but it's clear everyone moved into the hotel after she left - they have a round of introductions while recovering from the fight later that night.
🌸 It's good that they all get rest too - after some miscommunication about where Ansha is spending her days, and yet one more Rogue Mega battle, it's decided that a bit of sight seeing is in order; thus, the third day with Ansha is spent visiting a museum and enjoying a cafe.
🌸 Playtime is over however, and after settling a lost Gulpin into the Hotel, they're called in for more news. More research reveals Hyperspace's nature, as well as a need for...more research. It's a loop of activity, and by the next morning Emporio's collapsing into bed having fought Mega Tatsugiri. His thoughts are reeling though; the theory about Hyperspace is that it's made of memories. Subconscious thoughts.
🌸 In other words, Hyperspace could be a massive, expanded form of a Ghost Room, and he's not sure what to think about it. All he can do, is keep helping with research while hoping that he's not the reason reality has started to break down. He can't be, right? It's been years...
🌸 He gets a healthy distraction at the site of the next Mega to face (rather, the next enormous one - while the surveys are occurring, they encounter quite a number of properly sized ones); by being dragged into a scuffle between Griselle and Jacinthe. It's resolved quick, but somehow it's the more alarming thing compared to Mega Meowstic.
🌸 And all of that pales next to the nightmare that follows both things. Emporio's sleep is full of darkness, and foreboding warning. With nothing more illuminating than cries to 'stay away', Emporio wakes up for another day of donut making, research, and investigation - finding that the others had the same dream too.
🌸 At least their work is 'easy'. Or at least, repetitive. In fact until they actually encounter what awaits them at the next signal of mega energy, it's very much 'routine'...except this time, what awaits them is a legendary Pokemon. A Heatran.
🌸 On the one hand, that bodes well for Ansha's dream to catch her mother a Rayquaza. On the other hand, Legendary Pokemon getting caught in the mess bodes very badly for what's happening with Hyperspace. The team leaves Corbeau and Quasartico to analyze the data with a fairly anxious feeling in their guts.
🌸 The fantastic dinner made with the bounty of Hyperspace - namely an incredibly good quality butter that has Emporio thinking of an old folktale from his own world - does little to lighten the mood, even if watching Naveen balk at 'donut croissant curry' is briefly amusing. Waking up in the middle of the night to Lida's shouting undoes all of that however.
🌸 Emporio and the others knew Lida could be at more risk of nightmares thanks to Yveltal - while she's doing her best with the bird, its very presence and connection can still take a toll. But something's off about the shouts coming from her room, and sure enough, she's sleep dancing, with Starmie right at her side. (And Yveltal throwing an absolute fit outside the building, for that matter.)
🌸 The dream fortunately seems to have been harmless for the most part - and Yveltal calms down once Lida's awake, too. But Emporio still can't shake his bad feeling. The rest of his night is filled with nightmares and warnings again, and he goes to regroup at the Rust Syndicate feeling bleary eyed as they wait for new data.

The Mega Dimension Pt.2

🌸 Things are a little more serious this time - Corbeau calls in the entire team, and for good reason. Where his office was, it's a pocket of Hyperspace, and they're not the only ones stuck. Regrouping alongside the others who fell in, the effect fortunately ends and sends them back home but it's a dire warning of what could happen.
🌸 Corbeau gets right to it then - starting with good news, given Emporio's anxious disposition. Corbeau has experienced Ghost Rooms from Emporio before; and he can concretely say that they're nothing like Hyperspace. In fact, that's what the new data has revealed - that the source of all Hyperspace is down to one single Pokemon.
🌸 A single Pokemon, whose capture and removal from mega-energy exposure would hopefully stop the expanding Hyperspace. Suddenly Emporio's nightmares make a lot more sense - but they need to get there first. Ansha worries that her donuts might not be enough to power up Hoopa, but Emporio points something out.
🌸 Namely that Hoopa could perhaps mega evolve...or at least do something similar to it. If they give Hoopa a donut formed with the same materials necessary to make a Megastone...then maybe, provided they get a flight up to the rift, they'll get in.
🌸 It's a long shot, but they don't have any other real options, so it's off to go 'shopping' for hyper-berries in the various minor rifts. Once they have their supplies, the real task begins. Making the donut that will give just the right boost to, from the top of the ruinous tower, get through the portal.
🌸 It's a familiar scene through there. A dream, one could say - it leads Korrina to suspect they'll be facing Darkrai, and indeed they are; but not before facing the dreams Darkrai unconsciously creates to push them away.
🌸 A painful reunion is held, more so because Emporio by this time has realized that ghosts can exist in this place. Emporio and Urbain meet with AZ's spirit, and Emporio is torn between being relieved that it's not Jolyne and his friends (for how could he face them?) and agonized that he'll never see them again.
🌸 AZ understands though, and encourages them to live on. Thus, they do so, battling Darkrai until the excess mega power is banished and done with. Darkrai itself seems to hover, awaiting capture... ...but after a brief conversation with Emporio, Darkrai isn't caught so much as 'sent' to the lab boxes for rest and respite. Emporio assures the others that it'll be fine, and they all escape to recover at Hotel Z.
🌸 With Darkrai defeated, it should be a matter of weeks before the portals die back down - that's how long they have then, to fulfill Ansha's dream; to capture Rayquaza, as Corbeau has identified, which means of course that they must perform more surveys. Corbeau is certain that a unique donut would help Hoopa hone in on its location.
🌸 And what better test than the reports of drought and rainfall within Hyperspace itself? Where Kyogre and Groudon were, Lida explains, Rayquaza was never far behind. Who knew stories from her childhood in Hoenn would come in handy? Once they feel they have enough data, Emporio meets with Corbeau at a cafe of his choosing - cafe Nouveau - and they can get to business.
🌸 ...By getting Hoennian salt from Grisham. One brief and tense staredown from one mobster to another, and they've got donut recipes for Ansha to work with. ...And two more Legendary Pokemon to face. Much like last time, they don't truly seem to catch these two. Emporio instead chats to them both, and they willingly enter a Pokeball for the purposes of letting some scientists pamper them for a bit; officially, and technically, they aren't tied or bound to any of the Trainers, creating a very fascinating sub-category off of the known 'fables'.
🌸 The red and blue orbs left behind are exactly what's needed to finally track down Rayquaza however. After some quick analysis, and an understanding of the kinds of dreams that make up Hyperspace, they conclude it'll take, in essence, wishing REALLY hard to encounter it.
🌸 Emporio muses that this is probably why the legends so far were so calm about the idea of simply enjoying a brief retirement in the lab boxes - they weren't getting out of Hyperspace any other way, but they couldn't truly 'judge' anyone they encountered there either.
🌸 Whatever the case, they have what they need; and with a bit of story telling to encourage that ultimate dream from Ansha, they create the donut that brings them into Rayquaza's very own pocket of dreamland. Directly. Above. The Hotel.
🌸 It's a good thing they're going to be dealing with this quickly. While speed is of the essence the battle is far from easy - Emporio mentally likens the challenge to that of when he fought Ange, with Rayquaza's winds proving particularly deadly if he so much as gets anywhere near, and Weather Report being unable to directly interfere with them. His team has their hands full protecting him, and Zygarde is integral to say the least.
🌸 When all is said and done however, he has his audience with Rayquaza. A chance to convey to them the dreams of a little girl, and a plea that Rayquaza will grant it. Rayquaza agrees, and Emporio takes the pokeball back to the real world to show Ansha...but Ansha realizes that once Rayquaza is hers, she won't have a reason to keep making donuts.
🌸 Emporio points out of course that this is far from the case - no one is stopping her from continuing to make donuts at the hotel. For that matter, Diantha won't be back from her filming for a while...which means Rayquaza being presented to the retired Champion will be on hold as is.
🌸 With such agreements made, Rayquaza enjoys a vacation in the boxes for until that day comes (with the added polite suggestion that perhaps Rayquaza would be better shared between the two as a family 'friend'). Ansha continues making donuts, and Emporio, alongside the others, continues jumping into Hyperspace holes to fill the pokedex. As a bonus, they help the little one send a pre-return gift directly to Unova; donuts and drawings.
🌸 The next morning, Corbeau calls Emporio and the others over to introduce the technology they'll be using up until (and perhaps after?) the Hyperspace holes are gone. Special Scans become a new system to lean on for the foreseeable future - with bigger, badder Pokemon and even trainers behind them.
🌸 The loop of researching and battling begins anew; Emporio encounters yet more strange Pokemon, and helps Urbain and his friends to resolve more problems brought on by the gradually fading Hyperspace portals. Naveen solidifies his move to the Hotel as more than just 'running away', and Lida finds her own self-confidence from the shadows of her friends again. Urbain learns to stop overworking, Korrina and others get the rematches they desire - life carries on.
🌸 This, it seems, is just what life is now. The hope of course is that by the New Year, things will be back to normal...but as Christmas comes, all Emporio knows is that he's glad he took AZ's words to heart. He's glad to now have a home.

Noanga App

OOC INFO
Name: Usagi
Contact:

usagisquared + 'usagisquared' @ discord

IC INFO
Character Name: Emporio Aliño
Canon Name: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean
Age: 15

OC, AU, or CRAU History:
Emporio's Canon History is located on the JJBA wikipedia; notably, all images that could be considered graphic will be hidden by content warnings, as the site takes great care about such things. However, as I am aware the canon art style is offputting to some - If needed, you can right click this page, and choose 'Open In Reading Mode' from Google Chrome, and you will be able to read everything without the images!

Z-A's Canon is here, though the bullets below note vital differences between how Emporio handled matters - they also fill the blanks between the two instances (and for that matter, the blanks caused by an insufficient wikipedia.)

Some unique Lore Notes relevant to the world as a whole have been written as well.

Lastly, here is the AU History Write Up

Personality:
🌸 Incredibly intelligent, and intuitive - at least in the sense of self-preservation. Able to readily perform actions after reading about how to do so once (IE. - piloting a helicopter), though this is limited when it comes to physically powered tasks. Over all, generally a quick study and quicker at strategy, though he's prone to fluster under pressure. It takes a few seconds to get himself back in the game.
🌸 Kind-hearted, and caring. While he defaults to what protects himself, it's difficult for him to ignore injustice or trouble when it happens directly in front of him - though he often hesitates to take a direct route to stop it unless backed by someone else.
🌸 Very private by nature and necessity - the people he trusted and loved most all died soon after he opened his heart to them, and opening himself up to the people of Lumiose nearly ended the same way. Add in being separated again, and he's slow to do more than offer polite distance and a mask of cheer.
🌸 That said, he's naturally curious and excitable - encountering new things that are fun, bewildering, these are all things that ultimately draw out happiness from him. Actually containing and controlling his emotions isn't something he really grew up doing, so it's easy to knock him off guard with things like that.
🌸 Realistic, or at least mostly realistic. Expectations of the world's laws aside, he tends to assume not quite the worst but close to it - he understandably fears for Lida's life when they're talking to Corbeau, as in any typical mob situation, insults could easily get them killed. These expectations can lead to confusion when defied however; Corbeau, to fall on the same example, is in actuality extremely kind, making the man genuinely baffling to him (but he's not upset about it).
🌸 He's likewise deflective, and avoidant; Emporio doesn't enjoy direct conflict, as it attracts attention more often than not. Go figure, his go-to method of combat during the Z-A Royale is always sneaking up on people. If he can deal with something without creating fuss or drawing attention, he'll take it.
🌸 Above all though, despite all his fearful traits, Emporio is extremely determined - and for that matter, utterly brutal when pressed. His final resort in canon itself was an all or nothing poisoning, but his unconscious soul went for tearing the enemy's face off. When Emporio is backed in a corner, and his life is truly at risk, he doesn't back down...he gets deadly, and for the sake of others, he can get pretty close to that as well.

Powers:
For the sake of completion, and in case events within the game make them relevant, Emporio's Stands are listed below, alongside what is considered unique to the Pokemon World he is from.

🌸 'To Hear the Hearts of Pokemon' - Those who grew up in severe isolation, like Emporio, are more sensitive to the meanings of Pokemon behaviors. While it isn't a word-to-word language, it does mean that (at least with Pokemon from his own world) Emporio is able to understand them to a much more conversational degree compared to typical trainers. As Pokemon are in turn often very intelligent, this means he can direct them to perform various actions with much greater ease.
🌸 'Mega Compatibility' - Through the use of a 'Keystone', Emporio is typically able to harness and channel latent 'Mega Energy' within the air. Loosely defined as Natural Energy, this power is then synchronized with a compatible target (typically a Pokemon's held mega stone) in order to release power. At the moment, with no available Mega Power to wield, the keystone is non-functioning...but if a similar 'natural energy' is encountered later on, that could perhaps change.
🌸 STAND - 'Burning Down the House' - The Stand Emporio was born with. It manifests as an internal ability; simply put, Emporio was able to interact with memories of ruined locations by using existing structures to access them. These 'Ghost Rooms' resembled the original ruined structure at the prime of its existence, and nothing within could be permanently altered beyond that 'moment' in time. As such, while Ghost Foods could be tasted, they could not truly be consumed; Ghost weapons as well could not cause damage, simply passing through anything of the present day.
🌸 STAND - 'Weather Report' - The Stand Emporio inherited at the end of his series. Akin to a 'Persona'; it manifests as a humanoid formed from clouds, and has the ability to control the weather (and also punch things, technically). As a form of summon, it could be argued that in the event it comes to exist in Noanga, Weather Report is also a form of 'dependent'...though Weather Report is far more dedicated to protecting Emporio than anything else (potentially to Emporio's very detriment in fact). Despite its abilities being defined as 'controls weather', Weather Report is extremely flexible in its abilities- it has been used on screen to create space suits using breathable air as its material, manifest water and ice directly from the air itself, and even reduce the breathable air of a room into pure oxygen.

While not technically powers, the following are also noteworthy;

First, perhaps because of where he came from, the language that Emporio speaks by default is technically Kalosian. He can, however, switch to Kemetic Arabic, Cokmak, and Galarian English. If he tries to speak his native English, it is heard as gibberish. (For reference, Kemetic should sound like Egyptian Arabic, while Cokmak sounds like Turkish.)

Second, while current movesets are listed below, Legends ZA introduces a unique take on Pokemon learnsets that has been incorporated into the world-building of Emporio's AU. Specifically, a Pokemon never forgets a move; rather, a set of maximum four 'moves' are declared at the beginning of any trainer battles. Therefore, TMs aside, Emporio's combat oriented Pokemon could in fact make use of any move as listed on their Legends ZA level up listings.

Dependents:
🌸 Rotom (Dead Man's Party) - Typical resident of Emporio's 'Roto-Phone' and 'Roto-Bike'. Unfortunately, as both devices have abruptly bricked on the Noanga, they're prone to tantrums and mischief. Curiously, despite the phone being entirely bricked, they're still capable of glide and slow-fall features - though this may be due to their ability as a fully combat capable Pokemon. In fact, if Dead Man's Party possesses certain devices (as seen in existing Pokemon Canon), they'll change Type.

Moveset: Hex, Trick, Electro Ball, and Thundershock (which changes to the following if possessing an applicable appliance; Overheat (Heat related/Fire type), Hydro Pump (Washing/Mopping related/Water type), Blizzard (Freezing apparati/Ice type), Air Slash (Fans/Flight/Flying type), Leaf Storm (Foliage care/Grass type)). Full ZA Moveset Here.

🌸 Emboar (Blue Oyster Cult) - Emporio's first truly registered Pokemon, named for the song 'Burning for You'. Blue is fairly in sync with Emporio, and his most readily capable combat Pokemon as such (though the Rotom is more useful for fine tasks). A big eater (who'll honestly eat anything), Emporio had gotten him in the habit of staying out of the ball even at night when a Tepig, so now the bed is often shared with a massive 'flaming' boar.

Moveset: Heat Crash, Rollout, Bulldoze, Close Combat. Full ZA Moveset Here.

🌸 Golisopod (Kilroy Was Here) - A somewhat more recent addition to Emporio's team. Like Blue, Kilroy carries a megastone, but unless allowed by local surroundings, is unable to use it. Despite their size, they maintain some degree of anxiousness from their fairly recent life as a Wimpod. As Emporio was aware of Mega Golisopod when he caught the shiny Wimpod, he combined references to cleaning and robots via 'Mr. Roboto' for the name.

Moveset: First Impression, Pin Missile, Liquidation, Iron Head. Full ZA Moveset Here.

🌸 Zygarde - Reduced to 'Level 1' due to the Noanga. Emporio carries around a case containing the remaining 90% of Zygarde's cells, but while in theory the device could allow Zygarde to change forms, it appears to be inert while Zygarde is incapable of combat. To say the least, Zygarde's megastone is also useless for the same reason.

Sample:
TDM Sample located Here

Z-A LEGENDS AU WORLDBUILDING

WORLD BUILDING DIRECTORY

The following are various categories of notes, describing in detail the mechanics of various things within the Pokemon World which Emporio comes from. While much of the world is based within Canon, this information seeks to clarify or 'ground' matters of canon into something more defined. It additionally acts as a way to further clarify the differences between Emporio himself and the world he's come to know for the last three years.

On Humans and their Powers

The Pokemon World is one filled with an abundance of natural energy. An ultra reactive force, which has been present within the world since the dawn of time. In pre-human times, human and Pokemon would have been one and the same; rather, 'humans' would have been a form of Pokemon themselves. At some point along the path of their personal, long-form evolution however, this changed. For whatever reason, it became more useful for humans to shed many of the abilities that would have been in line with all Pokemon.

Despite this fact, it remains that humans of the Pokemon world are vastly more durable than those of the mundane one. Humans are capable of taking blows that could otherwise severely injure mundane people, leading to a reality where it is an incredibly casual thing to remark on treating someone for injuries sustained within a Pokemon battle. What would result in severe, life-threatening burns for Emporio would otherwise be a simple 'patch-up' matter at a hospital.

Perhaps connected to this is the fact that humans are capable of a great number of feats given focused training. Dedicated Martial Artists become able to trade blows with Fighting type Pokemon on their own, while Psychics and Mediums utilize their mental prowess in a variety of ways. This flexibility has led some scientists to the theory that humans represent a recessed 'multi-type' Pokemon, having traded the extreme power that Pokemon bear for the ability to more flexibly adapt to their surroundings. Though a strong theory, it remains 'just a theory'.

Relevantly, it would appear that the purest of elemental types (Fire, Water, Grass, etc) are those which humans can only display in the most minor of ways; those trending to 'Fire' being passionate, even running warmer body temperatures, or 'Grass' leaning humans having a stronger green thumb than typical.

On Language in the World

As a whole, Pokemon and Humans appear to understand one another - however, this is not a literal matter. The 'Pokemon Language' as it is colloquially termed is not one of translatable words, but rather a deep intuition towards the feelings of each other. This intelligence and intuition is what allows such deep connections between otherwise incompatible species to flourish, and it is a matter which extends even to the variety of human languages that exist at present.

To varying degree, all humans are able to get a general feeling of what someone else is communicating; greetings, hunger, a need for assistance, and so on. As such, while it pales significantly against the benefits of learning another language, it encourages communication to a much greater degree. In fact, those who have greater ability find it easier to learn new languages via immersion.

For the most part, likely due to the benefits of such an innate skill, humans have medium to high levels of intuition in this regard. Very rarely will someone be unable to glean meaning from foreign words entirely.

On 'Those Who Understand Pokemon'

Pokemon as noted do not have a strictly translatable language, but it can be said that human beings are still capable of understanding them to an extent. Body language can be learned, and Pokemon themselves have been shown to learn 'extra steps' in order to communicate more readily with Trainers. There have even been scattered reports of Pokemon using vocal mimicry to actually speak, though these are often very old Pokemon who have spent years of time around humans in conversation.

There are those in the world who are said to truly 'speak' to Pokemon however, or in other terms, 'understand the hearts of Pokemon'. These people truly do understand what a Pokemon is 'saying', and are able to maintain entire 'conversations' as it were (unlike the average human, who could be said to commune with Pokemon as if they were particularly intelligent parrots or dogs)

This is more than likely not an inherited trait - in fact, recent studies have determined it likely to be a defense mechanism. With little exception, all known examples of such people are known to have experienced extreme childhood neglect and isolation at a young age; in other words, the only living beings they could communicate with, were Pokemon, and so they adapted.

In modern times, when Trainers are discovered to have the ability, they are often contacted soon after by various medical and social services to check-in on their living circumstances.

Notably, Emporio actually qualifies as one such Trainer, proving the theory that this ability is based predominantly in a natural intuition rather than actual exposure to Pokemon.

On Pokemon Training and Adult Majority

In the Pokemon World, there are regions where it is not unheard of for a person not to have ever raised a Pokemon. At minimum, Urbain is not surprised by Emporio (or the Player for this matter) lacking one, and when the topic of Urbain granting one to him arises, other characters involved make no significant comment on the matter. Pokemon Training, it would seem, is understood to be a matter of incredible responsibility as well as physical skill. In addition to needing the necessary time and energy to dedicate to a Pokemon - as seen in the adoption of one Hawlucha within Luminose - one must also be physically capable of seeing to their unique needs, or even seeking one out for capture.

These combined factors make it no surprise that in many ways, to train a Pokemon is to become an 'adult'. However, much like the mundane world, it is not so simple a matter. While Pokemon Trainers may be held responsible for many things, effectively being viewed as adults at a 'criminal' level, they are still considered children in many other ways. Across many regions, the age required to drive, drink, and consent, are all held entirely separately from the age at which children may optionally participate in Pokemon journeys or adopt their own Pokemon outside of parental supervision.

(There are numerous exceptions to this; many, many children have ultimately come to train Pokemon on their own before reaching their region's official journeying age.)

For the AU, it is noted that in Kalos the official age of 'Journeying' is 15, which further cements why it's little surprise that Emporio lacks a Pokemon upon arrival to Luminose.

On the Fabled

Those who are chosen by Legendary Pokemon are considered Fables. Heroes in their own right, be it for good or ill. Due to the danger in separating Pokemon from Chosen, they are often granted a degree of international protections; nothing so ridiculous as to leave them immune to the law, but at the very least enough that they can walk without fear of being kidnapped or attacked.

If, indeed, they had such fears at all given their partners. Often, modern day Fables are chosen quite young. The theory is that the thing which makes them open to the hearts of so powerful a being, and indeed, even able to train their own 'mundane' Pokemon to such heights, is a thing now lost in modern adulthood. Where many would call it skill, power, or courage, others would call it recklessness and blind faith. Truly, the eyes of babes see none of the dangers that lay deep in the hidden corners of the world. They enter the dens of dragons without thought, and in doing so either survive to return with powerful companions...or fail to return at all.

Still, it is notable. Not only among Fabled, but the truly strong over all. It requires a degree of openness and resilience to train Pokemon as far and long, and to that end the strongest Trainers are often either eccentrics, or incredibly old.

On Registration and Citizenry

Tourism is a lucrative business in the Pokemon World. Trainers of all sorts in particular enjoy the chance to see new Pokemon and possibly catch them as well - to encourage this, registration to become a Trainer is laughably easy in a great number of Regions. Rather than stress over if someone should be allowed to train a Pokemon, it is ultimately easier to focus on enforcing the rules against someone logged in a registry.

There is something of a snag in this system however, and it is a system that allows Emporio in particular to get by very, very easily. Trainer Registration is a valid form of Identification, but one that doesn't require proof of citizenry. This is because of course, many Trainers registering in new regions won't be from any singular location. Once again, it becomes easier to focus on keeping an eye on someone after their registration, than it does to fuss over the minor details beforehand. Often there will be a courtesy question of where a Trainer is originally from, but this is easy enough to lie about.

Fortunately - perhaps because of how many Trainers still provide to a Region's revenue one way or another - such 'illegal' citizenry often isn't an issue. If anything, it isn't even a concept!

Though, the fact that Emporio wasn't born in any region does ultimately come back to bite him, given his claims of being from Kemet.

On the Definitions of Countries

The Pokemon World is one divided into many, many smaller pieces than the mundane world itself. The sheer scale and needs of Pokemon themselves often enforce broader borders, with many being drawn the moment a given location reaches a particular population level. Regions, as they are known, often maintain their own personal government despite being located within a larger country - the most immediate example being Yamato (what was Mundane Japan), which is divided into four regions. While collectively they can be said to occupy the landmass that is Yamato, with open borders among themselves, one would never say 'Yamato' if they could otherwise refer to specific regions.

Despite this example, there are in actuality only a handful of 'countries' with multiple regions within them, and fewer cases where the entire country maintains a single League and Government. Generally speaking, if a country covers a massive amount of land but otherwise contains a small amount of people, it will split itself into regions for the sake of governing Pokemon and land related matters while otherwise following a single governing power for human matters. Efisga is one such example, containing three massive regions but otherwise representing a mere 1% of the planet's population.

What is most notable about this fact is the resulting divisions within the country referred to as 'The United Regions'. Rather than define its regions as the states known to the mundane 'United States', regions within this country vary phenomenally in size. Among the smallest of these regions for example is Unova; in the mundane world, New York City would be a mess of infrastructure with local districts, but in the Pokemon World, it has instead grouped its human populations into cities and towns of their own.

Of course, this has not stopped Unova from standing out on its own, with a storied history and culture to share; indeed, the mass number of regions within the UR highlights just how many different beliefs and cultures existed before border lines were ever drawn.

On Non-Regional Locations, and Wilds versus Wild Areas

The astute will often notice that Regional Boundaries do not necessarily cover the entire landmass of a given country. This is in fact quite intentional - whereas the mundane world designates swathes of land to be 'National Parks', the Pokemon world has pockets of land that are known simply as 'Wild'.

Despite this designation however, there are locations within such swathes of land that are in fact inhabited by humans, some to significant degree. One such example is the Kitakami prefecture north of Kanto; while not a region in its own right, being surrounded by thick forests and protected rivers, it still hosts the village of Mossui and has for generations of time. No country wishes to unseat the people who have already made their place among the wild Pokemon of the world, and so instead it falls upon a country's government to ensure that support is provided as needed - this includes matters involving Pokemon, which, given the League responsibilities in many larger regions, often works out quite well indeed.

A notable exception to this fact, though hardly unique in it, is the massive country of Efisga, and its three regions. As all three take the entirety of the country's available land, and operate as one under the Efisgan League, it may come as no surprise to hear that the country is in fact scattered cities and towns divided by pure wild. What may be surprising however, at least given the methods of other wild filled countries (such as the notoriously huge Arctos, or to lesser extent, Jiuzhou and Sindhu) is that children coming of Journeying Age in Efisga travel directly into these Wilds. It is this which often causes significant confusion between Efisgans and Galarians - as while Galarians have zones of 'Wild Areas' within their routes, and therefore assume the Wilds of Efisga to refer to such areas given their traffic, it is needless to say far from the case. Wild areas are mere parks compared to the Wilds, and it would be good to understand this fact.

On Pocket Biomes

As recently studied in the Wild Areas of Luminose, it has been shown that a large population of certain types of Pokemon will often result in significant changes to the land itself. A collection of Ice Type Pokemon will in time cause a region to grow cold and snowy despite warmer climates surrounding it. Likewise, numerous desert-borne ground types will quickly turn a location into a desert, as is found to have happened in the distant past to Unova's 'Route 4'.

The incidents within current Wild Areas move at so incredible a rate, that many researchers are now revisiting their original theories for other, more 'natural' such Pocket Biomes within the world at large. Where once the theory had been that such locations took decades of time to develop at minimum, it is now clear that such things can occur in as little as a few days!

On Pokemon Research and Intelligence

With little exception, all animals on the planet are referred to as 'Pokemon', or a linguistic equivalent. As the world is somewhat more advanced in regard to research on Pokemon intelligence and sapience, many strides have been made through the years in regard to matters of humane farming and hunting for food, as well as treatment and habitation over all.

Even still, there is much that the world does not know about the various creatures known as Pokemon. Just as in the mundane world, new species are still being discovered to this day, with many regions delving beyond the surface of their local, common knowledge. Modern efforts are aided in these mammoth tasks by the use of national Pokedexs as well as Pokemon 'Boxes', which allow scientists and researchers to better catalogue and gather data as Trainers input and provide samples.

Over the past number of years especially, many strides have been made in the field of Pokemon research. Taxonomy in particular has come to reflect these adjustments; where entries and information on Pokemon in the past might have referred to 'mice' and 'elephants', we now see either the species specifically named (Pikachu, Copperajah), or even their now updated classification - a matter that may either reflect this old terminology (Pikachu and Raichu are considered 'mouse Pokemon'), or instead be adjusted to better suit (Copperajah is known as the Copperderm Pokemon).

On Pokeballs

All Pokemon naturally shrink themselves down to fit den-like spaces for safety, and comfort. It is thought that in the ancient past, ancestors to humans were no exception; part of evolving away from the need for specific bursts of power seems to have involved losing the need to hide to such degree, and it is theorized that this came hand in hand with the ability to build and construct reliable fortification and dwellings. Yet another theory however is that ancestral humans began to take advantage of this once reliable source of safety and refuge, forcing them to rely on other means of protection.

No matter the case, Pokemon - in keeping their focused and varied powers - were thus easily able to lure into small, enclosed spaces as humans began to chance the idea of harmony with their bestial neighbors. The mechanisms between old and modern Pokeballs are largely the same; a spherical case is fashioned to create a 'den', with contact triggering the instinctive response to hide in the nearest such thing. Enraged Pokemon understandably do not even try to enter Pokeballs thrown at them, as they are no longer concerned with hiding - instead, they are concerned with defending their perceived territory.

Modern Pokeballs have been outfitted with various technologies to allow easy health restoration and increased comfort, compared to handcarved models. As well, many leaps and bounds have been made to help encourage Pokemon to stay within the ball. Typically, a Pokemon capture involves a human proving their worth to the targeted creature - either in battle, or even stealth. They must have an open heart, one which resonates with the animal they are inviting into their lives - even if such an invitation is intended to simply move the Pokemon to another location.

Recent debates have therefore arisen regarding what legal restrictions may be necessary for certain Pokeballs; devices that tout 'higher catch rate', 'greater success', also bring the question of where free will ends, and inhumane capture begins. Currently, it is a wildly accepted fact that there are no Pokeballs from which a Pokemon cannot escape - in fact, after a recent incident from within Paldea's 'Area Zero', it was proven that even the legendary Master Ball can be broken.

Though the best theory that anyone can come up with for why the Master Ball has such an otherwise high rate of success is the baffling idea that Pokemon somehow understand the 'scarcity' of the ball being thrown at them. That, or it is indeed the most 'comfortable technology' to exist.

On Pokemon Boxes

The first Pokemon Box system was a 'stasis' format. Pokemon entered within would enter a complete freeze from time, locked in the moment they entered in. Such boxes were rare and existed as a status symbol, one which could still be seen for a time within Aether Foundation president Lusamine's own office - whose boxes were in constant display of their contents. These systems were found, with time, to cause stagnation to Pokemon growth; the longer one was encased, the more stunted their growth in the time following release. Due to this, the practice has since been made illegal.

New boxes however, will connect to one of two types of location. The first type is a specified field within a natural preserve; while the islands of Alola are particularly well known for this, it is the preferred option for a great many nations adopting such systems. These natural preserves are often used to help re-encourage Pokemon growth in otherwise struggling areas, and Pokemon are carefully categorized to avoid risks of predation.

The second type however is one more recently developed, in that they double as either public Zoos or as research laboratories. While the boxes will often still translate to a tangible living space, Pokemon here are able to be studied in a controlled environment, tagging such specimens for proper study (and for easy access to the original trainer). Due to the relative peace within both types of Box, Pokemon do not typically grow in power while kept inside - though they do, of course, age.

On Pokemon Evolution and Power Levels

The term 'Pokemon Evolution' differs from the general idea of evolution with time. As a whole, Pokemon are fantastically unique next to humans; while both interact with the energy of the world to an extent, Pokemon do so to much higher levels than humans. It is this interaction which so caused various species to gain the remarkable powers that they have.

The energy of the world is an incredibly reactive source, and one that is still studied intensely to this day. What is known so far is that over time, Pokemon gather this energy within themselves - ordinarily, a Pokemon living a peaceful, unbothered life, will potentially live out its lifespan without ever evolving. Such Pokemon may display traits normally seen prior evolution (ie: Vulpix being born with one tail and gradually having it split into multiple), but will never take the final step. In turn however, Pokemon who experience certain amounts of energetic enrichment, such as combat or sport, will naturally 'evolve' in a burst of this energy once it has gathered to a certain point. Certain unique evolutions often trigger in the same way; the energy within is reacting to a particular instance of change, and causing spontaneous cellular restructuring in turn.

Due to the relationship between the amount of natural energy and evolution, an international 'Level System' was eventually understood and noted down in the way one records measurements of height and weight. Systems such as Pokedexes and associated technology record automatically the levels within each pokemon, translating it as a particular 'level'. Over time, a method of preventing evolution was eventually understood as a result of these studies as well as studies of the mineral known as 'Everstone', which appears to have a dampening effect upon the more reactive and transmutative aspects of gathered energy. While current debates are hot upon the question of whether this could cause harm to Pokemon, thus far it is considered incredibly rare for any such creature to remain under-evolved by the time they reach the wildly accepted 'maximum level'.

On Pokemon Breeding and Egg Moves

It is a common joke among those in the community that Skitty can breed with Wailord. This is due to their classification within the 'Egg Group' sorting system, both being 'Field'. Such beliefs were not helped by gullible children leaving their Pokemon at Day-Care centers in recent years; until perhaps ten years ago, these young Trainers would often leave their Pokemon in the hands of the capable Day Care and come back with an egg - the quiet result of Breeders who did not keep quite so careful an eye on the species mingling with each other.

As a matter of fact, no Wailord has ever bred with such Pokemon; what Egg Groups refer to in actuality is the species connections within Pokemon DNA. Wailord, quite curiously, is thought to have the same early ancestor as Pokemon such as Hippowdon, and Copperajah. Whereas the latter two eventually honed earthen talents, Wailord's closer ancestors took to the seas, becoming Water Type. Ultimately their skeletons and DNA still reveal these ancient ties, earning them the classification of 'Field' Group.

Then, one might ask, how is it that Wailord could possibly pass talents for certain moves to the children of a Skitty or Delcatty? Putting aside the fact that there are understandably no such moves on record, recent studies have at last confirmed how it is that seemingly incompatible Pokemon pass on these talents; and it is simply a matter of community. These Pokemon would befriend another, and indeed spend much time together. While the egg would of course not be sourced to both Pokemon, the move talents would. In Paldea, the growth of a plant known as Mirror Herb was ultimately developed to help encourage this phenomenon, particularly once it became apparent that such things were not restricted by Egg Groups or species - all it takes is a little community, and a lot of training.

On Pokemon Eggs

Eggs are fantastic. Eggs protect the young within from the elements, and allow the adult parents more freedom to move. In the world of Pokemon, only humans seem to have come to give live birth; a sign of, perhaps, their relative safety as a species. Pokemon are at constant threat from the elements, from each other, and so on after all. Laying eggs even as their species differentiated through life simply made sense.

But Pokemon Eggs have another secret - they're incredibly difficult to break. It appears that rather than evolve alternative methods to bear young, Pokemon as a whole instead came to put more energy into ensuring the next generation is well protected before coming into the world. The shell of a Pokemon egg gathers energy from the world around it, especially when put in motion. In the wild, this would help to ensure that a young Pokemon hatches faster if the nest is under pressure, hopefully allowing it to escape before the egg is otherwise eaten. In captivity of course, this means that many eggs are hatched simply by holding one close and walking until the Pokemon inside has gathered enough energy to break through.

The further advantage of this process as it seems, is that young Pokemon are almost immediately able to walk and fight after hatching. While hardly strong, it's enough of an edge to survive.

A relevant question in the face of this of course is eggs which are eaten, particularly those of Chansey, or Blissey, but this is an easy matter to lay to rest. Pokemon eggs require fertilization after all, so Pokemon species that regularly lay eggs outside such incidents can thus be relied on for ethically sourced eggs to eat.

On the Creation of Pokemon, and Ghost Type Pokemon

Among the possible 'types' of Pokemon, the origin of Ghost types is a particularly interesting topic of study. Once assumed to be spirits of the dead, Ghost Pokemon are very much living beings - however it is clear that the ancestral creatures which became these Pokemon originated from more nebulous sources than simple animals. The existence of 'object Pokemon' is not unique to Ghost types of course. Trubbish and Magnemite are just a few examples of Pokemon who came into being due to the focused collection of natural energy and emotional purpose. Spontaneous 'sparking' of such energy gave piles of metal scrap, or sludge life of some sort, and as such creatures procreated and evolved, they became the Pokemon known today. This process, long discussed and theorized, is one which eventually became the key in creating pokemon such as Porygon and other synthetic species; energy is collected alongside matter (in Porygon's case, digital data), and a response triggered to create 'life'.

Ghost Types in particular find their origin very specifically in the gathering of human emotion more often than not. Indeed, the emotions of Fear and Grief are incredibly ancient things; fear of lights leading humans astray eventually became Litwick. Grief over treasured hounds became Greavard. It is no surprise that despite the affability of the Pokemon themselves, those classified as 'Ghost' are typically associated with such negative topics. A unique source of study however, can be found in Yamask and Cofagrigus. These Pokemon originated in the region of Kemet, where ancient peoples placed intense amount of focus upon being remembered after their deaths. These obsessive focuses became the small Pokemon who so carry and weep for 'their' faces, eventually guarding 'their' treasures to deadly extent.

This line of Pokemon has, however, brought forward a fascinating question on the study of Ghost Pokemon; at what point can emotion be called memory, and vice versa. Are 'ghosts' merely the result of emotions gaining form and growing over time, or do they carry deeper memory within their very DNA?

On Dark and Psychic Types

The relationship between 'Dark' and 'Psychic' Pokemon is one that has fascinated people for many years. Psychic Pokemon over all represent what is often considered the strongest display of immaterial or mental prowess; humans themselves can be born 'Psychic', displaying powers of similar merit to such Pokemon themselves. With 'Dark' Pokemon representing a void against such abilities, it is thought that the many villainous and 'evil' associations with even the most stalwart and loyal examples of Dark type species originate from human bitterness. That such Pokemon could resist the 'blessed' powers of themselves, clearly meant such creatures were 'evil'.

In more scientific context, Dark type Pokemon appear to have evolved such focus and ability in strict defense of Psychic types; it is thought to be similar to the development of the Fairy type against the indomitable Dragon type's power, with the advantages of complete nullification proving more necessary than anything else.

On Fossil Pokemon and the origin of Types

It is notable that, with exception to the piece-meal creatures that so result from Galar's fused monstrosities, all revived Pokemon borne from fossils are partially Rock Type. While it was once thought that Pokemon from the past were revived as true examples of their once living forms, it is found that Pokemon revived from the stone are therefore corrupted by the stone. 'Rock' is within the preserved remains, and becomes one with the resulting body. There can be no true telling of what the revived Pokemon was genuinely like in the ancient past as a result.

Such matters contribute to current theories on the origins of 'Pokemon Types', and the processes which led to the expression we see today. Pokemon who adapted to wield more combustive forces may have become Fire Type, while naturally the great many creatures inhabiting the oceans of the world trended Water. In recent years, regional variations of Pokemon such as those found within Alola's invasive species have helped tremendously in these studies - the switch that Pokemon have made over a handful of decades in order to adapt and make use of different Types helps to unveil how it could be that ancient Pokemon came to find their way into the forms we now know. Of course, the mysteries regarding nigh 'God-like' Pokemon, and their immeasurable powers over elements and Types, remain a mystery despite such studies.

On the Classification of Legends, and Pokemon 'Gods'

Legendary and Mythical Pokemon fall into one or more of three categories. The first, and less known, is Pokemon who are considered 'Extinct in the Wild'. These Pokemon are the sole exception to 'legends' whose separation from chosen trainers provide considerable risk to their surroundings. Unlike the 'Godly' species of such categories, EW-class Pokemon - while certainly powerful in many cases - are still comparable to other, more readily known creatures. These Pokemon are often gifted to people by a facility, or an individual, with the expectation that they will eventually help to contribute to restoring its population. Rarely, an exception in the form of a Pokemon who was considered entirely extinct will appear - in such cases, facilities will often request permission from the trainer to study this Pokemon in the hopes of eventually restoring its population (or at the least, recording its data more fully for study's sake).

It is worth noting that so called 'Starter' Pokemon, while certainly rare in the wild, do not fit this category for that exact reason - they yet exist in their natural habitat.

When one says the word 'Legendary', or 'Mythical' however, it is of the other two categories that one thinks of. The more mundane, and better understood form is that of Pokemon who have gathered so much natural energy that they have become radically different from the species they originally were - and, more vitally, passed it onto any offspring they may have. Diancie, whose species branched from the less powerful Carbink, are the most notable example of such, though it is thought that the legend of the 'Three Dogs' is what remains of a similar case occurring after a disaster.

There are yet other Legendary Pokemon who have long been viewed as the sole example of their species, with as of yet no ties to existing Pokemon in any such way. Whereas even the 'mundane' Legendaries often display traits akin to immortality, even appearing as isolated examples of existence, Pokemon as old as this have understandably gathered worship over the many eons they have no doubt seen. Between their unfathomable power over elements of the world itself, and their great refusal to be tamed by any unworthy human, countless cultures have called such beings 'Gods'.

Despite the moniker, it is better to say that most cultures who revere such entities view them in the way that the mundane world viewed immensely powerful spirits of nature. These Pokemon are not often considered to be entities who will listen to prayer, or even reverence. They are Pokemon who demand respect and awe simply by existing, though the extent to such faith certainly varies region to region, and Pokemon to Pokemon.

To no surprise then - when these Pokemon do find among humanity someone worthy of partnership, they remain with an intense loyalty only betrayed by an utter disregard for the Pokemon's own ideals. To forcefully separate such a pair brings catastrophe on the region without pause, and so when such pairings occur, Regional governments can often do little more than request registration before observing from afar.

As for whether or not any such Legendary Pokemon are indeed 'Gods'...no facility is willing to concretely declare as such - though individuals within such places certainly may, and absolutely have. It is, however, considered too divisive a topic to make any singular being the 'confirmed deity' of any such thing. There are simply too many regions, a great many of which still remain silent regarding their own feared 'Legends' to this day.

On Mega Evolution

Similar in nature to phenomena such as Galar's 'Gigantamax', or Paldea's 'Terastalization', Mega Evolution represents a rapid onset metamorphosis brought forth by the accumulation of a particular energy - in this case, 'Mega Energy' or 'Mega Power'. While the full origins and breakdown of such energy are still being studied, it is shown that this energy is found naturally through the world as a whole. Typically, this energy is barely notable in its amounts - only through specialized training and practice does it ever gather enough to trigger an evolution, and even then the evolution itself must be guided.

Rarely however, a Pokemon will indeed gather this power naturally. The overflow of energy will force sudden mutation in an often painful process, thrusting the creature into a berserk state. It is these 'Rogue Mega Evolutions' which fill the Pokedex for the most part; a warning for those who ever encounter such Pokemon in the wild.

In the professional context, a Trained Mega Evolution is always guided. The Pokemon holds a stone, created using both 'Mega Crystals' (the crystallized form of Mega Energy) and a sample of the Pokemon's DNA (such as some of their fur). The Trainer must then hold what is known as a 'Key Stone', an object which helps to ease the release of Mega Energy as the Pokemon undergoes their brief transformation. The ability to channel such power varies person to person - it is noted by Emporio in fact that the ability actually appears to align with those who would have Stand Potential, in that Trainers with particularly strong 'Will' are better capable of gathering and unleashing Mega Power without causing undue harm to their Pokemon.

Notably, this is the secondary function of the Keystone; under all other circumstances outside of battle, it slowly releases latent energy to prevent unnecessary build up in the Pokemon. As well, it prevents any botched evolutions from occurring, ensuring no Pokemon suffer the fate of their Rogue counterparts. Those who fear for such wild Pokemon need not worry for their fate, on this note - while it is recommended that one combat such Rogue Pokemon into submission to lessen their time within such a painful state, this power will still naturally fade with time. Unlike the release of energy that causes typical evolution, Mega Energy is always transient, and temporary. The naturally unstable cellular bonds will always revert given enough time.

On Rotoms

Rotom are a unique Pokemon which have existed since before the advent of technology. It is thought that they were born from the natural fear of electricity - rather of lightning, of bolts striking the earth from nothingness. Static electricity being the more common occurrence in many regions, this uncertain understanding eventually gathered into the plasma being that is Rotom, which propagated into the creatures we see today.

As technology has advanced, Rotom in particular have adapted with great zeal. Their incredible compatibility with technology is something that companies have since capitalized upon, beginning to selectively breed this species for relative intelligence and trainability; it is a common misconception that a Pokemon must be highly intelligent to be capable of easy training. In fact, high intelligence often breeds more rebellious Pokemon, as they are more capable of seeing decisions their Trainers do not!

(Notably, this is why many assistance Pokemon are bred for such high intelligence, as it provides greater security for the assisted human.)

Bred Rotom are now sold as a joined package with devices that they are never expected to fully abandon. Where wild Rotom will happily jump between various technologies in order to cause mischief, Roto-Drones, Roto-Mi Dispensers, and even Roto-Bikes are now devices which fill the market. The latter are particularly encouraged as purchases, with the modern 'Roto-Phone' so prevalent as to even be required for modern day living in many regions. This has created some discourse - Rotom devices are not cheap in the slightest, and while replacing broken devices is far cheaper after the initial purchase, it does not remove that sting. The Pokemon are fortunately incredibly long-lived, meaning that many Rotom devices are effective 'one-time-purchases', but people are finding that as technology advances, their personal Rotoms struggle to adapt to newer phone models. They were trained for a particular system after all, and lack the easy adaptability of their wild counterparts.

Incidentally, while these bred Rotom are incapable of combat, it should be noted that Emporio's Roto-Phone is in fact not a legal bred Rotom. Rather, he repaired a broken phone and adopted a wild Rotom. As such, both it and his 'Roto-Bike' are considered 'off record', with the little ghost more than capable of defending its Trainer in a pinch.

On Microbial Organisms

As noted, there are creatures within the world that are not considered 'Pokemon'. Such things are small - smaller than the naked eye can perceive. Microbial organisms which are integral to the world yet exist, even within the body! While their presence is visually negligible, to the point that they are excluded from such blanket statements as 'all creatures' and so forth, they still carry their own fantastical abilities in the same vein.

The primary point of difference is scale; fire, grass, and a great many 'Typed' traits, cannot manifest in at all the same ways once they become too small in size. Thus, the side effects of most microbial organisms within the world do not appear any different from the mundane. All that can be seen is that certain new diseases happen to exist, either enhancing or weakening the abilities of the macro-fauna they mirror. Suffice it to say, the final nail in the coffin which so determined they were not Pokemon is their near invisible size. Indeed, with the exception of colonies such as Dhelmise, Pokemon formed by a greater whole of smaller entities, they could never possibly be contained by a Pokeball!

One growing theory relating to the abilities of microbes within the world is that they perform key roles in the formation of Pocket Biomes however. As 'like' is drawn to 'like', it is understood that many such creatures will follow larger populations. A gathering of Ice Pokemon does indeed bring with it a gathering of related microbes, which are vital in the restructuring of such an environment.

On Pokemon Leagues

Much like the sporting leagues of the mundane world, there are varying degrees of competition and notoriety within the Pokemon Leagues. It would be quite accurate to say that the greater a country's population, the more leagues it contains - while not all regions will necessarily have one, these leagues act both as a governing force to help maintain relations between Pokemon and Humans, but also as a way to encourage anything from learning, to competition, depending on the region in particular. Galar for example places a great deal of importance on Pokemon battles as a sporting event, whereas regions such as Paldea often encourage their Gym Leaders to maintain primary jobs alongside their duties.

Notably, there are a great many regions which lack official leagues entirely - the concept of a Pokemon League is a fairly modern creation, as proven by the variety of ways they manifest. From Johto and Kanto's 'joint league' (from which any combination of eight badges will grant access to challenge their Elite 4), to Efisga's curious 'three region league' (which carries only nine badges despite this), it appears that the only true requirement for a Pokemon League is a gathering of highly skilled trainers referred to as 'the Elite'.

These 'Elite', alongside the reigning Champion, are those who determine league badges, Gym Leaders, as well as the responsibilities among themselves and the various trainers in the League. Typically, the Elite themselves maintain more generalized roles - akin to wings of government, ie, 'Land and Sea', 'Health', etc.

To say that most regions lack a league is not to say that they lack any government system however, nor even a system of raising new Pokemon Trainers. Many of these locations follow their own storied traditions, maintained for as many as hundreds of years - a great example being that of Alola, who only recently added a pseudo-League to their Island Challenge system.

(It is noted that despite being referred to as the Alolan League, the Elite of Alola do not actually hold the equivalent levels of power - this instead remains in the hands of the Kahuna, who are ceremonially tasked with their roles by the Legends of each Island.)

On Battle Styles, and the 'Four Move Limit'

Pokemon Battles have been a constantly changing affair. Trainers and the Leagues that oversee official bouts are always seeking out newer, more entertaining formats, even to their potential detriment (as witnessed with Galar's 'Dynamax' phenomenon). Through much of modern history, Pokemon battles have in part been focused on the idea of 'Honor' and 'Control'. What was originally an organic battle form, emphasized by simply pointing at a wild Pokemon and commanding one's own to 'attack', became a system where each participant would strike in 'turns'. Whoever moved first would take the first blow, with emphasis placed on the ability to convince one's Pokemon to simply wait to strike again. While dodging attacks in such battles was of course allowed, this anticipation often made it difficult for Pokemon to simply avoid a strike.

A similarly connected trend which arose from such battles is the 'Four Move Limit'. Pokemon do not, of course, 'forget' what they are capable of. If a Pokemon has come to learn how to perform an attack or status move, only years without use could erase that progress. In order to add restriction and challenge however, early Pokemon professionals began to enforce a limit of 'four moves'. They would provide either the referee, or their opponent, with the list of moves they would use for each Pokemon, and go from there. This provided both honor- as any Trainer who acted outside their moveset would be disqualified immediately- as well as control- as it is not in most Pokemon's nature to restrict themselves.

What became an unexpected consequence of this, was in the limitations of younger Trainer's understanding; as children came to learn the 'four move rule', they began to mistakenly attribute it to actually forgetting the ability to fight, leading to the unwitting use of the trend even in wild battles! In modern day, schools are quick to therefore emphasize what is actually the case - otherwise, young Trainers could easily find themselves in trouble during a wild Pokemon battle.

Recently, there has been a rise in the trend of more organic battling once more though. While the four-move-limit is still a strictly maintained rule, historic studies of old regions such as Hisui have inspired Trainers to practice more organic styles, working with their partner Pokemon's natural speed rather than any imposed 'turn order'. While such battles are all outside of the official League, there have been talks in some regions to perhaps implement organic battling systems within them.

On Fainting and Blacking Out

For Pokemon, their inclination to retreat to a safe place is often what allows Pokemon Battles to proceed without significant harm. The moment a Pokemon feels itself to be on their last legs, they will immediately seek shelter; for a Pokemon belonging to a trainer, this is often their Pokeball. Given the exhaustive state such Pokemon often reach when this occurs, it is to no surprise that the term given to such retreat is called 'Fainting'.

In professional battles, 'Fainting' would eventually come to refer to any loss, however. A referee often determines if a Pokemon is unable, medically speaking, to battle any longer (with referees receiving incredibly precise training to maintain as much objectively). Naturally, a Pokemon literally passing out on the arena is also considered 'Fainting', though yet another point of understanding that referees must learn is the difference between this and drowsiness.

For humans, there is a shockingly similar defense mechanism though; this mechanism is referred to as 'Black Out' or 'White Out' (though Black Out is the most popular). While the term can also be used to refer to Trainers who are no longer able to send Pokemon out for battle, medically speaking it is a state of false death that a human automatically enters when under severe threat. Pokemon are, by nature, disinclined to predate on human beings; they are not particularly filling prey, and for smaller Pokemon the effort of attack is often not worth the end result. Instinctively perhaps, Pokemon are additionally aware that to kill one human is to invite an entire host of humans upon their territory - which is even less desired.

Thus, a human 'playing dead' (however unwillingly) is often a foolproof method of escape. The Pokemon leaves to return to their own actions, while the human eventually wakes with the strength to flee and recover. Worth noting is that Emporio - being from a different reality entirely - does not have this instinct and ability. Instead, he relies on his Stand or his Pokemon to get him out of such situations with rapidity.

On TMs and HMs

The term 'TM' and 'HM' stand for 'Technical Machine' and 'Hidden Machine' respectively. These are somewhat misleading as names, but ultimately names that have stuck to near international extent. Rather than any singular machine however, a TM and an HM are both involved training kits made to quickly help a Trainer teach their Pokemon particular moves. When such kits first began to hit the market, there was very little regulation on how they were created and dispersed; as such, such kits were made to be 'single use', even going as far as burning out the tapes upon which instructional videos were found.

In an effort to curb this, various governments first began to legally declare certain TMs as 'necessary' for public Trainers to have access to. In the resulting battle between the Law and Corporations, these became known as 'Hidden Machines' for their scarcity. What were meant to be 'Handy Machines' were now far from that, as despite being entirely re-usable, it was alarmingly difficult to procure a great many such kits.

With time and progress however, these issues have changed. As TMs become easier to manufacture, they have become permanent use items - in turn, one use 'Technical Records' have been released with recipes for their production, so that even mere students can gather the materials necessary to combine with online video records. 'HMs', as such, are now a relic of a bygone era.