second train → ...literally a train (days 2-7)

[infinitefrown]

[So lately there have been a bunch of crazy body changes the poor people of Luceti have had to go through. Ingo is no exception, but even after being turned into a Pokémon yesterday, he definitely wasn't expecting this.

SUDDENLY, SUBWAY SYSTEM.

There's a new set of stairs near the fountain that descend underground. The sign beside it helpfully spells out LUCETI SUBWAY. Elsewhere in the enclosure, similar staircases can be found, or the subway simply emerges from underground at the end of its path (such as the one near the beach).

Going down the stairs near the fountain reveals a rounded room with a number of platforms like this. The maps inside depict where each subway line goes. Most of the subway lines are pretty normal, but there's one that just goes in a circle labled "BATTLE LINE." There's an instruction sign on its platform explaining that it's a Pokémon battling line, and if you board you will be expected to specify your battle type and face 20 hologrammed trainers before reaching the SUBWAY BOSS(a hologrammed Ingo and/or his brother). GOOD LUCK CHALLENGERS.

Yep, other than that and the suspiciously Ingo-sounding intercom, it seems like a totally normal subway!

...Except one more thing.



Why do the trains have sideburns?!]



[Feel free to use the subway as you please! Tag in traveling groups, run into each other on the cars, or strike up a conversation with intercom-Ingo, whatever works. There can be stations wherever, and they can be underground/aboveground, either is fine! YEAH.]

Comments

[mischiefbreeder]

[Okay, that prompts one question and one question only.]

...What's a Multi Challenge?

[tsuntrader]

Multi Challenge?... [Oh. Oh.]

Maybe multi battle is two trainers in a double battle. [A single battle is one trainer, one Pokémon, a double battle is one trainer, two Pokémon... Yeah, that makes sense.]

[infinitefrown]

[Ayup. Good Silver, he can count on you to figure stuff out even without reading signs.

SLIDING THE DOORS OPEN]

[mischiefbreeder]

Makes sense.

[Whoa, shit, man, those doors just opened even though they're not near them yet. Guess we should go, huh? Right, let's go inside.]

[tsuntrader]

[Don't need to tell him twice. He is so heading right into this train.]

[infinitefrown]

[Very good, very good. The doors close behind them, but the train doesn't take off quite yet. The intercom does come on, however.]

You will use two Pokémon each against your opponents. If your Pokémon uses a consumable item, the item will be returned to you after the battle. If you defeat your opponent, you will progress to the next car to continue your challenge. Breaks are permitted after every seventh battle; you may come and go as you please, then. When you reach the last car, you will be challenged by the Subway Bosses.

Please prepare yourselves while the hologram program starts up. Thank you.

[That sounds kind of familiar.]

[mischiefbreeder]

[Only two, huh? Well, Gold knows who to start with. But that voice sounds way too familiar.]

Hey, isn't that the subway guy?

[tsuntrader]

Do you really think that Ingo wouldn't be on the battle subway that just randomly appeared out of nowhere?

[infinitefrown]

Correct the first time. [Hahaha. Hello, you two.]

[mischiefbreeder]

I expect him to waitin' at the end for challengers, not actually callin' all the shots from some other location via intercom.

[tsuntrader]

He's the only guy that gets the battle subway, Gold. We're not in Unova.

[infinitefrown]

I am running everything here, Gold. However, I'm not exactly in another location. [this is kind of weird to explain. Meanwhile, a Youngster and a Lass begin to flicker into view on the opposite side of the train.]

To be quite frank... the Malnosso's experimentation has assimilated me into the subway system, I suppose.

[Yeeeep.]

[mischiefbreeder]

[So wait- that means- we're-]

...We're inside you?!

[There are some immature perverted thoughts in that thought bubble of his that quickly scribble themselves out and explode before they progress too far. Oh god do not want to think about that.]

[tsuntrader]

[We're inside- wait Gold, what in the world are you-

I don't want to know.] ...Come on, let's just start.

[infinitefrown]

Aah. [A small sigh emanates from the intercom. GOLD, NO. NO GOLD DON'T DO THAT. DON'T MAKE THIS WEIRD.

also, beyond the question of why did Ingo see that, why could he see that?! WHAT IS THIS EVEN. Thought bubbles?!]

... ...Thank you for your maturity, Silver. The program is ready whenever you are.

[mischiefbreeder]

[...Silver was thinking it too.]

Yeah, let's get this started. [Gold takes hold of his first ball.]

[tsuntrader]

[Thinking what?

Regardless, he grabs his first ball as well. He doesn't even have to think to know what Gold's gonna do first.]

[infinitefrown]

Very well. Begin.

[The Lass releases a Petlil, the Youngster a Ferroseed. Whoohoo, unidentifiable Gen V Pokémon!]

[mischiefbreeder]

[Okay those look like grass types. Gold has no idea what they are, but they're obviously grass types! They're grass types and Gold has the perfect way to start things off!]

Explotaro!

[tsuntrader]

Murkrow! [Come on, this is kid stuff. They don't even have to know the Pokémon for this stuff.]

[infinitefrown]

[Yeah, the beginning of the line is usually a cakewalk. But you've got seventy-eight more Pokémon to go through, don't forget!

There's no way either of these Pokémon are faster than Gold's and Silver's, but Ferroseed will attempt a Metal Claw on Murkrow if it gets the chance, and Petilil uses Attract on Typhlosion.

Granted, this is if they even survive the first hit...]

[mischiefbreeder]

[There's a split-second image in Gold's thought bubble of the grass Pokémon being launched into the air and then being rammed by Murkrow, before it fades.]

Explotaro, Earthquake! [This car is a-rockin' and those grass-types are being sent a-soarin'.]

[tsuntrader]

Murkrow, Drill Peck! [Silver's thought bubble has a quick flash to the exact same thing, and indeed, that's exactly what's going to happen. Murkrow goes in to facepunch the poor grass-types.]

[infinitefrown]

[Lucky thing the holograms aren't equipped to understand wtf is going on with thought bubbles, or that could be a bit of a disadvantage.

As it is, Petilil is down for the count. Ferroseed lasts a bit longer as it's not weak to Flying-type, but... coupled with Earthquake, it does it in.

K.O.!! That was easy.]

Ah. Interesting. [While the hologram Trainers send out Tirtouga and Archen, Ingo muses over Gold's & Silver's teamwork. Fascinating, fascinating. Also, heck yeah his train can take earthquakes!]

[mischiefbreeder]

[Aaaand more Pokémon they don't recognize. Well, one looks like a water type and the other looks like a flying type, so...]

Thunder Punch! [Gold makes a jab motion with his fists as Explotaro charges at the Archen to knock it down a peg.]