Welcome to Gaia! ::

Honestly, it wasn't Banter's place to say, nor is it mine, but since the cat is already out of the bag, yes, Avalite is resigning from the Crew. She has her own reasons for taking this hiatus, be it temporary or permanent, and we should wish her well in whatever she does. Keep her place in the RP open, characters preserved, and always keep her in your mind when playing this RPG.

i hope shes ok. and not gone too long.)

((Actually, Legends slowed down a lot shortly after Avalite first joined. It took a little over a year for the Hoenn RP to reach 690 pages, but about 3 years for the Sinnoh RP to reach 800 pages. In all fairness, Sinnoh was a lot denser and more heavily planned

But a lot less active

Like, a lot.

It was usually my fault though, since I'd sometimes vanish for weeks at a time.

Speaking of which, I'm back! My internet actually died, which sucked. Also, I got a puppy, which made up for it

Since this is the big speech, I'm gonna bold the parts where Ghetsis is talking to make it easier to follow; this might end up being a wall but there's still a door))

Silence fell at once. The lights dimmed, the loud clap of lamps echoing through the main lobby, projecting a ten foot tall image of the Plasma logo on the back wall, just above a smart wooden stand. Armour chinked and clanked along with a heavy march of footsteps; the hallway's echo made the ten men sound a thousand. Plasma grunts entered with full uniform, flying their banners, escorting their leader into the lobby.

Ghetsis entered at a lower pace than his escort. They marched ahead, breaking off either side of him, banners held high as their leader swept between the two rows of grunts. He ascended the steps to the podium. With a swish of his cloak, Ghetsis turned to his audience, single unmasked eye opening to survey the room, glossing over the unimportant faces to single out the interesting ones. The important ones.

He smiled, his troops hammering up onto the stand and spreading out behind him, leaving a gap for the Plasma logo to project onto while holding up their banners. Ghetsis rested his hand on the podium, leaning into the microphone. It was time.

"Children of Unova, it is with a light heart that I stand before you today, pleased that so many of you have come to listen and learn. My name is Ghetsis Harmonia and I thank you for your attention."

And he had it. Of course, this is what they were all here for, wasn't it?

"Throughout the years, my struggle has shown me sides of mankind better hidden away, sides that represent the dreadful brutality that humanity is capable of." His stern face gave way to warmth, "It has also revealed goodness, honesty and the drive to do what is right.

"I founded Team Plasma with this in mind. At our core, we appeal to the light of mankind and assist it in overcoming the dark. To better our world; not just for ourselves, but for those we share it with. I am speaking, of course, about pokémon."

The atmosphere shifted. Nobody started to move, nobody murmured, there were no whispers or glances. But it was different. And Ghetsis could feel it. He continued with a smile.

---

Audino began to sweat. She'd mended bones, revived a heart, hell, even grown hair on demand, but that was easy. She kept up her Healing Pulse, silent shimmers of pink light washing over Wayne's bleeding hand.

"How did this happen again?" Shery said with a frown. Not an annoyed frown; it was more concerned than anything. This was not a normal injury.
"An evil assassin lady broke into my dorm room while I was passed out from a psychedelic hallucination, stole my pokémon then threatened to kill my friends and family if I told anyone. Also, she might've been a robot. Mmmmaybe from the future."

Shery drew her mouth to the side, hands on her hips. "Right. Y'know your pokémon are right there on the table."
"She didn't steal them for very long," Wayne raised a finger but it was slapped back down to his lap.
"Don't move so much. Audino has to make sure you don't end up with any nerve damage. That means staying as still as possible."

Wayne was quiet. Yana managed to escape and leave him with her message. But he wasn't going to listen. Who the hell did she think he was? Nobody threatens Katelyn. Nobody.

The list just got bigger.

Audino deflated as her Heal Pulses stopped and she flopped to her back, done. Wayne flexed his fingers, which seemed fine. He noticed a thin red line where Yana's blade sliced into his flesh.

"That's going to scar, I'm afraid," Shery told him, cradling the tired out Audino against her chest. The pokémon was already snoring lightly.
"It's fine," Wayne said, standing up. He gave her a sideways glance and then a big smirk, "Thanks a lot. You're pretty good even when you're not in cosplay."
"It's not cosplay," Shery frowned. This time it was an annoyed one.

Wayne nodded and gathered up his pokémon, stuffing them firmly in his pockets. He stopped at the doorway for a second, hesitating, then sprinted down the pokémon center hallway.

"Where are you going?!" Shery yelled after him. Wayne didn't look back but he did reply.
"I've gotta go make a phone call!"

The young nurse shook her head, heading back into the room. She set Audino down on the bed and the pokémon turned over, breathing deeply. There was water on the floor. Odd. Shery followed the trail to the open window, running her fingers on the wooden frame.

"It's wet," she whispered, inspecting her fingertips. But then the water shimmered and vanished. This water was generated by a pokémon. Her eyes shot open wide as someone clamped a black gloved hand over her mouth and dragged her back.

She didn't cry out as the blade slipped through her skin.

---

"History has charted our society’s growth, its hardships; the development of technology, healthcare and medicine, industrialisation, even war."

Ghetsis allowed that last word to settle. While there hadn't been a full blown world war in hundreds of years, there were always small conflicts over borders out in the rustic province. They'd last until the World Government or Interpol intervened, then start up again as soon as they left.

"All of this is intertwined with our relationship to pokémon, their contributions necessary to forge the world as it is today. We owe so much to them. Yet in spite of this, in spite of their very existence catalysing our good fortune, pokémon are still treated as second class, as servants and slaves!"

He pounded the podium, standing tall, commanding.

"We abuse their power in every sector; hospitals are staffed by Chansey who are worked gruelling hours without rest; coal mines keep six pokémon for every human worker, sent deep into the earth to forage for our resources; they’re used as living batteries, as tools and yes, weapons. Pokémon fight for our entertainment."

Bitterness clung to his voice and Ghetsis looked around the room. Many of the people in there were trainers, or representatives of one organisation or another. They were the very people he was criticising.

He knew that enough would be too pigheaded to heed his words. They would hide behind the same lies they told themselves every day: that their pokémon are happy, that if it were really so wrong then why were they allowed to do it in the first place? But they weren't the people he was targeting. All he needed to do was convince one. Just a single person. Then the ball would roll.

"Is this fair? Is this just? Encouraging our children to ‘brave the wilds’, attacking innocent pokémon in their homes, rewarding so-called trainers for capturing and subjugating pokémon in the name of ‘friendship’; do you truly believe this is right?"

Zack's Xtransceiver started to vibrate. Elizabeth gave him a nod, her fingers wrapping around Katelyn's hand. They'd be alright. Zack slipped out into the hallway, finding a spare room with the door open. His glare emptied it of the couple making out and he answered the call.

"What."
["Dad!"] Wayne's face flashed onto the screen. He appeared to be running through one of the city streets. It was dark, but every now and then he'd be illuminated by a streetlight, ["It's Plasma. One of their guys jumped me in my room! They said that if I didn't stop looking for my pokémon then they'd kill Katelyn!"]

"Team Plasma works tirelessly to prevent further pokémon abuse, giving our members the knowledge required to help our world turn a leaf. In the past year, Team Plasma has begun initiatives aimed at promoting pro-pokémon values, teaching at a number of schools in Unova as well as Hoenn and Sinnoh."

"Are you serious?"
["You know I wouldn't joke about this."]
"Get to somewhere safe. I'll meet you at my father's house in uptown. How soon can you get there?"
["Just a couple of minutes. I realised I can fly."]
"Then wait for me. Elizabeth and Katelyn are here at the Plasma Banquet," Zack ignored Wayne's face as it dropped, "we're getting them out of Unova."

"Here children learn the value of caring for the environment as well as how to properly engage with wild pokémon. This has proven results; more young minds are opting to stay in education past the age of 10 than ever before, impacting positively on not just pokémon welfare, but society as a whole."

---

"Society as a whole, huh?" Tess tilted her head to the side. The TV was the only light in the room, flashing pale as the trainer collapsed on her bed. She wasn't staying at the center; instead it was this fancy hotel room that she hadn't seen much of.

"Pokémon must be liberated from human control, freed from captivity and abuse. Human mercy must displace human selfishness. That is our goal. We act for the good of all, for the safety and wellbeing of the innocent and virtuous.

Frost the Weavile lay in wait. Tess now knew where his loyalties were bound, but she still trusted him to obey her. After all, he had done so far, but he'd be useless in a battle against Zack Redgrave. So much for that plan, she'd have to think of another.

"But still there are those who would sour our message and cast a shadow on the good Team Plasma has done and yet strives to do. As many of you are already aware, some of our number have taken extremist, anti-human views. They are responsible for terrorist attacks at the Striaton City Dreamyard, which placed Munna and Musharna in danger of extinction, and the attack on Nacrene City Pokémon Gym that led to Pinwheel Forest’s annihilation."

"Yeah right," she held back the laugh. Anyone familiar with Zack's Aura wouldn't be able to avoid its scent splashed across Pinwheel's charred skeleton. The Government and Interpol were covering for him, at least for now. Probably planning a crucifixion depending on which way the wind blows.

Tess looked over at the ice type. She could barely make him out in the gloom, but she could sense him. Oh yes, she could definitely sense that little battery of power. How would he react if his one true master was arrested? Would he try to stop it? Or would be be the same as ever? Cold. Immovable.

"Let me assure you that these monsters lie in the absolute minority and in no way reflect Team Plasma’s goals or aims. They are cowards who hide behind our banner and create evil. We are cooperating with the government and Interpol to the fullest degree. We will catch and punish these wrongdoers before they can commit further atrocity!

Tess turned over. It had been a long day. She'd seen Wayne again, if only fleetingly. She wasn't sure how she felt about that. He wanted answers but she couldn't give them. Not to the questions he asked.

"We will make our world safe again. Not for money, or for fame or glory. We will do so because it is the right thing to do. All we ask is your help. Pokémon are not meant to be subjugated in captivity. Set them free. Our children need a world that is safe and secure. Give it them. Each and every one of you has that power, all you need to do is know how to use it."

Everyone in the city had power. Those shockwaves might have been blamed on a battle out at sea, but they'd changed people. Whatever had happened, the citizens of Castelia were sitting on dynamite. Luckily, she hadn't seen anyone find the fuse. But in a city this big?

Boom.

---

Ghetsis was beginning to finish up.

"As I’ve been speaking, stations have been set up by the main doors. Anyone who would like further information may leave their details." He gestured to the end of the hallway, where tables had been placed with normal-looking Plasma agents sitting with sheets of paper and pens. "Those watching at home need only follow the web link at the bottom of their screen.

Ghetsis smiled. It had been quite a turnout. Far greater than he'd anticipated. The message was spreading. The seeds were being planted. Now all he had to do was wait for the fruit.

He placed his hand on the podium.

"I implore you all; please reconsider your relationship with pokémon, mankind’s relationship with all pokémon. And I hope you do them justice through liberation. Thank you."

sasha clung to kenta and whimpered slightly throughout the speach. it wasnt due to the words, but the man speaking them that had her scared. kenta held her and listened closely to the man speak. his thoughts were simple. 'if they want pokemon released, start with their own.' kenta could see from his position above the croud that not only did ghetsis have pokeballs on him, but so did the members of plazma he had pointed out. though he already knew they did, having delt with plazma first hand already. the story plazma sold had a double standard. still, kenta also noticed many in the crowd looking at their pokeballs with a mixture of confusion and concern. they bought this bull and were gonna follow this mans orders.

ah well, kenta stands by his statement in regards atleast to the others. and ofcorse hes british! what else could he be lol)

(( Honestly, I'd love to join this. You guys are just so far in that I don't know how that would happen. ))

((I hate to say it, but, I've not looked at Game of Thrones at all. I probably should do since the tv show seems to be pretty popular. I can't be much help there unfortunately.

I wouldn't recommend Lord of the Rings to ya, since that does have lots of rambling prose and songs.... I hate all the bloody songs. XD But yeah.

However, I could recommend the stuff by Jo Nesbo. I read The Snowman and it was pretty interesting ((It was translated, but, it still worked rather well)). Whether you'd like it or not is a different matter since I'd say it is similar in terms of being a thriller like Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

But yeah, Game of Thrones ain't something I have read.

Also Luka will always do that, even if some of the things are assumption. XD

Also.... why you no makey me one of those awesome banners? blaugh Just kidding. biggrin ))

Luka thought for a bit longer, Ghetsis was clearly an intelligent man who had the gift of the gab so... that didn't get Luka anywhere. There was something here that Luka knew wasn't right. What the hell was it?