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Feel The Ground Shake (Pokemon - Ground-type specialist)

Reader mode
In retrospect, it seems pretty obvious when you consider that the MC is doing an illegal job for a gang for no reason but foreign soil samples, he should have just added it on top of a different payment that actually helps a trainer trying to make it big, like his previous reward was a life orb. Like if you do a background check, MC working for a gym would have been a massive flag and then he just randomly asks for soil samples from Sinnoh after living on ice most his life and then looking through his team being 90% ground types but Ursaring?

Throwing that info up to Giovanni, a Ground type specialist, i bet he could read underneath the underneath and then they dig for info back at Pryce's gym for the mysterious new evolution and find out that the guy who discovered the method is the same guy asking for foreign soil samples. All of a sudden, his actions seem fairly straightforward, maybe they don't know he's looking for evolution materials but it does seem like he needs a specific soil for his Ursaring.

The moment Petrel became his minder, he should have pulled back and just use his rewards as is cos you ain't gonna trick their master of disguise whose job is to lie and infiltrate, lying to him probably just attracted his attention in the first place instead of just saying "i want sinnoh soil samples for my own reasons, it's none of your business"
 
So how long until Team Rocket and other teams cotton on that Bradley knows more about pokemon and other pokemon based phenomena compared to like 90% of the pokemon researchers, institutions, gyms, breeders and the League, then try to squeeze him for all that tasty info regarding stats, movesets, evolution and species, and locations among other things and make him regret it?
 
Honestly, Team Rocket isn't the WORST criminal group to team up with. They're not trying to take over or destroy the world, there's no cult aspects, and in fact they have a vested interest in the world NOT being destroyed. Team Rocket is the Yakuza. They're interested in making money, and maintaining the criminal underworld so they can make more money. They tried to make and control Mewtwo so that they would have a trump card. But they were burned by that and Giovanni doesn't typically have any interest in further messing about with Legendaries.
 
Cursix said:
Gonna look bad when the only people besides him with an ursaluna are rocket though.
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He was planning on sharing his evolution methods with the world though. So if he shares it online, just like the Ancient Power evolving Mamoswine, then it won't matter if Team Rocket shows up with one.
 
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I don't think that Team Rocket knows exactly what Brad is searching for, but they have narrowed it down. First, they paid attention to which soil samples Bradley was paying attention to. All that would require is a hidden camera and someone who can tell when he's bluffing and not actually paying attention to a sample. So, they would know what soil he's actually looking for. Connecting it to Ursaring would be a bit harder. But if they spotted him letting Ursaring check the samples once, and he has been trying to evolve Ursaring, they would know. If they know these two things, then this last bit is half bluff. They're pretending to know more than they actually do in hopes that he will believe that they know everything and stop hiding his exact actions.

As for how they know that the secret is valuable? That's simple, he's hiding it from them. That alone tells them that they could do something with it.
Aetra said:
90% ground types but Ursaring?
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Honestly, I don't think that that's all that suspicious. We have seen type specialists with one or two pokemon that don't fit their type before. Bruno has an Onix and Lance has a Garchomp(heart gold/soul silver remach).
 
When it comes to Bradley and Team Rocket's relationship, I actually believe Petrel's words at the end there. Bradley is a powerful trainer with quite powerful pokemon, who has the potential to rise even higher, who has connections in very high places. He's also great at underground construction and is willing to walk a little bit on the dark side for the sake of mutual benefits. I do believe that they see him as a friend, or at least someone to court as a friend. And they are not interested in pushing past his bottom line or overly implicating him. Them getting an Ursaluna and then using it for illegal Team Rocket activities without him releasing the information on how to evolve one to the public, WOULD indeed implicate him in their activities. The only reason they would do so if there was the potential to bring him into the organization fully, and tie him to them with the implication. HOWEVER, he's been working for them as a construction contractor for a while AND has direct ties with someone all the way at the top of the government. If they go too far and force his hand, they know there's a good chance that he'll go to Lorelei with everything he knows and burn a LOT of their bases and even some admins. Possibly more if he figured out stuff he wasn't directly involved in. And they don't know this for sure(but we know it), but he would be able to take down the whole organization with what he knows.
 
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LordVishnu said:
"Find something you like Ma Ma?" I asked with the best innocence I could. Still playing the part of the dirt hobbyist. I pick up the tiny chunk of material and run my fingers over it, getting a feel of its texture. "Huh. That is something unusual. I wonder what it's made of?" I inject some real curiosity in my voice, even going so far as to tilt my head before handing it back to her. "Put it to the side and see if you can find any more."
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Yuup, they bought it, they have absolutely no idea whats going on. Thanks for the chapter!!
 
Really liked the various talks this chapter

THough, there is also the feeling of slight dread at what the situation will be when Quaqsire is let out; narratively speaking there has to be some reason for him to be here... I wonder if it could tank a legendary attack
 
Bet Giovanni saw his alpha Nidoking and was thinking ,my brotha from anotha motha, "guys, keep helping him out, he is our brother". Since Nidoking is either his favorite mon or just after persian and is also his ace mon.
 
Man Quagsires backstories one hell of a cautionary tale about move experimentation. And nice that hes getting through to Grundy. Its slow progress but progress alk the same. And yeah no fucking way Rocket doesnt know hes at least trying to figure out a possible evolution. Mostly cause hes looking for a specific type of soil.
 
FTR2017 said:
The crown though? Simon. Just ... imagining his adorkable self learning a move and applying it with gust in one go was a mental image that left me smiling by the end of the chapter.
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The interesting thing that dynamic fist in the second generation was a TM that could be used on all Pokémon with fists, so Simon should be able to teach it to the rest of the team, it's not precise but has a lot of power

Of his current team only Junior and Vlad should not be able to learn it
 
Xodarap said:
So what are the chances that Giovanni is low key evaluating him for future heir to Viridian gym and team rocket itself
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Well that depends on if Giovanni has gone hermit yet or not. But I don't see Bradley being scouted for the position of head of Team Rocket. He's willing to skirt the law and assist criminals, but he isn't willing to do crimes or direct others to do crimes. He might get scouted for the gym, but it depends on this setting's Kanto's view on Johtonians and if the region is willing to accept them as a gym leader.
 
Chapter 17
  • Threadmarks
    • Chapter 17

    Route 44, East of Mahogany Town

    "Aww, who's my good little man!"

    "Swi! Swi!"

    "That's right!" I kneel down to let Junior push himself into my hand. "It's you! You're the one!" Swinub wiggles himself back and forth, an endless ball of nuzzling zoomy energy. Baby Pokémon have always been susceptible to praise, but Junior seems to be a rather extreme case of it. It almost reminds me of owning a Golden Retriever again.

    Swinub: Lv. 14
    Nature: Jolly
    Potential: A-

    There's a sigh from Ace Trainer Cybil as she recalls her downed Mareep. Also a recent capture. Probably came from that same Route where I saw the Flaaffy the other day. "Well that went about as well as I expected..." she mutters a bit under her breath and I throw her a great look of thanks.

    We didn't have to send out our two youngest to duke it out first. That was a request on my part. A bit of an unfair one since we both knew I was going into it with a type-advantage. Still though, she honored it like a good sport. Swinub now has his first win in a proper battle and her electric sheep has its first loss.

    By Cybil's own admission, Mareep was starting to get a big head from all the Spearow and Poliwag she was having it bully around here.

    "So," My impromptu travel buddy continues. "Now that that's done with, are we gonna battle for real or what?"

    "Bell! Bellossom!" her companion chimes in from her shoulder. An impatient little cry that could almost be described as 'haughty'.

    Bellossom: Lv. 30
    Nature: Hasty
    Potential: B

    That's how Cybil and I met you see. Two trainers traveling the same Route, both with a Pokèmon perched on their shoulder -Vlad on mine, 'Maple' on hers- it only made sense to say hello.

    "Yeah sure," I return Swinub back to his ball and let my hand rest atop Krokorok's. "On count of three then?"

    Cybil grins viciously. "Who even needs to count?" her arm spins out. "Dance on the wind! Go, Butterfree!"


    Ice Path, Under the Blackthorn Mountains

    Ho-ly fuck is it cold in here!

    Like goddamn, I'm even wearing three layers and everything!

    A pair of Sneasel peek out from behind a crystal and seem to chitter to themselves. A Dark glint enters their eye and it's only an audible growl from Ma Ma that sends the duo scurrying away. Off to find a softer target to harass I imagine.

    To be completely technical about it, this isn't the only route available when attempting to travel to Blackthorn City. There's a Flying service that'll take you over the mountains from Route 44, but they positively charge out the nose for it. In a way that's not even subtle about you being price gouged.

    'I did it once a year ago. Not three or four weeks after I first got here. Never again. Those pricks aren't swindling me a second time. Never again.'

    Alternatively, you could also choose to approach from the south. Go all the way down to Route 29 just outside New Bark Town and start climbing. An absolute slog uphill through Routes 46 and then 45. You could cut some of that out if you choose to shortcut through Dark Cave east of Violet City but…that's not exactly a pleasure trip either.

    In addition to ruining your shoes with all the Zubat poop, it's also the location where I captured Ma Ma. And while that might mean I'm more protected than most from all the hostile critters who live there, that still leaves the fact that the place is an absolute nightmare to navigate.

    As unimaginative as the name 'Dark Cave' is, it's certainly not an inappropriate descriptor.

    A deep shiver passes through me as the chill seems to cut straight through my clothes. I think I might be experiencing the first wholly negative aspect of being an aura user. Or more specifically a Ground aligned one. The walls, the floor, the very air of this place is laced with Ice energy. So much so that Vlad demanded to go back in his ball after the first few minutes of it. Behavior that, if you've paid attention to how much I've said he prefers not being in there, is most unusual.

    'This shit can't be natural.' I loose a hot breath into my hands and rub my palms together as we march, trying to get some warmth back into my fingers. 'Water and Grass are Super-effective against Ground too, but I've never had any problems going swimming. Never felt a thing from laying down in a meadow and taking a breather.'

    So what makes this place different? Why is this place so charged with type-energy when other places are not? Is it an accumulation of centuries of Ice attacks never melting? Was this cave the home of a Regice in ancient times? There has to be some explanation. Aura hotspots -coldspots?- don't just come into being without a reason. There's always an origin.

    Ma Ma's paw blocks my path as she suddenly tenses up. Her nose sniffs at the air twice and her teeth bare as something approaches.

    "What is it girl? We got trouble inbound?"

    ….

    ….

    ….

    "...nx…ynx…"

    A gaggle of Jynx -four of them to be precise- all round the corner up ahead and seem to be engrossed in a deep conversation. "Jynx! Jy Jynx!" The second one from the left is telling some story, wild hand gestures and everything, whilst the other three are laughing it up like a group of gossiping housewives all out at brunch.

    Ma Ma announces herself. A deep rumbling of the throat that anyone with good sense knows to steer clear of. At the sound the bevy of ladies all freeze up…and then slowly swivel in our direction with panicked eyes. When the queen grizzly then takes a threatening step forward the girls scatter. Flailing over themselves in their haste to get away as fast as -well not as humanly possible- but you get the idea.

    The last one even faceplants for a moment. Tripping over a floor crystal in their hurry.

    Despite my teeth chattering, I do manage to loose a chuckle at the scene. "Nice work Ma Ma. Though you don't need to be so aggressive to everyone that-"

    A flipper touches my hand. "HOLY JEEZUZ!" I nearly spring out of my clothes as Ma Ma wheels around to attack. Her swipe -fully empowered and shining with Normal energy- travels down fast before pausing just inches before hitting the face of an innocent-looking Delibird that's staring up at us.

    'How in the fuck- How did it sneak up on us!?'

    "Deli?" The Ice/Flying type tilts his head past the claw, seemingly totally oblivious to the fact it almost just got maimed. "Deli!" He brings his bundled up tail to the forefront and begins rifling through it like a bag, seemingly looking for something in particular.

    "Del!" The little two-foot Pokémon hops up to slap something into Ma Ma's paw, a bulbous purple thing covered in -Oh it's a Wiki Berry, that's kinda rare for Johto- , and for the first time since I've known her…my Ursaring seems unsure of how to proceed.

    "Urs?" A confused 'thank you?' rumbles over her lips and the Delibird tweets to himself with a satisfied chirp. Turning then to me, the Pokémon rummages through his white sack again 'Still can hardly believe it's actually his tail' and then proudly presents to me…a dusty grey rock.

    "Oh, uhh…thanks I guess?" I manage to speak, accepting the item with a weak smile. 'Would it be weird to make a Charlie Brown reference?' "Do...do you want something from us in exchange?" I offer for lack of anything better to say. "I might have some Berries in my bag?"

    "Del Del, Delibird." The festive Pokémon waves me off with a cheerful chirp. Smiling at us that such things don't matter. 'Ah ok then. I guess it really is just a gift.' Ma Ma and I watch a little dumbfounded as the strange bird tucks the opening of its bag under its arm and then begins to waddle off. A little spring in its step as it wanders back into the cavern.

    "Ursa?" Ma Ma turns to me confused, holding the Wiki Berry out with a question of what she's supposed to do with it.

    "Give it a bite I suppose." I eventually say. "Some Pokémon don't like their flavor. Not sweet enough. But, hey! At least you got something edible. All he gave me was this-" My words pause as something tweaks my senses about the item I'm holding.

    A twinge of my aura.

    Giving it a dust off, a few brushes of my gloved fingers, I can see the underside actually shines a bit in the light. The rock isn't…holding energy or anything. At least not in the conventional way. With things like evolution stones you can almost feel the power in your hand. This is slightly different.

    I clean it up a little more and my eyes widen.

    This isn't a rock.

    Not a stone either.

    This is a Razor Claw.

    The Held Item used to evolve Sneasel into Weaville.

    'Where in the hell-? Not even Lori's had the time to hunt down-?' "Hey! Where did you get-" I call out to the Delibird but it's far too late for that. The Christmas themed bird has already turned a corner and disappeared completely. No sign of it all among the glittering crystals that make up the cave.

    'Did…did I just get visited by penguin Santa?'

    What even is this world sometimes?


    Blackthorn City

    Oh sweet sunlight! The life giver! How I missed thee!

    Would it be too much to drop and kiss the ground? That'd probably be too much right?

    Shedding my winter gear, I take a moment just to bask in the sun's rays, feeling all that lingering chill of the Ice energy melt away.

    I have two main goals while I'm here in Blackthorn. They could be done in either order though I think I might try and accomplish the second one first.

    Goal #1: Defeat Clair and obtain the Rising Badge. Since it'll only be my sixth, we might get lucky and not even have to face her Kingdra. Though I'm confident my team can handle it even if we do.

    Goal #2: Find a Razor Fang.

    Not 'look' for one. Not 'keep my eyes open'. Not 'well I gave it the old college try' and then push it off for later. No. We are staying until it's done.

    This mountain range is the singular habitat for Gligar in Indigo. There is literally nowhere else that they live. Fourteen months ago this is where I caught Vlad and back then we were both too inexperienced -too green- to go out exploring the entire area proper.

    If that Delibird can randomly pick up a Razor Claw then I can find the Fang. The occurrence of one being present in the wild all but confirms the existence of the other.

    I just have to find one.

    And it doesn't matter to me if I have to scale every cliffside into the clouds to do it. Vlad has been working as the backbone of my party for over a year now. Training up the youngin's. Handling fights I couldn't trust to others. Having my back when things got dicey. I owe him that evolution.

    Walking into town I find that the usually tranquil scenery is in a bit of an uproar at the moment. The Blackthorn I remember from a year ago was quiet. Serene almost. What one would expect from a settlement who's situated up in the mountains. Right now though there seems to be a ruckus. Whole crowds of trainers -both old and young- are crowding into the Pokémon Center, trying to push themselves to the front.

    "Move it!/I wanna see!Get outta the way!/Shove off grandpa!/Please everyone! Settle down!"

    Heh. I think that last one might be the Nurse Joy who's on duty. Poor girl. Making my way to the back of the crowd I grab the attention of a local who's doing his best to frantically peer over someone's head. "Hey man, what's all the commotion about? Someone fish up a shiny Dratini or something?"

    He turns to me with a wide look. "Didn't you hear! Prof. Oak just published an article about some new Pokémon evolutions! They're saying it's related to that news about Piloswine from two weeks ago! It just hit the Net twenty minutes ago!"

    I let the man go and raise an impressed eyebrow at the news. 'Hot damn. Already? Shit that was fast. I figured people would figure it out quick, but I didn't think it would be that quick. Make a mental note to never underestimate a Pokémon Professor I guess.' Mixing myself into the crowd, I stand around patiently waiting for the herd to thin a bit. Very slowly moving towards the front as individuals cycle in and out of the building.

    'I wonder which one they figured out first? The Tangela or the Yanma? I'm curious to see if it was entirely Oak and his people or maybe someone else who put the pieces together?'

    Getting a little closer to one of the Poké Net computers, I catch a brief glance of a picture and get an answer to my question. Two Tangrowth in the Celadon City Gym high-fiving each other with their eyes turned up in a smile. In front of the two bulky Grass-types is Gym Leader Erika and…some other woman who I can't say I'm familiar with. Probably one of her Gym Trainers or something.

    Erika is beaming at the camera, joy and pride blooming across her features while her subordinate is… so embarrassed that it's kind of adorable to look at. Hands folded in front of her, posture all rigid and face so red you almost expect steam to issue from her ears. It's down right precious. Makes me want to reach through the screen just to tease her.

    The person manning the terminal exits out of the screenshot and begins scrolling down through the article again. There's a flash of another photo, one with two trainers - one with long red-hair and the other blue - and I shake my head in a double-take. "Hey! Hey! Scroll back up!"

    My voice doesn't reach them -not that I'm surprised what with everyone around us still jabbering on excitedly- and I start being a little more forceful in pushing my way to the front. I make it to just behind one of the three computers and soak in the text of the digital screen.

    Pokémon Discovered to evolve from Ancient Power

    -Piloswine -> Mamoswine (Credit: Gym Leader Pryce and Ex-Gym Trainer Bradley.)

    -Yanma -> Yanmega (Credit: Bug Catcher brothers Chaz and Andrew.)

    -Tangela -> Tangrowth (Credit: Gym Leader Erika and Poké Lass Bridget.)

    -Arbok -> Adnokana (Credit: Poké Fan Club Members Jessidaia and Jackson.)

    My mouth falls slightly open at the last line. "...what?" I whispered out.

    Forcing my way through the remaining crowd I -more than a bit rudely- snatch hold of the mouse and furiously double-click the hyperlink next to the last entry in the list. Immediately the screen is overtaken by a photograph of Jessie, James, and Meowth -all poorly disguised per usual- standing sheepishly in front of a Poison/Dark type that all my cheater cheat mccheat face meta knowledge rather adamantly says shouldn't exist.

    "...what?" I breathed again.

    ….

    ….

    ….

    No seriously,

    W h a t?
     
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    • LordVishnu said:
    Forcing my way through the remaining crowd I -more than a bit rudely- snatch hold of the mouse and furiously double-click the hyperlink next to the last entry in the list. Immediately the screen is overtaken by a photograph of Jessie, James, and Meowth -all poorly disguised per usual- standing sheepishly in front of a Poison/Dark type that all my cheater cheat mccheat face meta knowledge rather adamantly says shouldn't exist.

    "...what?" I breathed again.

    ….

    ….

    ….

    No seriously,

    W h a t?
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    Uh, Adnokana is a Poison/Steel type, not Poison/Dark. Just a minor heads up. :)
     
    pokemon-vega.fandom.com

    Adnokana

    Adnokana (Japanese: アーボスク / Arbossk) is a dual-type Poison/Steel Pokémon, and is one of the original Fakemon created for Pokémon Vega. It evolves from Arbok starting at level 44. It is the final evolution of Ekans. Explanation about what kind of Pokémon it is. Adnokana is based on the anaconda...
    pokemon-vega.fandom.com pokemon-vega.fandom.com

    Hmmmm. I don't like it. It looks like neither an Anaconda nor a Steel type. It also doesn't evolve by move.


    I can't believe that Pryce gets the primary credit for Mamoswine. Bradley's the one that had one long before him, and Bradley is the one who had to tell Pryce.
     
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    So is he just sticking his head in the sand at this point when it comes to his metaknowledge being either outright wrong or incomplete? He's seen pokemon do shit they couldn't in the games or the show, but it seems like he's just letting it build until it finally fucks him enough to make him care.
     
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