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

[Unlistedwaffle]

do we know what he's trying to get from carter?

 

[Jambory]

So yeah, this was a pretty exciting update. One part I enjoyed seeing:

"So does this mean I'm going on a 'fourth' watchlist?"

"It's not the time for jokes, Bradley." The woman doesn't even crack a smile. "You know this won't be the end of it right?"

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Heck yeah!

Lorelei: You captured an alpha. You added *that* Quagsire to your team. You caught a Sub-Legendary. And now, on top of all that, you've been doing odd jobs for Team Rocket? That's four watchlists you've had to be put on! FOUR. Do you have any idea how much paperwork I have to deal with?

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It's most likely a coincidence, but I appreciate it nonetheless!

On a more serious note, of course, it was interesting to see the fallout of Brad's aid of Team Rocket. I hadn't picked up that his asaociation with them was spoken of during their stint, and him having to come to terms with people's reactions, whether it's Rick and his own history with Team Rocket's exploits, or Lorelei balancing between being understanding, reproachful, and cautious of Brad's recklessness with regards to him abetting their operations (and the retribution that will come from betraying them).
With that being said, this is one of the more unique takes I've seen of Team Rocket, and more specifically, Giovanni. In the fanfics/games I've read, he's never in the "orange suit"; from Ashes to the Past, to Reset Bloodlines, to Fire Red Rocket Edition, to Team Rocket Edition, Giovanni is always the guy who operates in the shadows. Whether he's "good" or "bad", he doesn't do things as front-facing as he's actually depicted in the anime (like how he had a whole island that had a bunch of giant animatronics on it). So to go from that, to him being as twisted as you could possibly get (RIP all those Weezing, Metapod, and Butterfree) is a refreshing take on him as a character, not to mention that he's tentatively aligned with Lance (who's either mostly aligned with how he is in canon, or he's the secret evil bad guy who's taken over Kanto after winning the secret Kanto-Johto War that no one talks about) as a matter of pragmatism to ensure that the intraregional stability doesn't shatter to pieces.
THAT… is incredible. I haven't seen something like that done before. It almost makes me want to see if their experiments bore fruit so we can see some absurdly gruesome Tortured Experiment Forme of a future battle Brad inevitably gets roped into.

Also, since Calem died fighting Lysandre, I suppose this means everyone else died as well (Serena, Tierno, Trevor, Shauna, and anyone else I'm not thinking of right now; don't judge me, it's been over a decade since I played X and I don't remember it too well). It almost makes me wonder if something similar happened with Michael (got annihilated by Shadow Lugia) or if it was something that happened later (Ardos getting his revenge). Either way, I'm sure Lysandre and Greevil/Ardos will have a lot to talk about in terms of child murder.


Can't wait to see what chicanery Brad gets into next. Maybe he'll wander into Pacifidlog and awaken his Registeel with an ice cream. Who can say…?

 

[dxdragon]

Thanks for the chapters, glad to see this is back!
Welp, looks like his Rocket history is outed.
Oh, and Lance is working together with Giovanni in this one? That's interesting. If Lorelei finds out she will be disappointed.

Time to hide out in Hoenn and train up his Pokemon! If he can get them all to like 70, then he will be safe until a Legendary shows up.

 

[ThunderBasilisk]

Ohh hell yeah Peak has returned! And damn I knew things were bad but man plot armor for protagonists just doesnt exist huh? RIP Calem but know Brad will rip out Xanders spine in your place. Along with and figures Lance would know about Giovanni but damn was I still surprised. Wonder if any of his pokemon will potentially get blessed by Groudon? Since it's THE Ground type legendary.

 

[LordVishnu]

The Slateport Market is where the Alakazite is in-game, right? Not surprised that it isn't just lying around in a crowded area, and I haven't read this in a while so correct me if we're in the timeline without mega evolution, but it would've been funny for it to have been spotted.

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For the purposes of this story, I'm strongly leaning towards keeping Mega-evolution just as Kalos's thing. Though that doesn't mean MC won't ever get access to the mechanic.

I also never played the Hoenn ORAS remakes, so that probably factors into my feelings at least a little bit.

do we know what he's trying to get from carter?

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Bradley asked to see desert Pokémon. The relevant conversations are in Chapters 11 and 23 if you'd like to take a look.

Wonder if any of his pokemon will potentially get blessed by Groudon?

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Groudon doesn't really seem to me as the…blessing type.