Are you tired from the battles fought?

[WOW what a beautiful forest this is. Seriously, it's nice. All peaceful and stuff. Listen to that quiet wilderness air...]

[... which is then completely shattered by an angry growling. Not from any pokemon. From a human.]

[Who appears to be kicking a bush.]

Fine.

I will concede.

I will... fly...

[Ironhide, you have a bunch of rock pokemon, how are you going to fly anywhere.]

... Somehow. When I find something with wings.

[Apparently one of the other pokemon have switched the 'gear on, because Ironhide isn't looking at it. He's deep in conversation with a Squirtle. Napalm can be seen half-curled around them on some cleared bit of grass at a park.]

I checked. You should have had the cannons weeks ago.

[The Squirtle looks up at him, and bounces a little, its face going ":D". The cheeky little bastard. It's been holding back. Likely on purpose. Because it totally knows why Ironhide got it.]

[He eyes it, sourly. It waves to him.]

Fine. You be that way.

[Ironhide turns, as if to walk away.]

This just means we will have to train harder in the meantime...

[The Squirtle blinks, and its big eyes get even bigger. Then its little face scrunches up in concentration.]

[Shortly thereafter, there is a flash of light. It clears, and the Squirtle has EVOLVED! The Wartortle looks up, and Napalm nods to it. One more frown later, and there's a second flash of light.]

[Ironhide's level 45 Squirtle is now a level 45 Blastoise. It growls something triumphantly, and then lumbers after its trainer.]

[And before the feed cuts out, Ironhide can be heard:]

... knew that would work.

[The 'gear clicks on to show a little Corgi-like Growlithe bouncing around, with an Eletrike. Part of the view is hidden behind a pair of booted feet.]

[They're rolling across a lawn, barking and chasing each other. Honestly, it looks like they're having the BEST TIME EVER. At some point, Dog pounces on Rascal, and the two go rolling into some bushes. Almost immediately, Dog is darting back out again, followed closely by Rascal. The two proceed to continue this merry chase all over the lawn, until Dog runs behind the feet.]

[Her nose fills the screen.]

... This is not what I meant by training the canines.

[Apparently those feet belong to Ironhide, and, as usual, he does not sound all that pleased with his Pokemon's antics.]

[The feed clicks off, only to resume a moment later, with the old 'bot's face filling the screen instead of two frolicking puppies.]

Everyone calmed down after that... Halloween... thing? Or are you all still crazed?

[Hey! Look who it is! It's... Ironhide. In bed. In a pokemon center. Careful observers may notice that it is, in fact, the Azalea Town Pokemon Center.]

[They may also notice the old timer looks considerably more battered and bruised than the last time he appeared on the 'gear. One of his legs is pretty much completely immobilized. He's got an arm in a sling, and he's propped up on a pillow or two.]

[He is also scowling. But that's nothing new. His message is brief, growling.]

Made it to Azalea. Cliffjumper too.

... not going anywhere for a while.


(ooc: Takes place a good while after this.))

[Video clicks on to show off Ironhide, sitting out under the stars, an arm draped loosely around Egg the Lairon.]

... Heard a lot about people disappearing, recently. Someone told me they go back home again.

[He pauses, and looks up.]

Does this happen often?

[What's this? Oh, look, it's Ironhide. And he appears to be training two of his pokemon -- a Teddiursa and an Aron. What's he training them to do, you ask?]

[Well. They appear to be attacking a tree trunk. A tree trunk with a crude stick figure and a spiky logo carved into it. The two pokemon are taking turns practicing their attacks on the tree, while Ironhide paces behind them, barking orders, in true military fashion. His Onix is visible behind the tree, watching curiously as they work. She looks a little scuffed up -- clearly, she hasn't escaped the training regimen either.]

[Eventually, he nods, and steps back.]

Good. Enough.

[That said, Ironhide limps over to his Onix to look her over. While his back is turned, Jaws the Teddiursa looks at Egg the Aron, before growling, and pouncing on it. Egg yips, butting at Jaws, and before you know it, there's a scuffle going on as Jaws bites at Egg, and Egg retaliates in scratches and tackles. It looks as if Egg has the upper hand, with his tough armor and heavier body but... suddenly... there's a bright flash.]

[And instead of a little Teddiursa, Egg is now confronted by a very large, very angry Ursaring. The bear pokemon roars in triumph and takes a menacing step toward Egg. The little Aron squeaks, but holds his ground. And... appears to be tensing up. As if he's concentrating very hard.]

[There's a second flash. By now, Ironhide has turned around, staring in confusion at his pokemon.]

What--

[It would appear that, not to be outdone by his companion, Egg decided to evolve in a fit of pique. Scowling, Ironhide does the only thing he can do, at this point. He recalls the pokemon into their separate pokeballs, and puts a hand to his face.]

... Children. I am dealing with children. Large... animal children.

No question of it. I will be going to join the digging.

[The big man reaches over and pats the side of his looming Onix's face.]

This will be a lot of help. Big as it... she... is. And a little storm never bothered this old frame. Just wondering if these things happen often in this place.

Anyone else assisting? Cliffjumper?

[This is what Autobots do, bro, you better be going. After a moment though, he looks back at the screen, like he's just remembered something.]

... If there is any cousin of a girl called "Kisa" in Violet... Sit tight. I will return for you. Kisa wanted you looked after.

[Oh what. What's this? It's a video, of course. This video is of a very disgruntled-looking man, in loose, black clothing. He's tall, broad, and built sort of like a linebacker. There's a nasty scar on the right side of his face, almost marring one of his very bright, very blue, eyes. His arms are folded, and he looks pretty close to an outright explosion of anger. His voice is vaguely accented, and low, growling.]

[And did we mention he's in New Bark Town?]

I demand an explanation for all this... Where am I. Where have my comrades gone.

And what have you done with my frame?