Individual RP: Akinai [Mt. Deckbi]

NBP #1 @Akinai;

Zor yawned as she waited up for her Trainer at the Ranger outpost, mindlessly tapping her pencil on her desk as she waited for her Trainer. Akinai, the Trainer, was around the same age as Zor, so it seemed as if it would be a fun time in the Park. With a bored sigh, the blonde flopped back and let her head hang backwards. Her body language read, 'utterly and completely without reason to do anything at all at the moment, someone please entertain me'. Then, with a light jingle, she heard the door open and perked up immediately. A young woman with long, jet-black hair and a blue jacket looked around expectantly. It was her Trainer, looking ready to go.

"Akinai, right? Hi! I'm Zorayda, your Ranger for the day," Zor introduced cheerily. "Ready to go?" When they both made sure they had everything they needed, they were off to start their adventure. Zor hopped into her Park vehicle, allowing Akinai to get in the passenger's seat, and they drove a ways until they got to the foot of an ominous-looking volcano. Dark clouds of ash could be seen high up, and little floating specks of it rained down and littered the ground around them. There was a stark lack of vegetation, replaced instead by chalky black rocks and stone that looked as if it'd been melted and cooled several times.

"Okay, here we are." Zor unbuckled and slid from her seat. She unclipped a Poke ball from her belt loop and clicked the button, releasing a graceful-looking Ninetales. "Akinai, this is Viola. Viola, this is our Trainer for the day," the Ranger introduced. She always made it a point to be kind to her Pokemon and include them as equals. They were intelligent enough to be so. Zor looked back up at Akinai and smiled. "So you can either look around the base of the volcano for Pokemon or start up this here trail," she said, pointing out the wide, rocky trail that snaked up the side of the volcano. "We'll cover both sections, but you can pick which way we go first."

Trainer Stats

Spoiler

Items: Park ball (x2), Super ball (x2) Hyper ball (x2), EnergyPowder (x1), Super Potion, Pokedoll (x8), Camera, Apricorn Box (Blu x1, Wht x1), Pokeplayer (Litwick Voice Disc), Type Repellent (Fighting)
Encounters Remaining: 15
Pokemon Encountered:
Pokemon Captured: 0
MCR: 0/000

Battle Stats

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N/A

Pokemon Stats

Spoiler

Jade [FLYGON] | Female | Serious | Levitate | EMs: Flamethrower, Heat Wave, Signal Beam, Mud Shot, ThunderPunch, Hone Claws, Iron Tail, Hidden Power (bug), Captivate, Endure, Attract, Toxic, Roost, Aerial Ace, Swagger, Fly, Strength | 100%

Wist [BANETTE] | Female | Sassy | Cursed Body | EMs: Dark Pulse, Hidden Power (Bug), Thunder Wave, Calm Mind, Thunderbolt, Taunt, Pain Split | 100%

Spectre [GENGAR] | Male | Relaxed | Levitate | EMs: Drain Punch, Snatch, Pain Split | 100%

 

“Well, here we are once again,” Akinai muttered to herself mostly out of habit. Directly ahead stood the front office to enter the National Park proper, with the doors open to all aspiring Trainers who wished to enter for the day. While she had entered this place many times before, this time around was different due to two factors. For one, there was no Pokemon standing near her. While normally her Flygon or Gallade would fill this role readily enough, there was a good reason for this. It had all started with a minor argument with Zen only a few days ago, one that she was still a little annoyed about.

<I don't see why you are so worried about trying out for the position,> Zen had said over their mental link, the Gallade crossing his blade-arms as he looked at his Trainer reproachfully. <You have a few Ghosts, and have a bit of experience under your belt. The worst that can happen is they deny you.>

Most Trainers usually found a niche to fall into fairly early in their lives. A large amount would usually try to undertake the Gym challenge, attempting to gather all the badges of a region. Others would become collectors, trying to fill their Pokedex. Some even participated in Contests, battling with style rather than sheer force. It had been almost two years since Akinai had become a Trainer, and still she had been unable to decide what profession to choose. Needless to say, it was surprising to see one of the more reserved members of her team to advise trying out for a Gym Leader position somewhere in the Johto region.

“It's not the position I'm worrying about, it's the type,” Akinai said in return. “I've never really used Revel and Spectre, and Magi...the day that spirit listens to me is the day the sky turns green.” The entire idea just seemed ridiculous. The only Ghost on her team that ever saw any action was Wist, and a single Banette could hardly take on an entire team of powerhouses.

<Train one of them, and go after other Ghosts,> Zen replied, staring down his Trainer. For a moment, the two were in a stubborn standstill. Finally, the Gallade gave a shrug and walked away. <What is the point of keeping us around, if you never battle?>

I had never really thought about it that way until just then, Akinai thought to herself, shaking out of her reverie. Before, she had just captured any Pokemon that appeared interesting and always thought her motivation on what to do next would come later. If the rest of her team thought the same way Zen did, however, there needed to be a change in what happened in their routine and fast. Hopefully hunting for a certain elusive Ghost in the area she had signed up for would provide this change. Taking a breath to steel herself, she finally walked through the front doors to the Outpost.

The main area was empty, save for a lone Ranger who was leaning against the wall, looking bored out of her mind. Seeing that a Trainer had appeared though, she immediately began to walk forward to greet her. “Akinai, right? Hi! I'm Zorayda, your Ranger for the day,” she said cheerfully. “Ready to go?”

“That's me, all right,” Akinai replied, unable to hide her surprise. She had seen very few female Rangers walking about, and this is the first time she had been assigned to one. She even appeared to be around her age, which was even more surprising. “Also, I'm ready to leave whenever.”

Surprisingly, rather than using one of the Pokemon normally used to teleport both Rangers and Trainers to their destination, Zor instead headed to one of the vehicles parked in the back. Motioning for Akinai to hop in, they drove off and headed towards a large volcano in the distance. This place is nothing like Oktori, Akinai mused, watching the approaching smoke clouds loom overhead and looking at the barren terrain. While the area was just as rocky, the likeness of the two mountains ended directly there. Lost in thought, it only seemed like a few moments until the vehicle came to a stop.

“Ok, here we are,” Zorayda said, hopping out of the vehicle and calling forth one of her Pokemon. The creature possessed a light cream coat, and nine silky tails that gave the Fire-type its name. “Akinai, this is Viola. Viola, this is our Trainer,” the Ranger said, introducing the two.

Akinai nodded to the Ninetales, giving a small grin. It was always nice to see the partners of other Trainers, and Rangers were close enough to the profession. Taking one of her one Pokeballs off her belt, she then lightly tossed the sphere into the air to reveal a midsized violet creature. “This here is Wist,” she said, gesturing to the Banette while it fully materialized. “I would have loved to introduce you to Jade, but well...” Akinai grabbed the bottle of Ground repellent of of her bag and showed it to Zor and Viola, the bottle empty due to using it before entering the Outpost.

Seeing that her Trainer was ready, Zorayda turned around and pointed to two nearby trails. “So you can either look around the base of the volcano for Pokemon, or start up this here trail. We'll cover both sections, but you can pick which way to go first.”

Akinai looked between the two options, mulling the thought over. While the trail by the volcano probably had a great deal of Fire Pokemon, the other path likely had more hiding places for more elusive creatures to hide. That, and if they got stuck in a bind it would be easier to use the terrain to Jade's advantage if she had to use the Flygon. “Let's go with the trail. Who knows, with any luck we may run into something interesting,” she said, then immediately pulled out her Pokeplayer. Grabbing the lone disc that lay in her pack, she slipped the object into the device and hit the play button.

 

NBP #2 @Akinai;

The Ranger nodded in understanding and smiled easily as they began to make their way up the volcano's trail. It was mostly barren near the bottom; Pokemon avoided human interaction if possible, so they steered away from where the Rangers and Trainers began their run through Mt. Deckbi. The two young women trekked up the mountain, their Pokemon following alongside and taking interest in random things nearby. Viola was especially feeling happy here; the volcano was hot and ashy, perfect for the Fire-type. Akinai's Banette seemed all right with its surroundings, though Zor knew that Ghost-types preferred the darkness.

"Litwick! Lit!" The voice recorder repeated itself over and over again with the same call. Knowing exactly where to look for that sort of 'mon, Zorayda walked close to the volcano itself instead of the outside of the huge pathway, keeping an eye out for something in particular. The pair of humans walked in silence for quite some time, not meeting anything yet... and then they came upon a small opening into the volcano. It was barely large enough for a person to squeeze through, but inside, Zor knew it to be much larger.

"Ah, perfect. Akinai, if you would, follow me," the Ranger instructed the raven-haired girl. Zorayda squeezed in first, her curvy figure having a few issues. She made it through, but tore a button off of her cargo shorts along the pocket. "Ack, stupid rocks..." she muttered. The more slender Akinai made it through just fine, however, and the Pokemon had a much easier time than even her. Wist seemed to perk up at the idea of going into the cavern; dark places were much preferred to the possessed doll. The cave itself was stiflingly hot and muggy. Pools of piping-hot water littered the ground, steam rising from them steadily. Above, stalactites were dripping with the condensation.

"Wick! Litwick!" Still Akinai's recorder sounded, echoing in the cave... they made their way through the natural stone, closer and closer to the volcano's core... it got dark enough that Zor turned to her Ninetales at one point.

"Vi, give us a light?" The fox nodded in understanding and summoned a small ball of fire. What the Ranger didn't expect, however, was to see a little alive thing near their feet, looking up at them curiously. "Whoa!" The white waxy thing hopping forward a bit, tilting its head. After a few moments, an eerie purple glow appeared at its head. It was almost entrancing to watch.

"Well... looks like you got your Litwick, Akinai," Zorayda commented, standing to the side so she could try to catch the little fiery candle.

Trainer Stats

Spoiler

Items: Park ball (x2), Super ball (x2) Hyper ball (x2), EnergyPowder (x1), Super Potion, Pokedoll (x8), Camera, Apricorn Box (Blu x1, Wht x1), Pokeplayer, Type Repellent (Fighting)
Encounters Remaining: 14
Pokemon Encountered: Litwick
Pokemon Captured: 0
MCR: 5,697/15,000

Battle Stats

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N/A

Pokemon Stats

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Jade [FLYGON] | Female | Serious | Levitate | EMs: Flamethrower, Heat Wave, Signal Beam, Mud Shot, ThunderPunch, Hone Claws, Iron Tail, Hidden Power (bug), Captivate, Endure, Attract, Toxic, Roost, Aerial Ace, Swagger, Fly, Strength | 100%

Wist [BANETTE] | Female | Sassy | Cursed Body | EMs: Dark Pulse, Hidden Power (Bug), Thunder Wave, Calm Mind, Thunderbolt, Taunt, Pain Split | 100%

Spectre [GENGAR] | Male | Relaxed | Levitate | EMs: Drain Punch, Snatch, Pain Split | 100%

 

Upon hearing the Pokeplayer go off, Zorayda appeared to listen carefully to discern just what creature Akinai was trying to call. When the first few notes went off, the Ranger seemed to perk up as she recognized the cry. She then moved to lead the group towards the nearby rocky trail, her Ninetales closely following behind.

"Either I made the right choice on what path to go on, or she's used to seeing other Trainers go after Litwick as well," Akinai spoke lowly to Wist. Granted, both facts were not surprising. Chandelure was known to be a powerful Pokémon, and Rangers likely knew where certain groups of species gathered together. With any luck, maybe they were near one of these areas.

Wist merely shrugged in return, though she gave the Pokeplayer a surprisingly spiteful glare. Whatever the Litwick was doing on the recording, it obviously didn't suit well for her. Instead, the Banette floated forward to catch up with Viola, hoping to impress the Ninetales with her natural flair.

They had not walked far before Zor gave the signal to stop, then examined a nearby rock wall. "Ah, perfect. Akinai, if you would, follow me." The Ranger pointed to a narrow opening in the rock, then attempted to squeeze through.

A cave? I really shouldn't be surprised, but... Akinai shook off the urge to shudder, waiting patiently for her Ranger to go through before she tried the opening herself. It had been silly for her to think that they would be fighting in the open when all her prior experiences with Ghost-types showed that they thrived in dark locations. Once the opening was clear, so carefully made it through the crack in the wall.

Wist, being mostly incorporeal, merely phased through the wall. Once on the other side, she watched the two humans follow along with an amused expression on her face.

Once safely through, the first thing Akinai noticed was just how humid the area around them had become. The heat seemed to relentlessly stick to everything, and there were even multiple pools of hot water dotting the area. There was little natural light to see anything else though, so most of the area still lay hidden.

Zorayda, noticing this, decided to brighten the area. Requesting help from Viola, in moments the room was illuminated by a small orb of fire. Once this was done, it was suddenly discovered that they were not alone.

A small wax-like creature, almost directly next to the Ranger, was staring over at the newcomers to her home. While a small wick adorning her head had previously been dimmed for secrecy, upon seeing the area light up it was now sporting a brilliant violet flame. Curious, it hopped closer.

Zorayda, seeing the Pokémon, promptly stepped to the side. "Looks like you got your Litwick, Akinai."

For a moment, all Akinai could do was stare at the creature. Upon hearing her Pokeplayer die down though, she was finally able to absorb the fact that yes, a simple recording had helped attract a creature. True, being in an area that was their natural home helped, but it beat having to comb the cave looking for one. Seeing that Litwick looked just as surprised to see them, she smiled at the small candle Pokémon. "Let's both get started then, shall we? You got this, Wist."

Hearing her name, the Banette faded out to rematerialize in front of Litwick, hoping to make an entrance. Once this was done, she tilted her head to the side to show that she was ready for the first move.

"Let's go with Thunder Wave first, then test out the waters with a Shadow Sneak," Akinai commanded Wist. There was little point going all-out right at the beginning, and the first move would see how their opponent reacted to an attack. The more she could learn at the beginning, the better.

Wist began to gather electrical energy, and small sparks started to dance around her form. Once enough of a charge was formed, she would start her first attack.

 

BP #1 @Akinai;

The Ranger grinned at Akinai's surprised expression when the Pokemon she desired finally poppoed up, thanks to her recorder. The Pokeplayer seemed like a foreign object to the Trainer, as if she was unused to using such things. After a moment, though, she came to life and directed Wist to attack the wild Pokemon. The Litwick's flame got larger at this, and her expression darkened as she prepared to strike back. Wist cackled and did a little spin before attacking, releasing a weak electric current aimed in an arc at the Litwick. The wild Pokemon flinched but had never encountered an Electric-type attack before, so she tried to duck but cried out when the wave hit her and paralyzed her body. She trembled as the current swept through her little candle body, but narrowed her eyes and straightened to face her opponent.

"Wiiiiick!" With a cry, her body began to radiate a purple light, eyes glowing the same color. The Litwick stared down her opponent in a Hex attack, angered by the doll's electrifying move. The Banette yelped in protest, but didn't seem to be too bothered by the ghostly attack. Wist snickered a bit, not following orders right away, and instead dancing around on her little stubby legs as if teasing the Litwick. Then the doll seemed to disappear entirely. The Litwick looked around, confused, as Wist's laughter echoed throughout the cavern, only to screech as she was attacked from behind. Wist's creepy ghost-grin only grew wider as the candle Pokemon staggered back, looking as if she was wearing down fast.

[Agh, short post. Sorry, tired @[email protected]]

Trainer Stats

Spoiler

Items: Park ball (x2), Super ball (x2) Hyper ball (x2), EnergyPowder (x1), Super Potion, Pokedoll (x8), Camera, Apricorn Box (Blu x1, Wht x1), Pokeplayer (Litwick Disc), Type Repellent (Fighting)
Encounters Remaining: 14
Pokemon Encountered: Litwick
Pokemon Captured: 0
MCR: 5,697/15,000

Battle Stats

Spoiler

Wild Pokemon

LITWICK | Female | ??? | ??? | 54% | PAR
LAST MOVES USED: Hex

Trainer Pokemon

Wist | Female | Sassy | Cursed Body | 89%
LAST MOVES USED: Thunder Wave, Shadow Sneak

Pokemon Stats

Spoiler

Jade [FLYGON] | Female | Serious | Levitate | EMs: Flamethrower, Heat Wave, Signal Beam, Mud Shot, ThunderPunch, Hone Claws, Iron Tail, Hidden Power (bug), Captivate, Endure, Attract, Toxic, Roost, Aerial Ace, Swagger, Fly, Strength | 100%

Wist [BANETTE] | Female | Sassy | Cursed Body | EMs: Dark Pulse, Hidden Power (Bug), Thunder Wave, Calm Mind, Thunderbolt, Taunt, Pain Split | 100%

Spectre [GENGAR] | Male | Relaxed | Levitate | EMs: Drain Punch, Snatch, Pain Split | 89%

 

Unsurprisingly, Wist couldn't help but show off a little as she fired off her first attack. As the electrical wave arched forward, the violet-hued spirit did a small spin and snickered a little to herself. Even though this was an actual battle, in the Banette's opinion all techniques should be done with style.

Seeing the sparks heading directly towards her, Litwick's mood changed from open curiosity to a more serious expression. The small purple flame above her head grew in size, almost as if it was storing power, and her form shrunk down as the wild Pokemon attempted to duck to avoid the Thunder Wave. This proved futile however, as the move still managed to hit its mark. Shivering as she felt electricity suddenly coarse through her body, for a moment it seemed as if Litwick was already growing disheartened by this strange new sensation. It was barely a few seconds later that she managed to compose herself once more, and looked directly at Wist.

Litwick's form began to glow with a violet light, the hue so dark it was almost black, and for a heartbeat the creature's normally yellow eyes turned the same shade as well. The aura quickly faded from her, and the glow immediately transferred over to the nearby Ghost-type. Wist, still gloating over seeing her opponent's reaction to a mere Thunder Wave, let off a short surprised cry as she felt what was likely a sharp pain striking her entire body. Despite flinching a little, the Banette still appeared ready for more.

Maybe she'll take this battle a little more seriously now, Akinai mused. It was slightly annoying to see Wist treat battles as little more than a way to show off in front of a captive audience, even when paired off against Pokemon who were clearly not in the mood for anything else than a straight fight. She had been hoping that their encounter with a very dangerous Pokemon in their last Run had helped humble the Banette a little; after all, she had been tossed about like a literal rag doll rather than the animated marionette the Ghost-type really was. Unfortunately, it looked like almost nothing would change Wist's strange ways.

Sure enough, Wist's response to the Hex technique had the exact opposite effect. Rather than look at the nearby wild Pokemon in a new light, she let off a derisive snicker and crossed her thin wispy arms as if to say, What, that's it? She even hopped from one foot to another, clearly mocking Litwick at this point. In mid-hop, she suddenly vanished from sight.

Litwick, who had been fuming at the Banette's response to what she clearly thought was a formidable attack, was puzzled as her mocker appeared to have left the area entirely. Her eyes darted around, trying to find some sign of the Marionette Pokemon. While there was the slight sound of laughing echoing around the cave, there was no visual hint to determine the location. Without warning, a strong blow from behind caused the candle to stagger forward, clearly hurt.

Wist gave a large zippered grin, now fully visible to everyone. Surprising her targets was always fun, and seeing that the fellow Ghost-type was clearly shocked made the situation even more entertaining. Even better, her strike must have hit far harder than anticipated. Already this small Pokemon seemed weakened, and it was only a single attack.

Rather than share her partner's enthusiasm, Akinai was more worried than pleased. Usually she used Wist as a long-range attacker, so it seemed only fitting to use a physical move as a way to start off things on a light note. To see Litwick at what appeared to be at almost half strength after one technique was worrisome. Either she had underestimated Wist's physical power, or the Banette had grown stronger since their last battle. Hopefully it was the former, or else their second attack would accidentally knock out their target.

Despite taking an impressive strike from behind, Litwick still stood strong. Even though she had been greatly weakened, the wild Pokemon seemed to possess a strong resolve. Straightening her form once more, turned around to face Wist, looking absolutely livid.

Seeing that Litwick was starting to recover, Akinai quickly ran through a mental checklist of the moves she had taught Wist. Using another Ghost-powered attack would likely do massive damage, and using a Dark move would offer a similar result due to the type being especially strong versus Ghosts. That meant a neutral type was the best bet, and hope that it didn't do even more damage than the last technique. Still, there was always a chance that Litwick would try to pull off a debilitating move and try to take her opponent with her... “Go with Taunt, then fire off a Thunderbolt when ready!” she called out to Wist.

The Banette's eyes widened a little in surprise upon hearing the first command, then gave a sinister laugh in reply. Her target already appeared angry enough as is, but as always she was ready to go the extra mile. Her grin from earlier changed to a derisive smirk, and she held a hand up in a beckoning gesture towards the wild Pokemon.

 

BP #2 @Akinai;

From watching Akinai's expression, it seemed that she couldn't inculcate into her Banette the proper way to battle--to be straight-forward instead of prancing about as she did. Ah, well. It was simply a part of the Pokemon's personality that would never go away, it seemed. The Litwick looked annoyed and seemed to be staggering a bit, though she was far from finished battling the cheeky doll. The flame on her head expanded with her rage, though its ethereal properties of life-stealing had no effect on Wist, given the Banette's odd qualities in the first place... The doll leered at the melting candle and cackled loudly in a Taunt, making the Litwick puff her little cheeks out in adorable anger.

"LIT!" it screeched. Zorayda couldn't really blame it; she'd be angry, too, if someone barged into her home, attacked, and then had the nerve to goad her afterwards. With a cry she summoned fire and launched it at the zig-zagging Banette--the flame was big enough to be unavoidable, however, and as the Ranger watched, the Litwick's face took on a determined look as she trapped Wist in a ring of fire by using Fire Spin. The two girls staggered back at the heat of the flames--they were nearly unbearable. Viola, however, only stood riveted to the battle itself. She was always like that; she longed to be a part of such scuffles and demonstrate her skill, but as a Ranger's Pokemon, she was stuck on the sidelines 99% of the time. Wist yelped in protest as some of the flames licked at her, scorching the fabric that acted as her 'skin'.

The flames danced around the Banette now, who looked slightly worried about this new development, but turned to face her opponent all the same. The Litwick's expression was the one that turned into one of delight, now; she had her opponent captured so she couldn't go anywhere. Now it was a straight-forward battle. Wist summoned the energy she needed for another attack--crackles filled the air and blasted downwards at the Litwick. The waxy Ghost-type tried dodging--the bolt hit the ground nearby, resulting in more of a graze than an actual hit. It still hurt, however, and the paralyzing effects of Wist's previous attack were beginning to take their toll; she was no longer hopping about easily and could hardly move due to the pain. The Litwick's evanescent candle-vapor rose into the air, only to be snatched away by the swirling, roaring fire. The cave was alight with the flames now, and the mist that was there before was quickly getting dried up by the hot air.

"Keeee!" The Litwick was now enjoying the Banette's plight with vindictive glee. Zor turned to her Trainer, wondering what she'd do next.

Trainer Stats

Spoiler

Items: Park ball (x2), Super ball (x2) Hyper ball (x2), EnergyPowder (x1), Super Potion, Pokedoll (x8), Camera, Apricorn Box (Blu x1, Wht x1), Pokeplayer (Litwick Disc), Type Repellent (Fighting)
Encounters Remaining: 14
Pokemon Encountered: Litwick
Pokemon Captured: 0
MCR: 14,692/15,000

Battle Stats

Spoiler

Wild Pokemon

LITWICK | Female | ??? | ??? | 31% | PAR
LAST MOVES USED: Fire Spin

Trainer Pokemon

Wist | Female | Sassy | Cursed Body | 78%
LAST MOVES USED: Taunt, Thunderbolt

Pokemon Stats

Spoiler

Jade [FLYGON] | Female | Serious | Levitate | EMs: Flamethrower, Heat Wave, Signal Beam, Mud Shot, ThunderPunch, Hone Claws, Iron Tail, Hidden Power (bug), Captivate, Endure, Attract, Toxic, Roost, Aerial Ace, Swagger, Fly, Strength | 100%

Wist [BANETTE] | Female | Sassy | Cursed Body | EMs: Dark Pulse, Hidden Power (Bug), Thunder Wave, Calm Mind, Thunderbolt, Taunt, Pain Split | 100%

Spectre [GENGAR] | Male | Relaxed | Levitate | EMs: Drain Punch, Snatch, Pain Split | 78%

 

Wist wasted no time in pulling off her Taunt. Almost immediately, her beckoning pose was followed by a short phrase that was unintelligible to anyone save Litwick and most likely Viola. Whatever it was, it definitely had an effect on the Rival Ghost-type; the small Pokemon puffed up in anger, and she was now glaring daggers at the mocking Banette.

Furious at being mocked, Litwick began to shoot off a large swath of flames, brightening the area by a great deal. She had simply minding her business before these strange humans came along and played some type of device that sounded just like one of her species. Coupled with being made fun of, it appeared as if a line had been fully crossed. Letting out an ear-piercing shriek, she directed the flames to encircle the irritating Banette.

Akinai couldn't help but step back from the fiery assault. For being such a tiny creature, it had created an impressively large attack. Seeing just what the move was doing, her eyes widened in realization. Litwick was trapping Wist! Not only could she recall her partner, but physical moves were an impossibility for now.

Wist's grin slowly vanished as she saw the circle of flames trap her entirely in the center and slowly creep closer to her. Even attempting to phase out of the ring would not work, due to the supernatural nature of the attack. Still, she had a job to do. Unable to fully see her target, the Marionette Pokemon shot off a quick lightning bolt towards the direction she had last seen the wild Pokemon.

The bolt missed its mark, striking the ground near Litwick and missing her entirely. A few sparks from the aftershock lanced outwards though, and a few managed to land on the recovering Pokemon. The Fire-type staggered a bit, surprised to be hit by another electrical current, but appeared to take only minor damage.

We need to end this now, Akinai thought grimly, eying the Fire Spin that still trapped Wist. Even though Fire-type moves were hardly lethal to the Banette, the attack would wear down her endurance. Sure, the original reason for entering this area was to mainly go after the Pokemon they were still facing, but it felt a little wrong to simply walk out when they just entered this place. If they were going to stay longer, she needed everyone in a fairly healthy condition. “You got this, Wist! Finish this off with a Hidden Power!”

Wist gave a short nod in response, still trying to stay as far from the flames as possible. Her form began to glow a light green color, the hue a stark contrast from Litwick's Hex from earlier, and the puppet-like Pokemon focused her gaze in the candle's direction. If successful, the wild Pokemon would soon be feeling the effects of another attack.

Watching carefully for Litwick's reaction, Akinai quickly slipped out a Parkball from her pack. If she was right, the wild Pokemon would be perfect for capturing after Wist's attack was complete. Waiting for the attack to finish, she lobbed the sphere at the nearby Pokemon.

 

BP #3 @Akinai;

The vortex of flames grew higher and hotter around Wist as the Litwick's rage rose. The Banette looked slightly less confident in herself as she was made to come closer and closer to the other Pokemon; however, the candle Pokemon was trembling more than ever with the effects of paralysis. It seemed that she was totally unable to move due to the pain the electricity caused her small body. Taking advantage of the situation, the Marionette Pokemon closed her eyes and focused on the inner power she held within herself. Her little body balled into itself for a few seconds before she released the attack, little arms outspread. She was scorched once more by the incoming fire, but she withheld the attack in spite of the pain of the fire.

The Litwick yelped feebly as the wave of power made contact with her. She was panting now, a tiny sound repeated over and over. The Fire Spin was starting to die down now since she wasn't able to hold the attack any longer; her power was weakening considerably with each blow. Zorayda's eyes followed Akinai's hand as she finally threw the Park ball at the Litwick--it seemed to arc through the air in slow motion as it sailed towards the target. The wild Pokemon disappeared in a glint of red light, making the fire vortex die down altogether. The ball didn't even really wobble much before the soft 'click' was heard, and then, silence. Wist seemed to be awfully proud of herself as she scampered back to Akinai's side, still giggling. The only light in the cave was Viola's ball of flame once more, giving it a soft, flickering glow.

"Ah, congratulations on the new addition to your team. Shall we continue on, then?" the Ranger queried, smiling.

Trainer Stats

Spoiler

Items: Park ball (x1), Super ball (x2) Hyper ball (x2), EnergyPowder (x1), Super Potion, Pokedoll (x8), Camera, Apricorn Box (Blu x1, Wht x1), Pokeplayer (Litwick Disc), Type Repellent (Fighting)
Encounters Remaining: 14
Pokemon Encountered: Litwick
Pokemon Captured: 1
MCR: 17,635/15,000

Battle Stats

Spoiler

Wild Pokemon

LITWICK | Female | ??? | ??? | 16% | PAR
LAST MOVES USED: Fire Spin

Trainer Pokemon

Wist | Female | Sassy | Cursed Body | 70%
LAST MOVES USED: Hidden Power [Bug]

Pokemon Stats

Spoiler

Jade [FLYGON] | Female | Serious | Levitate | EMs: Flamethrower, Heat Wave, Signal Beam, Mud Shot, ThunderPunch, Hone Claws, Iron Tail, Hidden Power (bug), Captivate, Endure, Attract, Toxic, Roost, Aerial Ace, Swagger, Fly, Strength | 100%

Wist [BANETTE] | Female | Sassy | Cursed Body | EMs: Dark Pulse, Hidden Power (Bug), Thunder Wave, Calm Mind, Thunderbolt, Taunt, Pain Split | 100%

Spectre [GENGAR] | Male | Relaxed | Levitate | EMs: Drain Punch, Snatch, Pain Split | 70%

 

Sure enough, Litwick looked barely able to stay upright after weathering Wist's attack. The Ghost-type was hunched over and taking short, ragged breaths; likely a force of habit since the creatures were technically not alive. Still, this was a sure sign that now the time was right to attempt a capture.

As Akinai tossed the Parkball towards her target, she noticed out of the corner of her eye that the Fire Spin still managed to trap Wist, though it had been greatly weakened. A few tongues of flame managed to land upon her partner's form, causing both Trainer and Pokemon to wince in response. Moments later, the attack died out entirely as a small ping resounded from the nearby sphere.

Wist, seeing that she was free, whirled about as she tried to see just where her adversary had disappeared off to. When her eyes rested upon the still capture device close by, her puppet-like form visibly relaxed. This moment of placidity passed by quickly though- barely ten seconds had gone by before the Banette gave a small victory spin in place and retreated back to her Trainer's side. A large grin was plastered on the Pokemon's face, clearly impressed with her work.

“Showoff,” Akinai grumbled with no real malice. While the fight had been a fairly quick one, Wist had indeed managed to perform quite admirably. It was hard to stay annoyed with her, constant gloating or no. She did a quick examination of Wist's wounds. The Ghost-type's form was slightly singed by the flames that had encircled her, but still appeared to be full of energy. Leaving her out probably wouldn't hurt, but if a tougher adversary came along a switchout would have to happen.

“Ah, congratulations on the new addition to your team,” Zorayda said. The Ranger must have picked up Litwick's Ball while Akinai had been preoccupied with Wist, for the sphere was nowhere in sight. “Shall we continue on, then?”

“Sounds like a plan,” Akinai responded, taking a step forward before realizing that she had forgotten something; her Pokeplayer was still sitting out. Since they had already found a Litwick, there was hardly any point in keeping the device outside of her pack. May as well take out the Disc since I'm done using it, she thought, lifting up the recorder for a closer look. There was a problem though- there were multiple buttons, and for the life of her she had no idea just which one would open it.

Wist, seeing her Trainer's obvious uncertainty, rolled her eyes. Floating upwards a bit to peek out from behind the human's shoulder, she gave this strange new device an examination of her own. It simply looked like a metal container, yet it had made sounds just like a Pokemon earlier. Curious, she reached forward and jabbed one of the buttons to see what would happen- and leaped back as the device began to play its recording once more.

Akinai nearly dropped the Pokeplayer, both out of surprise from Wist's action and from feeling a chilling cold sensation as the Pokemon bumped into her. While the Banette had made her form temporarily corporeal in order to interact with the object, she still possessed the same bone-chilling aura that all Pokemon of her type had surrounding them. Seeing that there was no point in standing around to figure out this annoying piece of technology, she began to move forward.

 

NBP #3 @Akinai;

Zor chuckled lightly at Akinai's antics with her Marionette Pokemon, shaking her head. The little Banette seemed to enjoy battling and showing off her skills, then flaunting her victories when she won them. Wist seemed to be as full of energy as ever, though her body showed some signs of wear. Scorch marks and the smell of burnt fabric were the only signs that the Pokemon had been hurt in battle at all. The Ranger clipped Akinai's caught Litwick to her belt, to be given out at the end of the Park Run. She turned to the Trainer and got ready to show her the way out, when she saw Akinai fumbling with the Disc Player. Wist's antics caused the player to begin working again, the cries of a Litwick sounding the same as before. The Ranger held her breath instinctively, waiting to see if another of the tiny little candles made its way out into the open.

Nothing happened, however, save for Akinai's new Litwick wiggling a bit inside her ball. Zor touched it reassuringly and she stopped, too tired to be overly belligerent in the first place. Zor shrugged.

"Okay, looks like we'll just head out to the--" a large figure loomed behind them, lured by the sounds of recent battle. A pinprick of light indicated its tail. It shuffled up on all fours, walking on its front hands on the knuckles. A blue mask adorned its face, framing wary eyes. "...exit," Zorayda breathed as the Monferno let out a high pitched screech. "Run or catch it? Decide quick before it decides to toast us!" The Ranger shouted as the fiery monkey made its way towards them.

Trainer Stats

Spoiler

Items: Park ball (x1), Super ball (x2) Hyper ball (x2), EnergyPowder (x1), Super Potion, Pokedoll (x8), Camera, Apricorn Box (Blu x1, Wht x1), Pokeplayer (Litwick Disc x3 uses), Type Repellent (Fighting)
Encounters Remaining: 13
Pokemon Encountered: Litwick, Monferno
Pokemon Captured: 1
MCR: 0/25,000

Battle Stats

Spoiler

N/A

Pokemon Stats

Spoiler

Jade [FLYGON] | Female | Serious | Levitate | EMs: Flamethrower, Heat Wave, Signal Beam, Mud Shot, ThunderPunch, Hone Claws, Iron Tail, Hidden Power (bug), Captivate, Endure, Attract, Toxic, Roost, Aerial Ace, Swagger, Fly, Strength | 100%

Wist [BANETTE] | Female | Sassy | Cursed Body | EMs: Dark Pulse, Hidden Power (Bug), Thunder Wave, Calm Mind, Thunderbolt, Taunt, Pain Split | 100%

Spectre [GENGAR] | Male | Relaxed | Levitate | EMs: Drain Punch, Snatch, Pain Split | 70%

 

As the Pokeplayer went off once more, the area appeared to be frozen in time for a few moments. Even Akinai's Ranger seemed unwilling to move as she heard the recording echo off the cavern walls. When the sound died down and it became clear to everyone that yet another Ghost Pokemon was going to appear right in front of them, the tension steadily wore off.

“You are going to make me regret leaving you free to roam around, aren't you?” Akinai asked Wist, more than a little embarrassed that the device had caused everyone to look around. Seeing her Banette give a disinterested shrug in reply, she was almost tempted to recall the Marionette Pokemon right away... key word almost. Akinai never cared to wander about without at least one partner out, and the other two on her current team were not options for now.

Zorayda appeared to shrug off the entire affair, however. She looked ready to lead everyone further into the PArk. “Okay, looks like we'll just head out to-”

Whatever the Ranger was about to say had been cut off as a presence was sensed nearby, causing her to turn around. Curious to discover just what had caused her Ranger to stop in mid-sentence, Akinai followed her gaze as well- and was immediately greeted to the sight of a very large simian creature. Seeing that it finally had their attention, the Monferno let out an ear-piercing screech.

“Run, or catch it? Decide quick before it decides to toast us!” The Ranger cried out, the tension in her voice extremely apparent.

Akinai didn't bother to respond, instead looking about to see where the closest escape route was. In case Monferno proved too fast for them though, she readied a PokeDoll to toss at the fiery monkey if needed.

Wist dismissed the nearby Pokemon with a quiet laugh; the musclehead looked like it solved any solutions by punching them. Such a tactic would never work for a Ghost who could simply phase out of existence. Instead, seeing her Trainer occupied, she began to tinker with the Pokeplayer once more.

 

NBP #4 @Akinai;

The pair of girls tried to run, but it appeared that the fiery primate had other plans. With a wild scream it charged, its tail ablaze like a bright trail behind it. Without asking, Zor grabbed the Poke Doll from Akinai--there wasn't exactly time to be polite. She tossed it somewhere behind the Monferno, who paused in its attack and turned to see what it was that was thrown. The Ranger urged Akinai further into the cave, where a twisting path led them away from the angry monkey. They stopped to catch their breaths, Viola's tongue lolling out from the run as well. She straightened and re-cast the fireball to light the cavern. Zor knew that this path led to the other side of the mountain, though it was a longer time in the dark, musty caves.

The disc called out with Litwick's cries still, though there wasn't an answer to them yet. The first time must have been beginner's luck. Zor nodded at the Trainer and the two girls moved on, Wist chuckling along behind them. The Ghost-type was unflappable, truly.

"Whew, looks like we can't go back that way. If we keep going, we'll reach the other side of the mountain. I guess we'll just have to go all the way through," the blonde commented grimly. She didn't exactly enjoy the darkness. Soon they came upon slightly drier air, though it wasn't any less dark. Viola's ball of fire cast eerie shadows that flickered along the rocky walls. A glimmer of something shinier than the rest of the rocks caught Zor's eye as they carefully made their way through the cavern.

"Wait, Vi. Shine the light over there again." The Ninetales complied, the fireball hovering back in the spot it was before. A round, floating disc hovered there. Two yellowish eyes stared at the group curiously, seeming to widen with fear at the fire that was near it.

"Ahh, a Bronzor!" Zor said happily. "Akinai, want to try to catch it?"

Trainer Stats

Spoiler

Items: Park ball (x1), Super ball (x2) Hyper ball (x2), EnergyPowder (x1), Super Potion, Pokedoll (x7), Camera, Apricorn Box (Blu x1, Wht x1), Pokeplayer (Litwick Disc x2 uses), Type Repellent (Fighting)
Encounters Remaining: 12
Pokemon Encountered: Litwick, Monferno, Bronzor
Pokemon Captured: 1
MCR: 0/9,000

Battle Stats

Spoiler

N/A

Pokemon Stats

Spoiler

Jade [FLYGON] | Female | Serious | Levitate | EMs: Flamethrower, Heat Wave, Signal Beam, Mud Shot, ThunderPunch, Hone Claws, Iron Tail, Hidden Power (bug), Captivate, Endure, Attract, Toxic, Roost, Aerial Ace, Swagger, Fly, Strength | 100%

Wist [BANETTE] | Female | Sassy | Cursed Body | EMs: Dark Pulse, Hidden Power (Bug), Thunder Wave, Calm Mind, Thunderbolt, Taunt, Pain Split | 100%

Spectre [GENGAR] | Male | Relaxed | Levitate | EMs: Drain Punch, Snatch, Pain Split | 70%

 

Unfortunately, before a plan of escape could be decided upon, Monferno chose to act. Letting out another screech, it charged forward towards the group.

With almost lightning-quick reflexes, a PokeDoll was tossed directly in the wild Pokemon's path. As a vague afterthought, Akinai noticed that the hand she had been using to hold the toy was empty-her Ranger must have decided to take safety over politeness and react quickly to stop Monferno's assault. Thankfully, the toy did the trick. As sudden as he had appeared, the Fire-type was now subdued and was properly distracted. Wasting no time, they booked it further into the cave.

After a moderate time had passed, they stopped to catch their breath. Akinai, grateful for the rest, let out a silent sigh of relief. While she may have been able to beat down that Monferno with Jade, it was doubtful she would have been able to call out the Flygon in time. As she lifted the Pokeplayer to look at the device and see if she could finally figure out how to open the damned thing, she was greeted to an annoying realization; the Disc had been played once more. In her haste to escape, she had been deaf to the incessant recording.

“Looks like we can't go back that way,” Zor remarked. “If we keep going, we'll reach the other side of the mountain.” the Ranger didn't look too happy about the choice, though.

“What about using Fly to find another path once we're out of the cave?” Akinai asked. She wasn't exactly pleased with the thought of walking about in here longer than necessary. Constant visits to the Valley had quickly taught her that where there was darkness, there were Ghosts or Pokemon powerful enough to tangle with the creatures.

This question would have to be put on hold though. Using her orb of conjured fire as a guide, Zor's Ninetales had discovered that they were not alone. A metallic floating Pokemon hovered nearby, watching them carefully.

“Ah, a Bronzor! Akinai, want to try to catch it?” the Ranger asked.

“I'll pass,” Akinai replied, already readying a Doll. “I already own a Bronzong, and it rarely sees action as is. Catching a Bronzor wouldn't be wise.” Beside her, Wist was already toying with the Pokeplayer, attempting to discover once and for all why it kept making such an interesting noise.

 

NBP #5 @Akinai;

Zorayda tilted her head towards her shoulder as Akinai suggested Flying from the cave's exit to visit other places on and around the volcano. Mt. Deckbi was quite expansive; going for an aerial view was probably a good idea.

"Sure, that's a great idea," the Ranger agreed. When the blonde suggested capturing the wild Bronzor before them, Akinai shook her head.

“I'll pass. I already own a Bronzong, and it rarely sees action as is. Catching a Bronzor wouldn't be wise," Akinai commented. Zorayda nodded in understanding; she wouldn't want to catch a Pokemon she already owned, either. They went to move on from the seemingly peaceful Steel-type when it let out a high-pitched, rending noise that made the Ranger cover her ears. Viola yelped in pain, as well, as the Bronzor unleashed its Metal Sound attack.

"Throw another doll!" Zor shouted over the din. Once Akinai had thrown the realistic Poke doll and properly distracted the Bronzor, they ran from the overreacting Pokemon. Zor's ears were ringing from the devastating screeching metal noises. She rubbed her ears as if it would help, though it really didn't. "Ugh. Sometimes I wish I could tell what a Pokemon is going to do before they do it," she griped. The pain and the darkness were making her slightly grumpy, though she tried to chin up as best she could for her Trainer. It was unprofessional to be impolite, after all. "Okay, Akinai, let's keep moving. Perhaps we'll come across something you'll want to take home with you," she said a little more cheerfully, trying to keep spirits up. The purpose of the Park was to help Trainers capture overpopulated Pokemon, after all. Though the Litwick disc kept playing, thanks to Wist, none of the little candle Pokemon decided to answer its call.

The girls kept going, Viola acting as their graceful guide before them. The tall fox picked her way across the rocks until she suddenly stopped frozen as she stared in a point at something nearby. Another Pokemon, most likely; Mt. Deckbi was teeming with wild Pokemon. Sure enough, when they rounded the corner, a small figure was staring at them with wide, blue eyes behind a white mask. Little stubby feet stomped around as the humans approached; it squealed in surprise. It was a somewhat adorable sound that made Zor want to pick the little thing up and hug it.

"Aww, an Aron. Don't let its cute little face fool you, though; they're tough, and grow into even tougher Pokemon." The Aron cooed as if agreeing with the Ranger, holding the pair with its wide-eyed gaze.

Trainer Stats

Spoiler

Items: Park ball (x1), Super ball (x2) Hyper ball (x2), EnergyPowder (x1), Super Potion, Pokedoll (x6), Camera, Apricorn Box (Blu x1, Wht x1), Pokeplayer (Litwick Disc x1 uses), Type Repellent (Fighting)
Encounters Remaining: 11
Pokemon Encountered: Litwick, Monferno, Bronzor, Aron
Pokemon Captured: 1
MCR: 0/9,000

Battle Stats

Spoiler

N/A

Pokemon Stats

Spoiler

Jade [FLYGON] | Female | Serious | Levitate | EMs: Flamethrower, Heat Wave, Signal Beam, Mud Shot, ThunderPunch, Hone Claws, Iron Tail, Hidden Power (bug), Captivate, Endure, Attract, Toxic, Roost, Aerial Ace, Swagger, Fly, Strength | 100%

Wist [BANETTE] | Female | Sassy | Cursed Body | EMs: Dark Pulse, Hidden Power (Bug), Thunder Wave, Calm Mind, Thunderbolt, Taunt, Pain Split | 100%

Spectre [GENGAR] | Male | Relaxed | Levitate | EMs: Drain Punch, Snatch, Pain Split | 70%

 

Upon seeing that it was being ignored after being near blinded by a floating ball of fire, Bronzor was not too happy to see the people responsible simply waltz off without a proper battle. Before the newcomers could walk out of range, the wild Pokemon let out a screech that rivaled even the Monferno's they had just escaped from.

Akinai saw that her Ranger was trying to say something, but could hardly hear anything over the din. Its meaning was crystal clear though; fishing out yet another Doll, she lobbed the toy towards Bronzor. Predictably, the Pokemon immediately died down upon seeing the object.

Good thing I stocked up some before leaving, Akinai mused. She had the cash to buy a Doll if bad got to worse, but preferred to rely only on herself.

Zorayda, standing close by, was recovering from the Metal Sound barrage. “Sometimes I wish I could tell what a Pokemon is going to do before they do it,” she said, though it was uncertain whether she was remarking on this to her Trainer or was simply talking to herself. “Okay, let's keep moving.”

“No argument here,” Akinai replied, eager to leave this area. The sooner they saw sunlight, the better.

Up ahead, Viola carefully guided them along. Judging from the way the Ninetales was looking about, it was likely she was trying to discover a Pokemon before they were ambushed by yet another one. She continued searching the area for a bit, then froze as they were about to pass a corner. A small creature, metallic like Bronzor but possessing a silver coat, stared back. From the shocked cry it made, it was just as surprised to see them.

“Aww, an Aron,” Zor remarked, gazing affectionately at the tiny Steel-type. “Don't let its cute little face foll you though- they're tough, and grow into an even tougher Pokemon.”

“They may look innocent, but they definitely pack a punch,” Akinai said in reply, remembering when she had first met Cryrosant. The Aron had stumbled upon her camp and had been eating her silverware before the Trainer had woken up and caught the Pokemon in the act. Now the little troublemaker was an Aggron, and a strong part of her team. “Let's leave it be.”

Wist, seeing that both humans were doting upon the newest wild Pokemon, sneaked her way over to the Pokeplayer yet again. This time, she was met with resistance; Akinai snapped to attention, glaring at the Marionette Pokemon.

“Don't even think about it,” the Trainer warned.

Wist, keeping an innocent expression on her ghostly face, merely pressed the play button in reply.

 

NBP #6 @Akinai;

Akinai seemed to have experience with Arons, it seemed; her acknowledgement of its toughness spoke as if she knew all about it. The Ranger smiled involuntarily as Wist mashed the recorder's button again with mischievous intent, though her face seemed adorably unwitting. Nothing happened because of it, however; and after awhile, the disc began to make distorted sounds, slowing down significantly. After a while, the disc quit playing at all. The girls moved carefully to get past the little Aron, which watched them the whole way, and seemed to be all right with letting them go... but it seemed that luck was not on their side.

The Steel-type's body began to shimmer and shake, its eyes squeezed shut with concentration. Suddenly its shell began to crumble and crack into pieces; and with another of its cute little cries, a thin layer of its shell had been shed to reveal the gleaming layer underneath. It was Automizing; making itself lighter and faster to prepare for battle.

"Uh oh," Zor said aloud. She turned to the black-haired Trainer with a sheepish expression; she probably knew the drill by now. With a doll tossed at the over-eager Aron, they ran off farther into the cavern until it was out of sight, probably happily tearing apart the fake doll in the shape of Clefairy. It wasn't long after this that light began to shine from a nearby source; they were nearing the exit. Things were uneventful for quite a while until they finally got to the cavern's opposite opening on the other side of Mt. Deckbi.

And, waiting for them, of course, was another wild Pokemon.

"Hrr?" a dog-like whine greeted them in a questioning sort of noise. Turning, Zor saw a small, dark, puppy-like thing perking its ears at them. It wasn't very large, but it had a strange bony prominence on its head that acted sort of like a hard helmet. The dark dog barked at them warningly.

"Hm, Houndour." Zor moved aside a bit, as well as Viola, who extinguished her single flame as they came back into the sunlight. There was a significant amount of ash floating above their heads; it drifted lazily on the heated air currents that the hot volcano emanated. The Ranger looked to Akinai to see if she wished to capture the Houndour to keep in her team.

Trainer Stats

Spoiler

Items: Park ball (x1), Super ball (x2) Hyper ball (x2), EnergyPowder (x1), Super Potion, Pokedoll (x5), Camera, Apricorn Box (Blu x1, Wht x1), Pokeplayer (Litwick Disc x0 uses), Type Repellent (Fighting)
Encounters Remaining: 10
Pokemon Encountered: Litwick, Monferno, Bronzor, Aron, Houndour
Pokemon Captured: 1
MCR: 0/9,000

Battle Stats

Spoiler

N/A

Pokemon Stats

Spoiler

Jade [FLYGON] | Female | Serious | Levitate | EMs: Flamethrower, Heat Wave, Signal Beam, Mud Shot, ThunderPunch, Hone Claws, Iron Tail, Hidden Power (bug), Captivate, Endure, Attract, Toxic, Roost, Aerial Ace, Swagger, Fly, Strength | 100%

Wist [BANETTE] | Female | Sassy | Cursed Body | EMs: Dark Pulse, Hidden Power (Bug), Thunder Wave, Calm Mind, Thunderbolt, Taunt, Pain Split | 100%

Spectre [GENGAR] | Male | Relaxed | Levitate | EMs: Drain Punch, Snatch, Pain Split | 70%

 

As the Pokeplayer went off a fifth time, Akinai continued to glare at Wist. The Banette was normally picky about what commands to follow, but only if they seemed too boring or meaningless to her. To be so interested in the recording device that she was willing to simply mess with it again and again was with strange and quickly growing to be annoying. “Just why are you so curious about the blasted thing? It's not like there's a Litwick in it, after all.”

Wist rolled her large eyes in reply, clearly thinking that her Trainer had no idea what she was talking about. After all, the human had obviously been confused on how to work the strange metal box, and had been making no headway with it until she had decided to step in and act. Humans were so conflicting sometimes.

Must resist urge to recall, Akinai mentally repeated to herself for what had to be the fourth time today. Useful as she was, the Banette was quickly wearing on her patience. She was surprised to her a cloud click as the Litwick recording died down for a final time, and looked over towards the sound. What she saw she could hardly believe- the Pokeplayer was open, with the Disc sticking out and waiting for retrieval.

Watching this new event as well, Wist gave one of her famous grins and crossed her arms, letting out a sound that sounded extremely similar to “See? I knew I could fix it for you.” Giving a small chuckle as her Trainer grabbed the Disc and placed in back in the case, the Banette turned away and focused her attention on the nearby Aron.

Seeing that everyone was ready to move on, Zorayda carefully guided them away from the young Steel-type. Just when they were walking out of sight though, Aron began to glow with a silver light and small pieces of its natural armor began to fall uselessly to the floor. “Uh-oh,” the Ranger said, looking over at Akinai.

Akinai had a Doll ready this time; she had recognized the Autotomize for what it was due to having Cryrosant use it multiple times before. None too happily, she lobbed the doll towards Aron. If she was correct, she was down to only two Dolls... all these stubborn Pokemon were steadily wearing down her resources. Seeing the wild Pokemon pounce upon the toy, they moved on once more.

It didn't seem like much time had passed before a very thankful sight glimmered up ahead. A ray of light was visible, and was growing larger as the group grew ever closer. In no time at all (or perhaps it felt that way since it seemed like everyone was determined to leave the cave), they were under the open sky once more.

“Finally, we're out!” Akinai exclaimed, resisting the urge to stretch. Even though the cavern had been far from cramped, there was something about closed areas that made her feel as if she could never get much room to move about it. Beside her, Wist's response was less appreciative- she shrunk away from the brightness, covered as it was by the volcanic smoke above them.

Watching the small group emerge from the cavern, a Pokemon carefully walked forward to survey them. Seeing such a strange sight, the canine creature was unable to hold back a questioning whine.

Both Ranger and Trainer turned to look at the Pokemon. It was similar in size to a Poochyena, as well as possessing similar features, but any other resemblances died there. While Poochyena had a shaggy gray coat, this Pokemon had short black fur for its hide. In addition, it had bone-like protrusions sticking out along its body.

“Houndour,” the Ranger remarked, carefully moving to the side along with her Ninetales. She didn't seem that any other words were needed, as she simply looked over at Akinai to see what the Trainer would do next.

Akinai studied the Houndour carefully, trying to decide if it was worth picking a fight with it or not. She had owned a Houndoom in the past; it had been a trade from a friend who was something of a collector. As luck would have it though, she had traded back the Fire-type to its original owner in return for a Pokemon she had been unable to afford at the local Mart. She had never used the Houndoom, and the canine Pokemon had been glad to see his first owner once more.

And yet... there was an employer of hers that was an avid fan of Dark Pokemon. Ironically enough, said employer was a Ranger that worked in this Park, though if she had ever met her face-to-face she had no idea. All of her work was mailed to her, and mailed back in return once the dry paperwork was completed. It was dull work, but she could hardly complain about the pay it promised.

Wondering what was taking so long for a decision to be made, Wist began to nudge her Trainer with one of her elbows. She didn't care to stand around too long, especially when there were plenty of other Pokemon to entertain.

“Impatient much?” Akinai muttered to her partner, though she couldn't keep the amusement from her voice. It was almost petty to enact revenge on Wist by taking her time, but it was still a little satisfying. Still, there was no point in keeping everyone else waiting as well. Reaching to her belt, she unhooked one of the three spheres attached to it and lazily tossed it upwards. “All right, you're up Spectre!”

As the Pokeball opened up to release its resident, a midsized form began to materialize in front of Houndour. The Pokemon was violet in hue, though of a much harsher shade compared to the nearby Banette's form. His shape was a strange mixture of feline and humanoid, with spikes lining his back. What was this Pokemon's most noticeable feature though was a wide Cheshire grin and large, sinister red eyes.

“Let's start things with Confuse Ray, then go with Night Shade,” Akinai said, trying to appear confident. She had yet to use Spectre save for a few training sessions, and save for an added move she had taught the Ghost-type there was nothing that could do much damage to Houndour in his moveset. Still this would be a good learning experience for them both, and Wist could play the role of mentor if her whimsy decided it so.

Spectre's grin, if it was even possible, grew wider as he heard Akinai's command. Waving a clawed hand upwards, the Gengar summoned forth a tiny white orb into existence. Once this was done, he directed the technique towards the nearby wild Pokemon. The Ray wobbled about in place, as if eager to get the job done.

 

BP #4 @Akinai;

[Changed up how I do sprites a bit. Also, what gender?]

Zorayda chuckled as Wist toyed with the recorder until it called its last Litwick call. Akinai's reaction to the Banette's insistent curiosity was thinly veiled annoyance at the Ghost-type's antics; something Zor probably would expect out of her Crobat and Raichu. The two were sassy and naughty natures, respectively, and handling the Pokemon was sometimes a pain in the neck. Wist's opinion on the exchange was clear through the rolling of her eyes and when she handed the player back, making it apparent that she thought she fixed it for her Trainer.

The Trainer and Zor managed to get away from the Aron by chucking a doll at it, grateful to get away from the tough little 'mon. They got out of the cave only to run into another Pokemon, however; a wild Houndour. It whined out of curiosity while Akinai seemed to regard the wild Pokemon for a few moments, deciding in the end to fight the dark dog.

“All right, you're up Spectre!” Akinai called. Zorayda briefly wondered what Pokemon would have that nickname, but the question was answered when the Pokemon was taken out.

She chose her Poke ball and pressed the button, releasing a short, bipedal Pokemon that seemed to float here and there, favoring the shadows and grinning eerily. The Gengar seemed to not mind its surroundings; in fact, it looked as if not much could bother the Pokemon. It had a sort of chilled-out demeanor that suggested that it wouldn't let hard hits get it down. Akinai gave it its first order--a Confuse Ray. The Pokemon formed a small white ball of light before letting it drift lazily towards the Houndour, who growled but seemed to take the attack in stride. Before it could hit, the dog let out an ear-piercing howl, seeming to gain some energy and fighting spirit from doing so. The howling didn't bug Spectre much, but it made Zor's Pokemon flatten its ears in irritation at the sound. The Confuse Ray hit, making the Houndour yelp in protest; it did not like the feeling of having its head swim, vision blurred.

Focusing for a brief moment, it charged forward, jaw opened wide with its throat alight with its inner fire. It landed a neat Fire Fang attack, making Spectre wince, but the Ghost-type got right back up and prepared its own attack in kind. The Gengar's eyes darkened with a strange, shadowy power. He focused upon his opponent, and a dark beam of strange power landed upon the dark dog. The Houndour yelped in pain and fell to the ground before getting back up, swaying with confusion and tiring from the attack.

Trainer Stats

Spoiler

Items: Park ball (x1), Super ball (x2) Hyper ball (x2), EnergyPowder (x1), Super Potion, Pokedoll (x5), Camera, Apricorn Box (Blu x1, Wht x1), Pokeplayer (Litwick Disc x0 uses), Type Repellent (Fighting)
Encounters Remaining: 10
Pokemon Encountered: Litwick, Monferno, Bronzor, Aron, Houndour
Pokemon Captured: 1
MCR: 6,329/9,000

Battle Stats

Spoiler

Wild Pokemon

HOUNDOUR | ??? | ??? | ??? | 66% | CON0, Atk. +1
LAST MOVES USED: Howl, Fire Fang

Trainer Pokemon

Specture | GENGAR | Male | Relaxed | Levitate | 87%
LAST MOVES USED: Confuse Ray, Night Shade

Pokemon Stats

Spoiler

Jade [FLYGON] | Female | Serious | Levitate | EMs: Flamethrower, Heat Wave, Signal Beam, Mud Shot, ThunderPunch, Hone Claws, Iron Tail, Hidden Power (bug), Captivate, Endure, Attract, Toxic, Roost, Aerial Ace, Swagger, Fly, Strength | 100%

Wist [BANETTE] | Female | Sassy | Cursed Body | EMs: Dark Pulse, Hidden Power (Bug), Thunder Wave, Calm Mind, Thunderbolt, Taunt, Pain Split | 100%

Spectre [GENGAR] | Male | Relaxed | Levitate | EMs: Drain Punch, Snatch, Pain Split | 70%

 

OOC: Make Houndour Female. As for new sprites, spoilers don't work for mobile version so had to swap to full site view to see X.x

Houndour gave a low snarl as she saw the that the strange orb of light that her opponent had summoned forth was coming her way. While it didn't look familiar, the fact that a Ghost of all things had used it meant that something tricky was about to happen. Before the Ray could hit its mark, the small canine raised her head up and gave a piercing howl. The move seemed to strengthen Houndour's resolve, and the Dark-type stared forward with confidence.

Looks like this one fights smart, Akinai silently remarked, recognizing Howl's effect. The move was easy enough to figure out, and she had seen her Mightyena enough to know that the technique gave physical attacks a bit more of a punch. Close combat would be more dangerous now, but at least that would not be an issue for the moment; both moves Spectre would use could be used from far away, so he would not be in range unless Houndour closed the distance.

There was a flaw to Houndour's plan though. Even though she had managed to strengthen her attacks with a power-boosting move, in doing so the Dark-type had no time to dodge the approaching attack Spectre had launched. The Ray closed in and began to spin around Houndour's head before sinking in, making her shake her head in irritation. When she raised her head once more, the canine's eyes seemed to be unfocused.

Wist, who had taken Houndour's earlier Howl display with barely concealed boredom, focused her attention on the battle after seeing the Ray successfully hit. Banette were one of the few Ghosts who could never hope to master the technique save through intense training or learning the move from a parent, and because of this she had more than a slight interest in seeing the move performed. There were few things that could make a battle more interesting than making your opponent act erratic after a single move, after all. Seeing that things were possibly bound to get more fun from here, she floated her way over beside where Viola was watching the battle and gave an encouraging cry to Spectre.

Upon hearing that one of the senior members of the team was obviously pleased with his technique, Spectre practically beamed in response. Being one of the newer members, he had yet to really show his own power in a battle until now. If just a single move had impressed the Banette, things would go just fine. Feeling a confidence boost of his own, the Gengar launched his next attack with renewed vigor. His spectral form eerily glowed with a sinister energy before it moved towards his eyes, turning their normal red shade a violet color. Moments later, the glow transferred to Houndour's body, making the Pokemon howl in pain.

As the glow stayed in place, Houndour's pained howling shifted to a long growl in anger. The Night Shade attack had caught her completely flat footed thanks to the effects of the Ray from earlier, and in doing so had shaken her far more than it should have. Dark Pokemon had a strong resistance to Ghost attacks thanks to their own moves sharing the effect of subterfuge, but that defense had proved next to useless here. Clearly angry, Houndour let out a loud bark and bounded forward, setting her mouth aflame as she did so.

Spectre, still concentrating on using his Night Shade, could not react as the Houndour retaliated. With no way to cushion the attack, the Gengar fell back as sharp fangs wreathed in fire sank into his body. There was a yelp of pain from both Pokemon, and after a few moments both rose once more. The glow from Houndour was gone, though the effects from the attack could clearly be seen by the way the Pokemon got back to her feet with slight weariness.

Despite how things had turned out, Akinai was relieved. When she had first seen Houndour rush towards Spectre, she was certain the small dog creature was going to either use a Bite or even a powerful Crunch attack. Thankfully, the wild Pokemon had chosen to stick with the more fiery side of their heritage. Still, she couldn't afford to keep this battle dragging out; every round that passed could mean a possible Dark attack. Houndour looked weak enough, maybe it was possible to end this with one or two key moves.

Wist, recognizing the signs that her Trainer was going to try wrapping things up, gave a small sigh. She had been hoping this battle would last longer, maybe even with another Ray so she could learn a little more about the technique. Resigning herself to the fact that she would most likely have to personally ask Spectre to use the move in their next training session, the Banette looked around in boredom once more.

Oblivious to Wist's disappointment, Akinai called out her next set of commands to her other Ghost teammate. “Doing great so far, Spectre, keep it up! Let's try to end this. Try to create some distance and go with Hypnosis, then use Drain Punch once you are done.” Hypnosis was icing on the cake more than anything else. If they could make the Houndour fall asleep, not only would it be easier to capture but there would be no fear of a counter attack once Spectre's second attack was used.

Spectre hopped backwards, attempting to catch Houndour's gaze as he did so. While doing this, the Gengar's eyes glowed with a light blue light. If he could manage to lock eyes with the wild Pokemon long enough, the latter would feel waves of tiredness grip their body long enough to fall into slumber. If not, he would likely weather an attack or two before being able to launch his second technique.

Akinai watched the fight carefully, reaching into her pack once more. This time around, she fished out a Superball; if Houndour had more fight left than she had expected, the stronger capture device would be needed in order to guarantee that the Dark Pokemon would be caught. Once she saw that Spectre's Drain Punch had been completed, she would toss the sphere forward.