Individual RP: mlouden03

@mlouden03;

NBP#1

"Any runs up for grabs today?" I asked the receptionist at the Ranger Headquarters for the third straight time in three days. I was getting tired of asking essentially the same thing over and over again, just paraphrased so it wasn't too redundant, and I bet she was, too. I wasn't expecting a different answer from the first two instances I had asked, but I got lucky this time, it seemed. I finally had something to do.

"Gaius Vi Britannia, off to Meteor Valley, bringing along a Gengar, Crobat, and Dragonite," she informed me, reading the trainer's information off his entrance form.

I had kindof stopped listening after she'd stated which zone of the Park we'd be exploring. "Meteor Valley, huh? Interesting..." I mumbled to myself in a distant voice, clearly not paying enough attention to what else the receptionist was saying.

"Alright, thanks. Kindly send his file over to my RDA, too," I said, pointing to the device on my arm. She nodded in affirmation, smiling, she already knew what to do as she had done so many times before.

I fiddled with my gadget, bringing up a map of Meteor Valley; the last thing I wanted was to get lost in one of its hills's caves. I wasn't sure how extensive and confusing they were compared to those of Mount Deckbi and Oktori, but I really didn't want to find out unprepared. Though if the trainer preferred to explore the valley itself - which stretched on for quite a bit, mind you - or the string of trees lining its sides, then I wouldn't have to worry too much about the caves; otherwise, I'd have to pray that my navigation skills weren't too rusty.

Just then, my Gallade appeared by my side, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. Meteor Valley was one place we didn't manage to visit often, and he simply enjoyed being around a couple of Psychic-types - there were quite a bit of Ralts, Kirlias, and Gardevoirs there, after all, and he always liked to boast of his skills and teach them a thing or two whenever he was given the opportunity to do so.

I double-checked that I had all the necessary emergency supplies in my bag before nodding at Adrian who promptly whisked us off to Meteor Valley. As the cyan bubble of energy dissipated into thin air, I found myself standing next to some trees that seemed to serve as sort of a wall, a barrier, keeping the open area inside safe against storms and floods and other dangers. Once the trainer arrived, we'd start the journey by making our way through this forest to get to the valley itself.

Trainer Statistics:
Name: Gaius Vi Britannia
Location: Meteor Valley
Encounters Left: 15
Area Effects:
Pokemon Encountered: [none]
Current Encounter: [none]
Pokemon Captured: [none]

Total Items: Three Parkballs|Two Superballs|One Hyperball|Two Energy Roots|Two Revival Herbs|Digital Camera|Apricorn Box|PokePlayer|Abra Voice Disk|Zorua Voice Disk
MCR: 0/???

Pokemon Stats

Pestilence the Gengar (M) - 100%
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Jolly
TM/HM/BM/MT/SM: Thunderbolt|Psychic|Will-O-Wisp|Sludge Wave|Substitute|Focus Blast|Icy Wind|Psych Up|Snatch|Giga Drain|Protect|Metronome

Crobat (M) - 100%
Ability: Inner Focus
Nature: Modest
TM/HM/BM/MT/SM: Roost

Antichrist the Dragonite (M) - 100%
Ability: Multiscale
Nature: Serious
TM/HM/BM/MT/SM: Extremespeed|Substitute|Protect|Ice Punch|Heal Bell|Earthquake

 

Gaius sighed and looked down at his smart phone, as the device made a shrill beeping sound. The message "Go to Park" was displayed in bright, white lettering. The trainer silently swiped his pointer finger across his phone, dismissing the message and silencing the beeping. Gaius had been to the park once before, and although he had been abandoned twice by his rangers during the initial experience, he was still able to capture three Pokemon, each of which ended up being a useful addition to his team on various situations. Despite his success with catching Pokemon, the trainer was not too fond of the park itself, nor its staff. Of the rangers that Gaius had encountered, both of them had very soft views on Pokemon, at least, Gaius thought so. Gaius himself thought that Pokemon should be trained without rest nor mercy, as anything less makes Pokemon weak. He frequently battled his Pokemon against each other, allowing the battle to only conclude when one of the Pokemon was completely knocked out with no hope of recovering and getting back in the fight.

Another gripe that Gaius had with the park was their selection of Pokemon. There were also many Pokemon in the park that Gaius felt were weak, or useless, and those which he knew had no place on his team. Out of the 13 Pokemon he had seen during his first encounter, he only deemed four worthy of capturing. The rest he had already owned, or would be completely useless to him. This disgusted Gaius the most, as he had paid money to enter the park hoping to find powerful Pokemon to add to his team or collection, and felt cheated by the staff of the park. Thankfully for him, the trainer found out that the park sold voice discs, which could be used to potentially attract certain Pokemon. He now could try to get exactly the Pokemon that he wanted, hopefully without having to see many other weak Pokemon.

When Gaius heard of the creation of specialized voice discs, he immediately registered for another entrance into the park. Instead of venturing back into the park, he decided to try Meteor Valley. His team currently lacked any psychic type Pokemon, and he only owned several dark types, one of them being his Tyranitar. He was considering bringing his Tyranitar with him, but decided to stick with the first team that he had brought into the park, and then added his Dragonite as well, as he had promised the Pokemon that he would bring it inside the park on his next expedition. Before he finished registering, Gaius ordered much more supplies than he had brought in the first time. He replenished his supply of park and super balls, bought two healing items, two revive-type items, a camera for taking pictures of any rare Pokemon that he saw, an Apricorn box so he could attempt to make his own Pokeballs, and, most importantly, a special disc player that could be used to play Pokemon cries. In addition to the player, he made sure to order two compatible discs, Zorua and Abra. He hoped to run into both Pokemon during his time in the Meteor Valley, and he hoped that those voice discs would help him do so. After finishing his order, Gaius had finalized his expedition date and suggested departure time.

With his second park run now upon him, Gaius grabbed one of the Pokeballs attached to his belt and threw it into the air. A large Dragonite appeared from the ball, and stood in front of its trainer. "Okay, Dragonite. You remember how to get to the park, right? I hope you do, it was only a month or so that we went the first time. If you get lost, I can always use my global positioning system in my cell phone to help guide you. I also have a bit of a surprise for you. You're coming in with me to the park, just like I promised you would." The trainer looked at his Pokemon, who smiled and then began to lean forward. As his trainer could mount on its back, the Dragonite let out a loud, happy bellow, "Dragoo!".

With Gaius holding on around its neck, the dragon type Pokemon flapped its wings and began to ascend through the air. Within a few minutes, the pair were flying past the Orange Islands once again. "Oh, we're on the right track, the Orange Islands were are first landmark on the way to the National Park. I hope we have a chance to explore the Orange Islands soon, after we get done collecting all of the gym badges in Kanto, I know it'll be the first stop on our list." Gaius smiled and ordered his Dragonite to continue flying towards the Park.

In less than an hour, they were once again circling above the National Park. "Dragonite, descend down to the front gate. We'll get ready and go over to the attendant to pick up our items. Then we can actually meet with our ranger and get started catching some new Pokemon. I really hope this ranger is better than Aleria and Makina. Both of them were total softies when it comes to Pokemon training, and hopefully this one agrees with my method of training. Well, either way, I know I should catch some good Pokemon this time around, for sure."

Dragonite descended from the air and the pair landed in front of the entrance to the park. Gaius walked over to the attendant's station, and signed in. "Hello, I'm Gaius Vi Britannia, today I'm going to be going to Meteor Valley, and I already bought a lot of items to use on this expedition. I hope you have the items available, I'd hate to have to wait to enter."

The attendant, who was a short girl, with long brunette hair, bright blue eyes, and pale skin, quickly replied. "Yes, I'm seeing you as five minutes early Mr. Britannia. We at the Park appreciate your promptness, and just give me a moment and I'll have your items sent over from our Park shop." The girl turned and seemingly pressed several buttons on some sort of device. Several beeps could be heard, and, as the last beep sounded, the attendant turned back towards Gaius. "Please just wait over in front of the entrance and your items should be delivered promptly. Your ranger should also meet you there in a few moments as well."

Gaius nodded and replied. "Thank you for your assistance, I'll go over there now." Gaius turned and left the attendant's station, and waked towards the entrance into Meteor Valley. He saw a package marked "Gaius" being held by a young male attendant, who wore the same uniform as the female attendant. Gaius began to walk towards the young man, and as he got closer, the park employee looked in his direction and began to speak.

"Gaius Vi Britannia?" The young man asked. "I have a package for you, it's the supplies that you ordered on our website. I just need to see some form of identification and then I can hand them over to you." Gaius reached into his pocked and flashed his trainer's license, leaving the employee satisfied that the trainer was the owner of the items in question. "Thank you, I'll just give you these, and then wish you good luck in your expedition." The young man begun to walk away from Gaius, but then he turned towards the trainer after he had taken a few steps. "Oh, do you need any explanation on how to use those items? I saw on your park registration that these are the first times you'll be using them in the park."

"Hmm...," Gaius thought allowed, "do I need help using a camera, cd player, and a box to put Apricons in? What do you think? I would hope not all of your guests are as stupid as you seem to think I am. I think I'm fine using the kind of items that I use everyday, thank you very much. Furthermore, I would hope that I have a good run, otherwise I might not come back here." Gaius sneered and laughed, watching as the stunned employee walked away.

After a few minutes, Gaius noticed an official looking young woman walk with a Gallade into Meteor Valley. He figured that girl might be his ranger, so he decided to follow her in. "Hello, my name is Gaius Vi Britannia. Are you my ranger today? I haven't seen many other trainers around this area, so I don't think you're waiting for anyone else." Gaius paused, and then reached into his backpack. He quickly pulled out the Pokemon player and loaded both the Zorua and Abra discs. "Before we encounter any Pokemon, I'd like to try using both of these cds. Zorua and Abra are the two Pokemon that I'm hoping to encounter most on this expedition, so I hope these help."

@MuddyMudkip;

 

@mlouden03;

NBP#2

The trainer knew what he wanted, alright, and he wasted no time in trying to attract the desired Pokemon so he could get it over with quickly. Immediately after introducing himself and inquiring if I was to be his ranger for today - to which I replied with a quick nod and smile, seeing as how he was rather busy rummaging through his backpack - he brought out a PokePlayer and two black circular objects.

"Before we encounter any Pokemon, I'd like to try using both of these CDs," he mentioned. "Zorua and Abra are the two Pokemon that I'm hoping to encounter most on this expedition, so I hope these help."*He popped the disk that was labelled "ZORUA" in large, bold lettering into the player and hit play.

The device whirred to life,*the pre-recorded cries of a Tricky Fox Pokemon echoing around us. I gestured to Gaius as I stepped into the rather dark atmosphere of the forest, the leaves of the towering trees blocking out most of the sunlight. "I'm Elisa Flemming, by the way," I said as the recording continued to play, the bellows ringing in my ears, filling most of the silence in the unwelcoming forest. "We'll have to make our way through these trees first before we can reach the actual valley. Mind you, the land itself is quite barren, barely any wildlife sprouting there; however, it is an incredibly large open area, perfect for battling, if you don't mind the uneven ground."

I commended Gaius's choice in partners; I was already quite impressed when he had brought along three extremely strong and highly sought-after creatures by quite a number of trainers - I, myself, had a Gengar and Dragonite, both of which were indeed skillful battlers once trained correctly, and from what I'd heard, Crobat were excellent Pokemon as well - and now, he was looking for two more powerful Pokemon in Abra and Zorua, or their evolutions rather, to add to his team. Alakazam was, in fact, a Pokemon I would be very much interested in obtaining and training, though Zoroark, I did not fancy as much, but it was still a great Pokemon, as far as I knew.

This trainer definitely seemed to be the competitive battling type, one who trained his partners relentlessly, to the greatest extent. Interesting, very interesting... I was certainly excited now to see how he would fair in an actual battle, see what kinds of tricks and techniques he and his Pokemon were capable of executing. And I could tell through our link, just by the constant buzz of energy in my mind, that my Gallade was keen on observing them as well. As if he needed more reason to get drawn into the run.

I decided to clear my head before I accidentally did something stupid like trip on a tree root. Making sure I was concentrating again on what I needed to be doing, I looked around the darkness, peering intently through the little gaps between the trunks of the trees clumped together on either side of us. My eyes were starting to cloud from trying to catch any sign of movement, any shadowy entity dashing through the dark, when two big blue eyes stared right back at me. I nearly jumped in surprise, managing to keep a surprised yelp down my throat.*Of all things, I was certainly not expecting that.

Against the black backdrop, the bright color of the creature's eyes were illuminated even more. The Pokemon stepped between the two trees, revealing itself. From the little streams of sunshine that the canopy let in, I could distinguish a bit of its features - it was small, definitely, perhaps only a fourth of my height; its head was decorated with two white bow-shaped things (I wasn't quite sure what they were or what purpose they served), with another bow on what seemed to be its chest; its lips were a crimson red and much smaller compared to its rather eerie blue pupils; finally, a white zig-zag ran across its torso, which I presumed to be black-ish in color as it blended in magnificently with the scene.

I turned away from its intense observing gaze, but even then, I could still feel its eyes on me. "It's no Zorua, but fancy a Gothita?" I asked Gaius.

Trainer Statistics:
Name: Gaius Vi Britannia
Location: Meteor Valley
Encounters Left: 15
Area Effects: Zorua Voice Disk [ONE USED]
Pokemon Encountered: [none]
Current Encounter: Gothita (?, ???)
Pokemon Captured: [none]

Total Items: Three Parkballs|Two Superballs|One Hyperball|Two Energy Roots|Two Revival Herbs|Digital Camera|Apricorn Box|PokePlayer|Abra Voice Disk|Zorua Voice Disk
MCR: 8269/9000 [Uncommon]

Pokemon Stats

Pestilence the Gengar (M) - 100%
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Jolly
TM/HM/BM/MT/SM: Thunderbolt|Psychic|Will-O-Wisp|Sludge Wave|Substitute|Focus Blast|Icy Wind|Psych Up|Snatch|Giga Drain|Protect|Metronome

Crobat (M) - 100%
Ability: Inner Focus
Nature: Modest
TM/HM/BM/MT/SM: Roost

Antichrist the Dragonite (M) - 100%
Ability: Multiscale
Nature: Serious
TM/HM/BM/MT/SM: Extremespeed|Substitute|Protect|Ice Punch|Heal Bell|Earthquake

 

Gaius set up his Pokeplayer, and waited for a Pokemon to appear. 'I really hope I get to see a Zorua as my first encounter for the day. That would make the rest of the day incredibly easy if I could just focus on Abra for the rest of the run.' The trainer then imagined himself battling a Zorua, and then capturing it after a long battle. A small smile crept across Gaius's face, as the vision played over and over again in his head. That vision was soon joined by Gaius thinking of his new Zorua evolving into a powerful Zoroark. 'Yeah, with Zoroark, I can use it's ability to disguise itself as other Pokemon. That will totally throw my competitors off in battle if I can have it pretend to be a different Pokemon in my party. Plus, it's a pure dark type, and I don't have any of those besides the Umbreon that I picked up in Viridian City, and, while Umbreon is powerful in its own right, it's no Zoroark.' The trainer's daydreams began to expand and grow out of control, until he could sense an odd feeling washing over him.

The feeling broke him from his daydreams, and he remembered that catching both Abra and Zorua were both still tasks that had to be completed. He paused and waited as the sensation seemed to grow stronger with each passing second, seemingly eclipsing all other emotions that he could possibly feel. He then could faintly see two blue eyes that pierced through the scenery. 'Hm, I wonder what that is,' Gaius thought to himself, 'is that a Pokemon of some sort? It wouldn't make sense for a human to have eyes that low to the ground at all. I don't think Zorua have blue eyes, and I know Abra always keep their eyes closed, so it probably isn't either of those Pokemon. Despite it not being on the top of my list, the Pokemon still could prove to be something worth catching. Hm...let's wait and see what happens.'

At that moment, a small Pokemon with a pink face and black body jumped out of the bushes, startling the young trainer. The Pokemon had several white bows all across its body, and an odd black knob seemingly coming out of its forehead. The Pokemon's mouth was covered in red lipstick, and, with all of the bows on its body, there was a definitive feminine look to it. "Wow, I haven't seen that Pokemon before," Gaius remarked, "it looks strange, but it might actually be pretty powerful. I'll use my Pokedex to find out what it can do. Gaius reached into his left pants pocked and pulled out a small, black, Kanto-model Pokedex.

Upon the Pokedex hearing the Pokemon's cry, the machine began to speak. "Gothita, the Fixation Pokémon. Gothita watches Pokémon and Trainers with an intense stare. Its bow-like feelers amplify its Psychic powers. Gothita evolves first into Gothorita, and then finally into Gothitelle. Gothita, Gothorita, and Gothitelle are all native to the Unova region."

Gaius stared at the Pokemon, unsure if it could be of any use to him. "Hm, let me check on the detailed search results before I decide if I want to actually capture this Pokemon or not." The trainer quickly skimmed through the data listed in his Pokedex and began to analyze it. 'Gothitelle's best attacks are Psychic and Future Sight. Both attacks are pretty standard for any type of Psychic Pokemon to have, so it doesn't stand out there at all. Now, let's move on to its battle statistics. Gothitelle has Frisk or Competitive. Frisk shows me what held item my opponents are using, if any, and Competitive increases special attack if any of Gothitelle's stats are lowered. Competitive seems more interesting, but it's not anything too special, even. Plus, it's power levels look standard anyway, so I'm pretty sure I can find something else a lot better here in the way of Psychic types.' Gaius sighed, and slowly shook his head.

"No, I don't think I'm interested in Gothita at all. I'm still mainly looking for Zorua and Abra. If any Pokemon of similar power level or ability appear, I'd gladly catch them as well. However, there's nothing that particularly stands out about the Gothitelle family, so I'm pretty sure I can find more interesting Pokemon if I just keep looking." The trainer then looked towards his ranger, hoping that she would lead him away from the Gothita. Gaius quickly hit eject on his Pokeplayer, and inserted the Abra disc, and hit play.
@MuddyMudkip;

 

@mlouden03;

NBP#3

Gaius took a pass on the Gothita.

"I'm still mainly looking for Zorua and Abra," he explained after analyzing the creature's potential using the information in his Pokedex. "If any Pokemon of similar power level or ability appear, I'd gladly catch them as well. However, there's nothing that particularly stands out about the Gothitelle family, so I'm pretty sure I can find more interesting Pokemon if I just keep looking."

I probably would've chosen to do the same. Maybe. If I was desperate to leave the Park with something that was at least somewhat worthwhile and to make sure the run was not a waste of money, energy and time, then I might've settled for the Fixation Pokemon. In the trainer's case, it was different - the run had only just begun so there were sure to be other, hopefully better, encounters later down the road.

"Alright," I responded, shaking my head at the wild creature as a sign that it wasn't going to get any battles this time around. "Let's try to work our way around it." I sure did hope the Psychic-type would let us carry on without too much trouble - I always felt bad when a trainer wasn't interested in battling a certain encounter and had to deal with it anyway just because the Pokemon was too stubborn to take no for an answer. Furthermore, I wanted out of this forest already; by far, I much preferred wide open areas to clamped up locations like these.

Before we could escape, however, the Pokemon let out a shrill cry of protest, its eyes glowing an even brighter blue hue as it stepped towards us. It was small, sure, but I did not want to find out what this Psychic-type was capable of, especially when its whole body was now enveloped in glimmering energy that it could easily release at any given moment. Guess this one wasn't much different from all those other hard-headed creatures who just insisted on picking a fight with the trainers.

"We can try to run again," I told Gaius as I kept a wary eye on the wild entity. "But if that fails, the Gothita might decide to attack. The other option is to buy a Pokedoll, 500 apiece, to distract it while we get out of here. All up to you, Gaius." We had to be extremely cautious in going about this situation now, especially considering the fact that the Fixation Pokemon was all charged up and ready to unleash some kind of Psychic-typed assault if it wanted to do so.

Trainer Statistics:
Name: Gaius Vi Britannia
Location: Meteor Valley
Encounters Left: 15
Area Effects: Zorua Voice Disk [ONE USED]
Pokemon Encountered: [none]
Current Encounter: Gothita (?, ???)
Pokemon Captured: [none]

Total Items: Three Parkballs|Two Superballs|One Hyperball|Two Energy Roots|Two Revival Herbs|Digital Camera|Apricorn Box|PokePlayer|Abra Voice Disk|Zorua Voice Disk
MCR: 12566/9000 [Uncommon]

Pokemon Stats

Pestilence the Gengar (M) - 100%
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Jolly
TM/HM/BM/MT/SM: Thunderbolt|Psychic|Will-O-Wisp|Sludge Wave|Substitute|Focus Blast|Icy Wind|Psych Up|Snatch|Giga Drain|Protect|Metronome

Crobat (M) - 100%
Ability: Inner Focus
Nature: Modest
TM/HM/BM/MT/SM: Roost

Antichrist the Dragonite (M) - 100%
Ability: Multiscale
Nature: Serious
TM/HM/BM/MT/SM: Extremespeed|Substitute|Protect|Ice Punch|Heal Bell|Earthquake

 

As Gaius and his ranger began to walk away, the Pokemon let out a shrill cry, almost beckoning them to stay and battle. It seemed as if the Gothita wasn't going to let them go without some sort of confrontation, a confrontation that Gaius felt was unnecessary.

Gaius closed his eyes lowered his head. 'How could I forget about this draw back in the park?' Gaius sighed, and shook his head. 'Why can't Pokemon like this Gothita just know that I don't want to capture it and just let me leave in peace. I don't want it, it surely wouldn't have a good time as my Pokemon either, as I wouldn't be using it that much. I wonder why most of the Pokemon here are so clingy, and that they just can't take no for an answer. I just want to turn around and walk away, but no, of course not, that would just be too simple and easy, right?' The trainer sighed, and looked towards his ranger.

"I forgot that some Pokemon here don't know how to take no for an answer. My last park expedition I had to buy, like, five or so damn Pokedolls. Those clingy Pokemon made a dent in my wallet, that's for sure. Is there any particular reason why some species of Pokemon just seem to not want to leave a trainer in peace? Are some Pokemon just more angry at humans, or desire to be a trainer's Pokemon more than others? I hope that this kind of attitude that the Pokemon display isn't somehow related to them being in the park, although, that would kind of make sense. Perhaps this Gothita has been passed up several times before by other trainers, and, at this point, it just decided to be stubborn about it." Gaius laughed, and shook his head at the psychic type Pokemon. "I'm sorry, but I don't want to waste my time fighting you. It'll be a drain on both my Pokemon's energy, my item resources to heal them, and overall be useless since I Do Not Want You. Why couldn't you have just run back into the woods like a good little Pokemon?" The trainer sighed, and then reached into pocket, pulling out his wallet.

Gaius then turned to his ranger, taking five-hundred dollars out and handing them in the ranger's direction. "Here, just take my money so we can move on. I don't want this little pipsqueak to delay my run any more today. I just want to quickly move on and hopefully find some better Pokemon that I know will be a powerful addition to my collection. By the way, I'd like to try using my Abra disc again, and, possibly, could we try to actually explore the valley itself? I kind of figure more Pokemon would be there, since, the place is named Meteor Valley, after all." The trainer then waited for his ranger to accept the money, and, while waiting, Gaius was getting ready to hit play on his Abra cd.
@MuddyMudkip;

 

@mlouden03; Oh, yeah, could you put the subtraction of money in an OOC the next time you buy a Pokedoll (like how you would do it in the Mart)? It helps to keep track of stuff and make sure none of us forget. ^_^ Thanks.

NBP#4

I could tell the trainer was starting to get rather pissed off with his luck. He wasn't afraid to show his irritation, either, venting his annoyance out verbally with a rant that left me at a loss for words, which wasn't a good thing. I swallowed, not exactly sure how to reply - anger wasn't an option; nothing would be solved if I responded to Gaius immaturely or violently. I was going to have to keep things under control here as much as possible, no matter how terrible the next encounters would be... Oh, how I wished the odds would change soon, for both of our sakes.

I took the money, trying to keep my cool and confidence, my professionalism, then tucked the cash into a pocket of my bag - I'd drop that off at the Park Shop later. I grabbed one of the many stuffed toys I had packed for emergency purposes and wagged it right in front of the Gothita's eyes. That did the trick! The Fixation Pokemon's eyes stopped their glowing as the creature lost its focus, its attention now fully on the pink doll. It grabbed for the toy and I gladly let it have it. Distracted, the wild creature no longer paid us any heed, and we were able to sneak past it, dashing through the forest.

"Come on," I said the only thing I could think of saying, "Let's get away from these trees." I didn't like this forest any more than the trainer did; I was much more interested in the valley itself, as he was.

We didn't make it there soon enough, I felt, but at least we didn't bump into any other wild entities along the way. Emerging from the dark forest, I took in a deep breath of fresh air as I gazed around the large plain that stretched on for miles in either direction.

I stepped over a rock that was jutting out right next to my feet and gestured for Gaius to follow. The trainer hit the play button once more, and this time a different set of cries rang out - it was an Abra's. I guided our party of three to the right, walking along the perimeter, gazing across the barren landscape to see if there were any Pokemon roaming about - more specifically, if there were any Zoruas or Abras in the immediate vicinity.

Pointing at a hill in the distance, I turned to the trainer and informed him, "There're a couple of hills over there with some rather extensive networks of caves, and there's another strip of them on the other end of this valley -" I jerked my thumb over my shoulder to point behind me, "- if you would like to explore them. Otherwise, we could just keep roaming around here; the valley's area is pretty huge on its own, with quite a bit of rock formations, long grass and the like here and there, so it won't be completely boring if you'd rather stay down here."

As I finished speaking, my gaze landed on some movement behind a boulder that was covered with moss on its bottom part, the dull green plants creating a unique pattern on its bland surface. The four-legged creature's primarily gray fur color stood out against the sandy brown of the rock and land; its face, too, contrasted well with its surroundings as it was mostly black, save for the red of its nose and iris as well as he gleaming white of its sharp teeth. It bared its fangs as it prodded at the long blades of dying grass with its feet, snapping its jaws whenever the breeze would urge the plants to sway one way or the other.

I nodded my head in the direction of the Bite Pokemon, pointing it out to Gaius. "There's a Poochyena over there," I said. "Not exactly that rare of a Pokemon, but would you be interested in battling it?" I felt like I already knew what his answer would be, but still it was polite - and Park Policy, at that - to ask.

Trainer Statistics:
Name: Gaius Vi Britannia
Location: Meteor Valley
Encounters Left: 14
Area Effects: Zorua Voice Disk [ONE USED]; Abra Voice Disk [ONE USED]
Pokemon Encountered: Gothita (?, ???)
Current Encounter: Poochyena (?, ???)
Pokemon Captured: [none]

Total Items: Three Parkballs|Two Superballs|One Hyperball|Two Energy Roots|Two Revival Herbs|Digital Camera|Apricorn Box|PokePlayer|Abra Voice Disk|Zorua Voice Disk
MCR: 0/4000 [Common]

Pokemon Stats

Pestilence the Gengar (M) - 100%
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Jolly
TM/HM/BM/MT/SM: Thunderbolt|Psychic|Will-O-Wisp|Sludge Wave|Substitute|Focus Blast|Icy Wind|Psych Up|Snatch|Giga Drain|Protect|Metronome

Crobat (M) - 100%
Ability: Inner Focus
Nature: Modest
TM/HM/BM/MT/SM: Roost

Antichrist the Dragonite (M) - 100%
Ability: Multiscale
Nature: Serious
TM/HM/BM/MT/SM: Extremespeed|Substitute|Protect|Ice Punch|Heal Bell|Earthquake

 

OOC: Ok

IC:

Gaius watched as his ranger pulled out a Pokedoll and waved it in front of the Gothita. After a few seconds the Pokemon appeared transfixed on the doll, allowing the pair of humans to pass. The trainers slowly walked away from the woods, and moved towards the valley at Gaius' request. After a few minutes they reached the edge of the valley and Gaius began to feel slightly optimistic.

'I'm sure powerful and rare Pokemon would hang out in this valley. I mean, heck, they park staff named this whole section Meteor Valley. That means this part of the area is probably the best one possible. I just know I'm going to encounter something good here.' Gaius paused as he watched his ranger indicate that there were several mountains towards off in one direction. "I know that this area is mainly psychic, dark, and ghost types Pokemon, but I'm used to associating caves with rock and ground types. How about we stick to the valley for now, and then we could always explore the caves later if my luck hasn't improved by then." The trainer really didn't care where they went, as long as he got what he paid for. "The only thing that matters is me actually finding a strong psychic type to add to my team. My Espeon, while a psychic type, doesn't seem to have as much power as I'd like a member of my party to have. A dark type and ghost wouldn't hurt either, but I hope they're nothing too common or easy to find. I have alot of the common, or easy to find Pokemon already." The trainer stopped speaking when he witnessed movement behind a boulder.

The trainer crept forth, hoping to not startle whatever Pokemon was on the other side of the rock. "I think that's a Pokemon over there. Hopefully it's one I want to add to my team." Gaius continued moving forward, and slowly peered around the rock. He could see a small, black Pokemon with grey fur. The Pokemon stood on all fours and resembled a small dog. The trainer already knew what the Pokemon was, causing him to feel greatly disappointed.

"That's a Poochyena, right?" Gaius sighed. The trainer shook his head when his ranger confirmed the name by asking if he wanted to capture it. "No, I have no use for a Poochyena. I already have a Mightyena, its evolved form, and Poochyena themselves aren't that hard to come by in most places in Hoenn. Plus you could probably buy Poochyena in practically any Pokemart in any region, making its value quite low. Granted, it would be cheaper here to catch it instead of paying seven to eight thousand dollars in a shop, but since most people who want the Pokemon probably have one already, I couldn't even get a good trade deal out of it." The trainer looked down in frustration. "I know it's still very, very new in my expedition, but I was hoping to find something better than this early on. In my last expedition I was able to find several Pokemon that I wanted right away. Well, I guess the chance of a repeat performance may be out of the question." The trainer looked solemnly at the Poochyena, wishing he could have found anything else than a common Pokemon.

Gaius then turned to his ranger and began to speak. "Come on, let's get out of here. I don't want to waste more time with a Pokemon that I pretty much already have. Hopefully the next find will be something that's more worthwhile. Seriously, if the run keeps up like this, I may start to prefer Aleria and Makina over you, even though they were weak and bleeding hearts for Pokemon equality." The trainer laughed, and kept walking, hoping that Poochyena would take the hint and leave them alone
@MuddyMudkip;

 

@mlouden03; my dice usually aren't this terrible :x

NBP#5

"I figured as much," I replied when the trainer declined the offer. Poochyena were not particularly rare, nor were they that strong, especially when placed side-by-side with the likes of Zorua and Abra, which were the things Gaius was most interested in.

Gaius had also mentioned something about Rangers Aleria and Makina, two of my colleagues, and how he might've preferred them over me, if only based on the kinds of Pokemon we were encountering. I had to bite back the urge to snap at him in response as I clenched and unclenched my fists a couple of times in order to release my irritation. My only job was to make sure this run went smoothly, and if I happened to get myself into some sort of argument with this trainer, then that would definitely be well beyond and opposite what I was supposed to do, what my responsibilities were.

Still, I couldn't help but feel a tad bit annoyed as I led the group away from the wild creature - it wasn't my fault luck wasn't on his side today. It was him who was unfortunate, who wasn't being favored this time around; it was his stars that weren't shining brightly today. If I could have it my way, I'd make it so that he'd encounter all the Pokemon he wanted just to get it over and done with already. I did wish the tables would turn, the odds would start to swing in his favor, if only for the sake of my well-being and sanity.

As we were walking away from the Bite Pokemon, the sound of paws thundering against dry, broken ground reached my ears. I sighed exasperatedly, all too aware of what was happening. "Darn it all," I cursed under my breath as I turned to face our pursuer. The Dark-type zipped up to us, yapping about and breathing heavily, showing its white fangs as it panted for air.

"We could probably outspeed it if we try to run again... Probably," I told the trainer in a practiced monotone. I didn't dare let my annoyance or aggravation seep into the tone of my voice to avoid the consequences. "Or, you know, there's always the Pokedoll option." If we tried to escape again, and failed... All I knew is that I did not want to find out just how sharp those Poochyena's teeth were.

Trainer Statistics:
Name: Gaius Vi Britannia
Location: Meteor Valley
Encounters Left: 14
Area Effects: Zorua Voice Disk [4x Remaining]; Abra Voice Disk [4x Remaining]
Pokemon Encountered: Gothita (?, ???)
Current Encounter: Poochyena (?, ???)
Pokemon Captured: [none]

Total Items: Three Parkballs|Two Superballs|One Hyperball|Two Energy Roots|Two Revival Herbs|Digital Camera|Apricorn Box|PokePlayer|Abra Voice Disk|Zorua Voice Disk
MCR: 3556/4000 [Common]

Pokemon Stats

Pestilence the Gengar (M) - 100%
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Jolly
TM/HM/BM/MT/SM: Thunderbolt|Psychic|Will-O-Wisp|Sludge Wave|Substitute|Focus Blast|Icy Wind|Psych Up|Snatch|Giga Drain|Protect|Metronome

Crobat (M) - 100%
Ability: Inner Focus
Nature: Modest
TM/HM/BM/MT/SM: Roost

Antichrist the Dragonite (M) - 100%
Ability: Multiscale
Nature: Serious
TM/HM/BM/MT/SM: Extremespeed|Substitute|Protect|Ice Punch|Heal Bell|Earthquake

 

OOC: Curse you dice!!! lol oh, and sorry for calling you a guy in my last post. lolz

IC:

As Gaius and his ranger began to walk away, he could hear a sound coming from behind the pair. He turned, seeing that Poochyena was about to chase the trainers. "Oh, great," Gaius exclaimed, "not only does this Pokemon not know when to leave us alone, it seems as if he wants to take a bite out of us as well. I wish I could just battle him into submission, or weaken it so we could flee, but I don't want my Pokemon to take too much damage. I only have a small supply of healing items, and I wouldn't want to risk having to use them all right away. Despite Poochyena being a relatively weak basic Pokemon, it still could pose some trouble if it gets some lucky hits in. I'm not sure which option would be better." The trainer looked down at his belt, remembering which Pokemon he brought with him into the park.

"I could possibly use Dragonite to fly out of here, but I'm pretty sure that would violate some sort of park rule, or something. I'd hate to be thrown out because I accidentally violated some silly park policy. So," Gaius mused, "we could either try to keep running, or I could pay five hundred dollars to use one of your Pokedolls? Seriously, I'm starting to like this run even less than my first one. Not only have two Pokemon in a row been ones that I didn't want, both of them are ones that don't know to just leave me alone! Is it too much to ask that Pokemon just know when they're not wanted, or do they just not care about humans feelings at all? Are they truly that selfish to think that any trainer who isn't interested in them needs to be battled or attacked anyway? Doesn't that sort of behavior on behalf of some of your Pokemon violate some park rules for over-aggressiveness or abuse? That's exactly what is happening, too. The Pokemon here just don't know when to leave well enough alone, so they insist on attacking anyone no matter what happens. I still cannot believe that you people at the park condone such actions from your Pokemon here. Do you guys want Pokemon to just keep bothering trainers, or what?" The trainer looked down, annoyed. by the turn of events.

"I still don't know what option is best, I don't want to spend more money, but if we can't successfully run away, I'll be forced into a battle with him to make him stop. Ugh, this is so stupid. I swear, if the next Pokemon is one that I don't want, and if that one costs me another five hundred dollars, I just don't know if I'm going to keep going on this expedition at all. At least at this point before I had found, and captured, one Pokemon that I wanted to find. Also on my third encounter on my last run, I found yet another Pokemon that I actually wanted to have. I thought these voice discs and such would make finding Pokemon I wanted easier, however with only thirteen chances to find a Pokemon remaining, I still haven't found anyone that I actually wanted!" The trainer sulked, and then slowly reached in his pocket, pulling out a five-hundred dollar bill. "I guess I'll just pay for a Pokedoll. It's at least faster than trying to run away again."

The trainer waited for his ranger to pull out a Pokedoll, and Gaius quickly loaded his Abra cd into the Pokeplayer, waiting for them to be rid of Poochyena before playing it again.

OOC: Using a Pokedoll
@MuddyMudkip;

 

@mlouden03;

NBP#6

I pursed my lips as Gaius ranted, his expression evident with frustration. Most of his words no longer registered in my head after some time; his voice had become a sort of background or white noise, in one ear, and out the other. I don't think he expected a reply anyway, and I decided not to give him one. Sometimes choosing silence was the best way to respond in these types of situations; reactions that were just as, ah, "violent" would definitely not make things any better - it would only add fuel to the fire.

Accepting his money in exchange for another Pokedoll, I turned my attention onto the still-yapping Poochyena. "Run along now," I told it as it caught the toy in his teeth. It nodded, its eyes twinkling with glee, and scampered off in the other direction, opposite the way we were headed.

I heaved a sigh of relief before continuing to walk again, hoping against all hope our luck would change. I did not need another rant spat into my ears, thank you very much. For now, though, the only thing I could hear was the constant cries of an Abra from the PokePlayer mixed in with the breezes swooping in from either side of the large valley.

And speaking of swooping, in came a huge brown bird, each flap of her shaggy, gray-tipped wings generating a strong gust of cool air as she hurtled towards the ground - or us, rather - at an alarming rate. Her beady red eyes stared at us in an expression I would've rather not comprehend, while her notched black beak was wide open, crying out predatorily. Everything seemed to go into a standstill, or a dramatic slow-motion, as I took in the long brown tuft with a bone in the middle that extended from her head, her "skirt" made of what seemed to be bones or teeth, and the long black talons on her pink feet.

Right at the last moment her rapid, tunneling descent halted, and she instead began to circle us, cawing like there was no tomorrow. Whether those high-pitched cries were any better than another rant from Gaius, I wasn't so sure anymore. My eardrums hurt, and my head was starting to, as well.

"Interested in a Mandibuzz? And if you aren't, you could probably snap a nice close-up shot to sell for a bit of cash later on." I knew my trainer had brought along a camera with him today, so if he didn't fancy a battle with the Dark-Flying-type, then he'd at least be able to make a small amount of money by selling a photo of this rare a Pokemon to some collectors around the area.

Trainer Statistics:
Name: Gaius Vi Britannia
Location: Meteor Valley
Encounters Left: 13
Area Effects: Zorua Voice Disk [4x Remaining]; Abra Voice Disk [3x Remaining]
Pokemon Encountered: Gothita (?, ???)|Poochyena (?, ???)
Current Encounter: Mandibuzz (?, ???)
Pokemon Captured: [none]

Total Items: Three Parkballs|Two Superballs|One Hyperball|Two Energy Roots|Two Revival Herbs|Digital Camera|Apricorn Box|PokePlayer|Abra Voice Disk|Zorua Voice Disk
MCR: 0/35000 [Rare]

Pokemon Stats

Pestilence the Gengar (M) - 100%
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Jolly
TM/HM/BM/MT/SM: Thunderbolt|Psychic|Will-O-Wisp|Sludge Wave|Substitute|Focus Blast|Icy Wind|Psych Up|Snatch|Giga Drain|Protect|Metronome

Crobat (M) - 100%
Ability: Inner Focus
Nature: Modest
TM/HM/BM/MT/SM: Roost

Antichrist the Dragonite (M) - 100%
Ability: Multiscale
Nature: Serious
TM/HM/BM/MT/SM: Extremespeed|Substitute|Protect|Ice Punch|Heal Bell|Earthquake

 

Gaius followed his ranger as she lead him through the valley. All seemed quiet, except for the droning of an Abra's cry that came from the trainer's Pokeplayer. 'I really hope I see something good soon. So far I've only seen two Pokemon, and both leave a lot to be desired. Gothita, while interesting, just wasn't good enough for a place on my team. As for Poochyena, I already have a Mightyena that is staying at Professor Oak's, so it didn't make any sense for me to catch the basic form of that Pokemon. If my string up luck keeps up like this, though, I may begin to wish that I had actually captured Gothita. I guess it would be better to have caught that if the rest of what I see are just common or useless Pokemon anyway. Maybe for my last encounter I can try to swing back around, the Gothita could still be there for all I know. Hm..if I don't see any good Pokemon at all, I may end up asking my ranger to do just that.' Gaius continued walking until a shrill cry could be heard from above.

A large Pokemon flew towards the pair, squaking and squeeling as it circled them. The Pokemon looked like a large buzzard, with dark brown feathers on its wings, white accent feathers near its feet, and pink colored skin. The Pokemon continued to circle the pair, cawing and flying closer, as if it thought the trainers were its prey.

"I haven't seen that Pokemon before, let's take a look on my Pokedex!" Gaius pulled out his black Pokedex and waited for the machine to scan the creature. A robotic voice began to emanate from the device after a few moments.

"Mandibuzz, The Bone Vulture Pokemon. Watching from the sky, they swoop to strike weakened Pokémon on the ground. They decorate themselves with bones." The device then fell silent, waiting for another task to perform.

"Wow, Mandibuzz, huh? That description seems pretty powerful, and I do like dark type Pokemon, so I could always add it to my collection. Apparently its strongest attacks are Brave Bird and Dark Pulse. While Brave Bird is a pretty powerful attack, I wish it had something better for dark types, like Crunch, already. I would hate to have to spend money to buy TMs or take it to a daycare in order for it to be of use to me. Furthermore, while it can survive long in battle, it isn't capable of much offense. Offense is pretty much a must for anyone on my team or in my collection." The trainer paused as he thought of another question to ask his Pokedex. "Pokedex, check overall availability of Mandibuzz and any evolutionary forms."

The Pokedex then make a beeping noise while it processed the request, and then the computerized voice began to speak. "Mandibuzz, and its pre-evolution, Vullaby, are found on Roue 10 and 11 in Unova. Vullaby can also easily be found in Pokemarts across Unova and even sometimes in other regions as well. Overall rarity listing for both Vullaby and Mandibuzz: Uncommon."

"Well, I guess that settles it, then. There's no way I'm going to waste one of my three captures on this expedition for only an uncommon ranked Pokemon on the rarity scale. Plus, I could always just walk into any store in Unova and pick up a fresh Vullaby anyway, or I could order one in Kanto and have it shipped to a Pokemart here from Unova. Once again, I'm thoroughly unimpressed with your selection here. I wish I could at least find something that I actually want. Wow, now I wish that I did actually pick up that Gothita that we first encountered. While its evolution wouldn't be as powerful as an Alakazam would be, I would at least be getting something interesting while I'm here, not things I already own or flea market bait. You said I could take a picture right? That I could sell it and make some money, and that the Pokemon would also run away after I take the picture? Well, I guess that in itself is a win-win for everyone then. I make some money, hopefully enough to pay off my Pokedolls that I've used so far, and that thing will be scared so it'll actually leave us alone like the other two Pokemon should have from the start."

Gaius pulled out his camera and lined up a shot that captured Mandibuzz's entire body with the frame. "There," Gaius said, laughing, "that should definitely make some collector pay out the nose for a shot like that. I only hope we can just keep going and find something that I actually want to catch." Gaius stuffed the camera back into his pocket, and pressed play on the Pokeplayer, which still had the Abra disc inside.
@MuddyMudkip;

 

@mlouden03;

NBP#7

At first, I'd thought the trainer might've actually found something he liked. Of course, he managed to prove me wrong.

He had seemed seriously pumped and interested for once when the mechanical voice of his Pokedex had come up with a rather impressive description of the mighty bird that had swooped down to greet us. The Bone Vulture Pokemon were pretty powerful, no doubt, and they were part Dark-type - just the kind of Pokemon Gaius seemed to have any use for - however, they weren't exactly the rarest of creatures, apparently. Sure, Mandibuzz were considered a great find in the Park, but their pre-evolution, Vullaby, were not, or so the Pokedex said. That was what set the trainer off on another string of complaints and made him think twice about battling this encounter.

Gaius did heed my piece of advice, though. Deciding that a little money wouldn't hurt, especially considering how he had been forced to buy Pokedolls to distract the other Pokemon we'd bumped into, he pulled out a fancy digital camera and quickly took a nice shot of the wild Pokemon while it was still hovering next to us. The flash must've startled the bird for it cawed irritably as the trainer tucked away his camera. Growling at us once more, it began flapping its large wings much faster now, turning back the way it'd come, and taking to the sky at a rapid pace. It gained altitude pretty quickly, I must say, as if it just couldn't wait to get as far away from us as possible. By the time Gaius had turned his attention back to his PokePlayer, the Mandibuzz was nothing more than a little speck on the horizon.

We continued walking towards the string of hills. There wasn't much in Meteor Valley - it was pretty much just the same wide open, barren brown ground all around - so I'd decided I'd lead the group towards the edge of the plain while sticking to one side of the land, then double-back on the other side if the trainer really did not want to check out the caves. We trudged on in silence. Nothing was happening. Even the Abra's cries barely even registered in my ears anymore; they were just background noise now, I couldn't really hear them, or my brain just didn't want to hear them, it was hard to explain. Occasionally, one of my feet would get trapped in the long grass, their dry blades stretching and curling, and I'd almost trip but not really; good thing, too, as I didn't want to find out how much kindness the trainer had in him - so far, he seemed rather harsh, and not one many people would really get along with, but that was just the vibe I was getting from him and his words. Other than that, this run was starting to get pretty uneventful, I'd say. I didn't mind too much, I guess; I mean, it was boring, but at the same time, it was a nice break - it was different, and a change in pacing probably was what I needed right now.

I almost missed the next encounter entirely, too lost in the sea of my own thoughts as my ears had seemingly decided to block out most of the world's sound. I only noticed its gray body when it was just a few feet away from us, when I could clearly hear the audible "boings" of its spiraling or spring-like tail as it bounced up and down the desolate land.

"How about a Spoink? It's not one of those you can just purchase at a local store, at least," I tried.

Trainer Statistics:
Name: Gaius Vi Britannia
Location: Meteor Valley
Encounters Left: 12
Area Effects: Zorua Voice Disk [4x Remaining]; Abra Voice Disk [2x Remaining]
Pokemon Encountered: Gothita (?, ???)|Poochyena (?, ???)|Mandibuzz (?, ???)
Current Encounter: Spoink (?, ???)
Pokemon Captured: [none]

Total Items: Three Parkballs|Two Superballs|One Hyperball|Two Energy Roots|Two Revival Herbs|Digital Camera|Apricorn Box|PokePlayer|Abra Voice Disk|Zorua Voice Disk|One Rare Picture [Mandibuzz]
MCR: 0/9000 [Uncommon]

Pokemon Stats

Pestilence the Gengar (M) - 100%
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Jolly
TM/HM/BM/MT/SM: Thunderbolt|Psychic|Will-O-Wisp|Sludge Wave|Substitute|Focus Blast|Icy Wind|Psych Up|Snatch|Giga Drain|Protect|Metronome

Crobat (M) - 100%
Ability: Inner Focus
Nature: Modest
TM/HM/BM/MT/SM: Roost

Antichrist the Dragonite (M) - 100%
Ability: Multiscale
Nature: Serious
TM/HM/BM/MT/SM: Extremespeed|Substitute|Protect|Ice Punch|Heal Bell|Earthquake

 

OOC: Sorry for not posting

IC:

Gaius quickly took a picture of the wild Mandibuzz, and then watched as the Pokemon snarled at the pair. The dark/flying type Pokemon then started to fly up and away from them, causing Gaius to feel a sense of relief. "I'm quite glad that I was able to end that encounter without any battling or trying to actually run away. It would have been a shame if I had to spend more money on a Pokedoll if that silly Pokemon didn't want to let us leave without a battle. The extra money was just an added bonus, as while that small stipend will be nice when we get back to the ranger station, the fact that the Mandibuzz wasn't a hassle was infinitely more helpful than the money. I wouldn't mind encountering a few more of Pokemon that I can just take pictures of if I don't want them, the whole expedition would be a whole lot simpler if that were the case." The trainer paused and looked at his ranger.

"So, I'm curious, what made you want to become a ranger? From the looks of this place the pay can't be that much, although I could tell that just by your outfit. Did you like working with Pokemon then? I would find that so incredibly ironic if you share the same foolish ideals as the others that I've encountered here. Although I wouldn't be surprised if that sappy sort of sentiment was a requirement for working as a tour guide in this joint. Honestly, though, what actually influenced your decision? Someone like you probably at least had a few options in their life, although I, myself, will never have to have to bother with options or a proper career. In case you didn't know, my full name is Gaius Vi Britannia, heir to the great Britannia family from the town of Pendragon. With my mother and father no longer around, I could have commanded the family business, however I decided a different path. I chose to become a Pokemon trainer, like my mother before me. If she wasn't taken so early in my life perhaps I would not have had to wait until my father's demise for me to actually accomplish my life goal." Gaius smiled, and continued to address his ranger.

"If you ever actually want to get anywhere in life, you have to seize opportunity with both hands and never let go. Fools who think their life will just fall into place are diluting themselves with idiotic notions of fate and destiny. The truth is, people can create their own destiny, their own fate, although most humans are too weak to do so. I will never allow myself to believe in such weak concepts as the masses do, for the day I think like them is the day that I would be forfeiting my dreams. I only need one thing to walk the path that I have chosen and that is powerful Pokemon that obey my every command. Any Pokemon who are too weak to withstand the field of battle are of no use to me and any humans who get in my way will soon know the dangers of crossing me. I wouldn't expect someone such as yourself to actually understand anything about my ideals or dreams. Your dream was probably to work in a place like this. You have my pity for your lack of vision, as any who are truly deemed for greatness would not sully themselves by being surrounded the weakness that exists in your park. If you ever actually want to amount to anything, I'd get out of here while you still can." Gaius smiled and followed his ranger as they walked through the hills.

As the pair kept walking, Gaius could soon hear an odd sound coming from nearby. Upon further inspection, he could see a small, grey Pokemon that had a pink orb on its head. The Pokemon had a spring-like tail which it kept using to bounce up and down on, creating the odd sound. The trainer quickly pulled out his Pokedex and examined the creature. "Pokedex, show me a readout for Spoink. Information, movelists, and rarity as well." Although his ranger claimed that Spoink could not be found in Pokemarts, Gaius wanted to make sure before possibly attempting a capture.

The Pokedex beeped for a few seconds as it processed the request, and then it came to life. "Spoink, the Bounce Pokémon. Spoink bounces about on its tail. The pearl upon its head helps to magnify its psychic powers. If a Spoink loses its pearl, it grows extremely tired. Spoink are native to the Hoenn region and can be found on Jagged Pass. Spoink can evolve once into Grumpig. Grumpig's most powerful moves are Psychic and Bounce. Neither Spoink nor Grumpig can be found in most Pokemarts and are ranked Uncommon on the rarity scale. Overall power level: Five."

Gaius frowned as he listened to the data as his Pokedex went through its report. "Overall Spoink seems most unimpressive. While it can learn a semi-unique move in bounce, its overall power level means that it cannot use the moves that it knows well enough to do well in battle. Despite it not being available in Pokemon marts, Spoink doesn't seem like my style of Pokemon at all. I'm going to have to pass on Spoink, I guess this makes us zero for four." Gaius walked away from Spoink and once again played his Abra voice disc.
@MuddyMudkip;

 

@mlouden03;

NBP#8

Why had I wanted to become a ranger?

The trainer's question echoed in my head, prodding me for a some form of answer, some kind of response that I could give him, as we walked away from the Spoink. I didn't want it to come out too cheesy, too sappy, or too cliche, but still genuine. It wasn't because I was intimidated by his boasting; more like, it had irritated me quite a bit how he was so quick to judge and look down on others, without even really getting to know what they were like, what their whole story was. To be fair, he did have something to be proud of, based on his lineage, but that didn't necessarily mean he needed to rub it in to everyone else who wasn't born in the kind of luxury and privilege he was.

"If only you knew," I found myself mumbling in a breath that was barely even audible to my own ears, much less the trainer's, my whisper drowned out by the cries emitted by the Abra voice disc as well as the retreating bouncing sounds of the wild Psychic-type. This Bounce Pokemon wasn't interested in bothering us, at least, saving me from "suffering" through another one of Gaius's rants.

Why had I wanted to become a ranger?

A dozen different, but interrelated, answers flooded my brain; images and scenes - memories - flashed through my mind. ... But, no, I wasn't ready. I couldn't tell the trainer any of that! They were much too personal, and it was still much too soon to be talking about them, or even thinking about them, again. Gaius was practically a stranger - I wasn't going to share my life story with him, even if that did explain my reasons for becoming a ranger; heck, I had barely even shared this with anyone, only very few chosen people and Pokemon knew of this, and most of them hadn't even gotten the whole package, because, again, I wasn't ready. And I wasn't even sure if I ever would be.

<Can I just beat this kid up and get it over with already? My blade needs a little sharpening, anyway,> my Gallade offered, his red eyes twinkling in utter disgust and annoyance.

Don't, Adrian; it's fine, I promise. To be honest, if I had said any of that out loud, my voice probably would've come out weak and broken, as though I was trying to convince myself of a different reality. i stared at the cracks in the dry, old ground, the fractures reminding me of my own fragile state.

<You don't have to tell him, you know,> he said, his words ringing in my head softly, his tone gentle and concerned instead of angry or challenging.

I tilted my head sideways to look up at him then, finally forcing my eyes to stop glaring at the hard floor. I have to give him an answer. He was about to protest, but I shook my head ever-so-subtly to stop him. And I want to. I wasn't going to give the trainer the whole truth, of course - that'd be silly of me; no, I'd give him something of the truth, genuine enough to satisfy him, but vague enough to keep him wondering, to keep him away, to keep him as just another stranger - I'd give him my "shallower," I guess you could say, reasons, but that'd be it. That should be enough, I decided. It was settled, then.

"As for your question earlier," I finally addressed the trainer, "I don't know, really. The Pokemon drew me in, that's for sure. And, I guess, so did the actual rangering, taking trainers through the Park. I get to see tons of battles, tons of different creatures, tons of varying battle styles and techniques - it's all just an excellent creative learning experience for me. I get to study how these wild entities adapt to various challenges and hardships - not just battles against other, likely stronger or more skilled, Pokemon brought in by trainers such as yourself, but also to climate change, threats from predators, or even if they're the predators themselves, I get to see how they struggle to survive, especially when the prey runs out, or is on the verge of becoming endangered. It's a circle of life, that's for sure. Plus, I get to apply all these when I'm out on a run, myself, or whenever else really, especially all the strategies I've seen the many different trainers put into use.

"I do have, and did have, other options, other opportunities, but the pay here's not that terrible, even during the slow season - it's enough to pay the bills, at least, among other things. Besides, the Park is pretty much where it all comes together for me - lots and lots of Pokemon, battles, adventures, decent-to-amazing colleagues and friends, stuff like that. The scenery or environment - nature - is an added bonus, as well, I'd say. I don't particularly enjoy the barren land that is this Meteor Valley, but the Botanic Gardens and the Great Lakes are brilliant; there's the Abandoned Power Plant if I want a little thrill or change of scenery; the mountains aren't actually as horrible as I would usually make them out to be, it's really just the drastic temperatures and weather that are rather undesirable, but the Pokemon inhabiting those areas are some pretty powerful ones, and the caves, the inside of the mountains, are pretty cool and nice to explore; the Woods are okay if you don't mind the bugs or the darkness, but to be fair, even the Plant and the caves are dark anyway, so. And then the Enigma Ruins are there if I just want a surprise, some mystery, I guess - there's a lot to be discovered about it, and about the Park in general." I had rambled on for quite a bit, and I didn't know if Gaius had actually paid any attention to my explanation, but I didn't really care. I'd gotten it out, he could stop asking me questions, problem solved.

Speaking of mysery, adventure, and unusual happenings, I had to pinch myself when I heard... "Is that singing?" I wondered out loud, my eyebrow raised in bewilderment and confusion.

I gestured for Gaius to follow as I moved in the direction the music was coming from. I found myself quickly making my way towards the hills on this side of the valley as I strained my ears to listen for the melodic sound. I found its source soon enough, perched proudly on a smooth-looking boulder on one of the mountain's many ledges, right outside a cave entrance that was a couple of feet up the side of the hill. The creature in question seemed to have musical bar-styled streaks in its long, wavy green hair, while its arms and hands seemed to be in the form of a musical note - a quarter note, if I was not misaken. It had a jewel on its forehead as well as a black headpiece, which resembled a treble clef and appeared to be its microphone, attached to the side of its head.

"See, that's what I was talking about," I told the trainer with delight. "Something interesting, something new, something noteworthy - the Park's not all that bad if you just have a bit of luck on your side. And this time, it seems, you've been quite fortunate enough to encounter the legendary Meloetta."

Trainer Statistics:
Name: Gaius Vi Britannia
Location: Meteor Valley
Encounters Left: 11
Area Effects: Zorua Voice Disc [4x Remaining]; Abra Voice Disc [1x Remaining]
Pokemon Encountered: Gothita (?, ???)|Poochyena (?, ???)|Mandibuzz (?, ???)|Spoink (?, ???)
Current Encounter: Meloetta (?, ???)
Pokemon Captured: [none]

Total Items: Three Parkballs|Two Superballs|One Hyperball|Two Energy Roots|Two Revival Herbs|Digital Camera|Apricorn Box|PokePlayer|Abra Voice Disc|Zorua Voice Disc|One Rare Picture [Mandibuzz]
MCR: 0/??? [Legendary]

Pokemon Stats

Pestilence the Gengar (M) - 100%
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Jolly
TM/HM/BM/MT/SM: Thunderbolt|Psychic|Will-O-Wisp|Sludge Wave|Substitute|Focus Blast|Icy Wind|Psych Up|Snatch|Giga Drain|Protect|Metronome

Crobat (M) - 100%
Ability: Inner Focus
Nature: Modest
TM/HM/BM/MT/SM: Roost

Antichrist the Dragonite (M) - 100%
Ability: Multiscale
Nature: Serious
TM/HM/BM/MT/SM: Extremespeed|Substitute|Protect|Ice Punch|Heal Bell|Earthquake

 

Gaius paused as he listened to his ranger's response and explanation. After a few moments of thinking, he responded. "Well, what drew you to Pokemon in the first place, then? I'm not sure if I mentined earlier, but I went to a Pokemon school as a child. That's how I first got introuced to Pokemon. Where did you first find out about Pokemon? What was your starter Pokemon? Battling is sure a good reason to do something, I always do love a good battle. Whether it's me battling a wild Pokemon, or me battling another trainer. I get thrills out of even watching my own Pokemon fight to toughen them up so that they can evolve or learn new moves. Battling is, by far, the most important think about living in a Pokemon world. Battling is how we test our Pokemon and our skills against the world. Battling is how we judge worthiness for the Pokemon League. What kind of society would be like without Pokemon battles, I wonder? Pokemon battles also serve to feed humanity's need for conflict and competition. It's much easier to have a Pokemon battle than a fight to the death with another human, right? It also happens to be a lot less messier too."

Gaius smiled as he delivered the next part of his response. "I'm glad you accept the realities of a wild society of Pokemon. Predators and death are a common occurance of the true wild, so thus they should be a common occurance here as well. Those who cannot adapt to the world around them, to the climate, the food, the preadators, deserve to meet the fate of their less evolved anscestors. It's quite refreshing that you have a realistic viewpoint and aren't concerned with trying to help every small Pokemon that you come across in the wild here. They should be able to find a way to help themselves, or perish. It's as simple as that." The trainer paused as he thought of what to say next. "I'm glad that you at least make a sufficient wage here for you to actually live on. It would be most unfortunate if you had to try and live out in places like this on your own, living off the land." Gaius laughed and then continued speaking. "So, the park pretty much is your whole life, right? What would you do if suddenly the park got closed down, or if some big disaster happened and you couldn't be a ranger anymore? Would you just crumble into a ball of sadness or would you pull yourself up and find something else to do with your life? Your answer can determine your overall survivability in the world in general. Just like Pokemon, humans who cannot adapt, die."

Gaius then looked around at his surroundings as he contemplated his next statement. "Whereas some nature lovers like yourself do not see anything to behold here, I quite enjoy the area here. The wide open space leaves little surprises and although it doesn't leave much to the imagination, you at least know what you're getting into when you come here. Meteor Valley has a true earthy quality to it, almost rustic or pure in the sense of its plain-ness. The power plant is just a building, right? Buildings can be easily built and destroyed, things can fall or fade with time as nature regains its hold on the world. But this, this plain desolate area, is pratically stagnant. The area is dependable, reliable, and cannot be changed by nature no matter how hard nature may try to do so. Although the temperature may not perfectly suit your preferences, the world has little use for human preferences. If the temperature is too cold, bring a jacket or a coat. If the area is too hot, just wear a t-shirt and shorts; or a tank top in your case. The Enigma Ruins do seem fascinating, though. If I wasn't trying to find some specific Pokemon, I'd have probably gone there, instead. Although I do have some preferences as to which Pokemon I acquire first, honestly I'm just looking for powerful or useful Pokemon regardless of type. Is it really true that any kind of Pokemon can be encountered there, as it's almost a combination of all of the park areas combined? If so, that will probably be my next destination after this." Gaius looked at his ranger and tilted his head, awaiting her response to his comments.

Just as the trainer was going to continue speaking, he heard the faint sound of singing nearby. His ranger bade him to follow her lead, which he did, until they passed through the hills in the area. Gaius then saw a strange looking Pokemon that was sitting on top of some kind of rock in front of a cave entrance. The Pokemon had streaks in its hair that reminded Gaius of his old piano lessons, as the streaks resembled musical notes on a score. The Pokemon's arms and hands also resembled musical notes, prompting Gaius to be intrigued. 'I wonder what kind of Pokemon this is. I could seriously use something that's as interesting as this.' The trainer wondered if he would be able to battle or capture this Pokemon.

As soon as his ranger mentioned that it was a legendary, he knew that the answer was no. "So, f I remember correctly, I cannot capture legendaries here, right?" Gaius frowned, upset that he had found yet another Pokemon that he either didn't want or couldn't get. "I can take a picture of it at least, right? Then I can sell the picture for money after the expedition, yeah? I might as well just do that." Gaius pulled out his camera and took a quick picture of the legendary Pokemon. "I would like to battle it, but I don't want to have to use healing items on my Pokemon for a battle that cannot even end in a capture. Gaius turned away from Meoletta and played his Abra disc for the last time.
@MuddyMudkip;

 

@mlouden03; rolled a 1

NBP#9

To put it lightly, this Gaius, he was a talkative one, wasn't he? Always reflecting and reacting to everything, always asking more questions. It was slightly annoying, especially at first, when you just weren't used to someone being so "noisy," I guess you could say, but as long as he wasn't being cocky or a jerk, really, it wasn't all that terrible.

His take on my explanation - my reasons for becoming a ranger and all that - surprised me, to be perfectly honest. And while there were some things he'd said that weren't exactly pleasant or nice, there were some parts that definitely opened my eyes to new perspectives, especially when he talked a bit about the kind of environment Meteor Valley had. The trainer wasn't really a jerk by any means, he was only very expressive and opinionated, and not exactly the kind of people we'd usually deal with here in the Park - I figured that was the best way to put it. I, myself, was rather headstrong and opinionated about certain things, and I'd make a stand for things I really did think were correct, so in a way I understood where he was coming from. He was different than most common or stereotypical trainers, and that wasn't necessarily a bad thing - as long as he didn't stray into abusive or illegal territory or something similar, then that was fine by me.

Gaius had seemed pretty disappointed with the legendary we'd encountered; he'd been seeking a battle, seeking a Pokemon he could actually take home and train to become as mighty as could be - you couldn't do that with a mythical creature such as Meloetta, of course. He retrieved his camera from his bag once again and snapped a photo of the Melody Pokemon while it was belting out one of its tunes on the rocky make-shift stage in front of the cave.

The trainer then played his own symphony of sounds with his PokePlayer, letting the voice disc spin round and round one last time until the recording ran out. The cries echoed throughout the valley once more, and the Meloetta had heard it, no doubt. It stopped singing suddenly, spinning on its heel, and retreated into the cave. That was rather weird, but I didn't think too much of it as I turned and lead Gaius away from the hills. I knew he wasn't particularly interested in exploring the caves anyway. I then decided it was a good time as any to respond to his comments from before we'd encountered the legendary.

"My parents," I began, careful with my choice of words, "were the ones who told me about Pokemon; they had a couple creatures themselves and were avid battlers, though not professional or someone famous or anything of that sort. When I was just a young kid, I'd always play with the Pokemon in our house, in our neighborhood, as well as those of my friends and relatives. When my parents deemed me old enough and responsible enough, they brought home a Mudkip from one of the local stores, and that was how I got my first partner."

I then addressed his Park-related thoughts, "The Enigma Ruins is a fantastic place to visit, that's for sure, because it is, indeed, like a combination of all the zones of the Park fit into one location. I, myself, am not a hundred percent sure of how it happened or how it works, but it's pretty neat, shrouded with mystery and full of surprises." I then remembered he'd asked what I'd do if the Park happened to close down or if I had to quit being a ranger. "Right now, I guess you could say that the Park is pretty much my life; there's more, but the Park and my job here is pretty much what's holding me together, in terms of getting by with our daily needs and stuff. If it shuts down, I definitely have other options to turn to, and if I didn't..." I paused, trying to act as confident and determined as possible. "Well, I'd find a way, anyway, I'm sure. It may take a while, and there'll obviously be some sort of struggle, but I'd like to believe that we - my Pokemon and I, that is - would be able to pull through. Giving up is not an option, I always say."

We were only a couple of feet away from the string of hills when the singing started up again. I glanced back over my shoulder and was surprised to see the Melody Pokemon back on the ledge, this time with a yellow creature by its side. The legend's companion gazed down at us with its narrow, slit-like eyes on its kite-shaped face, its pointed ears alert, though I was pretty sure that it being a Psychic-type, it could sense dangers just by using its mental prowess. It plopped down on its thick and long tail, dangling its three-toed feet on the edge of the mountain's ledge. As it leaned back, its blackish-brown shoulder blades banged up against the very rock Meloetta had been using as a stage earlier. With a quick nod farewell, the mythical Pokemon made its exit, creeping back into the cave. It must've recognized the cries the disc was emitting and found a Psi Pokemon just for Gaius.

"Speaking of never giving up, there's the Abra you've been looking for," I told the trainer with a grin, glad that we'd finally found something for him to battle and possibly capture. "You're gonna have to find a way to get it down here so that you can battle it, though. Alternatively, we can make our way up there, if you'd prefer that."

Trainer Statistics:
Name: Gaius Vi Britannia
Location: Meteor Valley
Encounters Left: 10
Area Effects: Zorua Voice Disc [4x Remaining]; Abra Voice Disc [0 Remaining]
Pokemon Encountered: Gothita (?, ???)|Poochyena (?, ???)|Mandibuzz (?, ???)|Spoink (?, ???)|Meloetta (?, ???)
Current Encounter: Abra (?, ???)
Pokemon Captured: [none]

Total Items: Three Parkballs|Two Superballs|One Hyperball|Two Energy Roots|Two Revival Herbs|Digital Camera|Apricorn Box|PokePlayer|Abra Voice Disc|Zorua Voice Disc|One Rare Picture [Mandibuzz]|One Legendary Picture [Meloetta]
MCR: 5546/9000 [Uncommon]

Pokemon Stats

Pestilence the Gengar (M) - 100%
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Jolly
TM/HM/BM/MT/SM: Thunderbolt|Psychic|Will-O-Wisp|Sludge Wave|Substitute|Focus Blast|Icy Wind|Psych Up|Snatch|Giga Drain|Protect|Metronome

Crobat (M) - 100%
Ability: Inner Focus
Nature: Modest
TM/HM/BM/MT/SM: Roost

Antichrist the Dragonite (M) - 100%
Ability: Multiscale
Nature: Serious
TM/HM/BM/MT/SM: Extremespeed|Substitute|Protect|Ice Punch|Heal Bell|Earthquake

 

Gaius watched as Meloetta departed the pair, his face slightly frowning as it entered the cave. The trainer still wished that he could capture the Pokemon and add it to his arsenal, but he knew that could not be the case. 'I really hope the next Pokemon we see is one that I can actually catch. If it's another weak Pokemon or one that I already have, I may just quit the expedition. I've never felt so bored or annoyed at any time before, even when I've been forced to listen to idiotic fools go on about their lives.' Gaius laughed and then turned when his ranger began to speak

"So, your parents were trainers and then they gave you Mudkip? It's unfortunate that they weren't too good or famous, as then I might actually have heard of them. Not all are meant to be in the limelight, so I guess there are always some who are out in the cold. Do you still have Mudkip with you now? What other kinds of Pokemon do you have? I, personally have over fifty Pokemon, even though most of them were attained all at once after a certain incident in Viridian. But, I don't really want to go into it right now, it's quite a long story and I grow tired of explaining it to people. Not that I've exactly told the whole world, but the same story gets boring to retell even after a few times. I actually have quite a unique Pokemon as well, but I decided not to bring it along this park expedition. I may bring next time, though, if he keeps asking. Although I have a feeling there'd be some trouble if he came here, knowing what kind of Pokemon he is." Gaius smiled to himself and then continued speaking.

"So, you'd give it your recommendation then? I may actually go visit them myself after this expedition is over. I was considering doing so anyway, but a positive review from someone who has already been there would go a long way. I mean, you have actually been there, right?" He paused as he thought of how to answer her next statement. "Although I guess it's good that you have a rock in your life, having something be so important can also be disastrous as well. What other plans or options do you have available? Do you actually have any other Pokemon related skills, or skills outside of Pokemon professions? I know it sounds nice to say that you'll find a way no matter what, but without actual concrete backups, you're one park closure away from the streets of Celadon City. If you do actually ever need a job, just get in touch with me or my company. I'm sure I could always use someone to take care of my Pokemon when I'm away or out adventuring. Although Professor Oak is taking care of them now, I'm not sure how many years that old man has left in him. He's at least sixty or seventy and I don't know of any Pokemon professors who are older than he is." Gaius planned to open his mouth again, but the sound of singing interrupted his thought process.

The young trainer turned and once again saw Meoletta, causing him to sigh and look exasperated. "We've actually seen this thing twice in a row? I thought this was a legendary Pokemon, not as common as a Pidgey." Gaius then looked next to the Pokemon and he saw a small yellow figure next to it. The creature had eyes similar to a Snorlax, large ears, small yellow arms with three yellow claws at the end and brown shoulders. It's small chest matched the color of its shoulders, with black skin separating its arms and legs and on its neck. The Pokemon had two yellow legs, with three toes on each foot. There were two toes in front of its feet and one toe that exited the back, with all three of its toes much longer than the Pokemon's claws. Gaius could make out a long tail that protruded out the back side of his body. The tail was almost as long as the Pokemon was tall and the trainer noticed a brown band that was a few inches from the tip.

Gaius was stunned when he saw the Pokemon, causing him to do a double take before the sight finally registered. "I think that's an Abra, but I haven't seen one before. I want to check and make sure before I decide to battle it or not." The trainer pulled out his black Pokedex and pointed it in the direction of the new arrival. "Pokedex, examine the Pokemon, I need to be sure of its species." As the machine beeped the trainer continued speaking, turning to his ranger. "I really hope you're right. I've been looking for an Abra for the entire run, although I'm sure you could tell that by the voice disc." He laughed and then stopped speaking when the Pokedex began to provide information.

"Abra, the psi Pokemon," the robotic voice announced. " It sleeps eighteen hours a day, but employs telekinesis even while sleeping. When Abra senses an imminent attack, it escapes by teleporting." Gaius smiled wide as the Pokedex identified the Pokemon as the one that he had wanted all day. "Yes, now I'm going to battle you," he yelled to Abra, however he then realized that the Pokemon was too far away to battle. 'How can I get that Pokemon to come down here. I need to do something to be able to battle it. I could try to scare it down with one of my Pokemon, or I could have one of my Pokemon attack it so I could force it to move, but I'm not sure if it would Teleport closer or further away.' The trainer continued to think for a moment as he tried to decide the best course of action. 'I could always try and climb up there to get closer to it. That sounds like it could be the best option.' Gaius looked at the sitting Abra and began to climb up towards the psychic type Pokemon.

After a few minutes of climbing, Gaius found himself feet away from his prized Pokemon. "Now that I'm closer, I'm going to take you down!" Gaius smiled as he reached down onto his belt for one of his three Pokeballs. 'Hm, which Pokemon should I use? Gengar has the type advantage because of its ghost type moves, but it is also poison type, which makes it weak to psychic type attacks. Crobat overall is quite fast and can hit very hard, but only has a few good or powerful moves. Dragonite is quite strong and doesn't possess any major offensive strengths in regards to its typing versus a psychic Pokemon, but it isn't weak to the Pokemon either. Hm, I think I know which Pokemon is best.' Gaius grabbed one of his Pokeballs and threw it into the air. "Come forth, Dragonite!"

A large yellow dragon flew out of the Pokeball as white light blanketed the area. The dragon type Pokemon flew for several seconds, gently flapping its wings, until it finally landed in front of its trainer. "Dragoo," the Pokemon shouted, trying to intimidate his psychic type opponent. Dragonite then looked back towards Gaius as it awaited a command.

"Dragonite, let's start out with Outrage. Try to heavily damage the Abra but make sure not to knock it out. I really want to capture that Pokemon. Also, try to not destroy any of the Park's landscape or anything as well. I know out in the wild it's less of a concern, but if you damage the land I'll get thrown out, and our whole trip here would be wasted because of you." Gaius then patiently waited for his Pokemon to carry out his command.

@MuddyMudkip;

 

@mlouden03; Gender of Abra?

BP#1

I decided it was best not to address the trainer's comments just yet, as much as I wanted to, so as not to disturb or distract him, especially since his attention was now on the Abra he'd been seeking for so long. Besides, I was extremely interested to see him battle, to see if he actually had anything for show - to see whether he was "all bark and no bite" as some might put it, or if he really did have a couple of tricks up his sleeve and well-honed battling skills, same with the capabilities of his Pokemon. And if his team did happen to be as good as Gaius had implied them to be, then at least I'd be able to learn a thing or two from them.

The trainer decided to climb up the hill in order to close the disance between him and the wild Pokemon, instead of trying to get it to come down here - it was probably for the best anyway; he probably would've ended up going through more trouble just trying to coax the Abra down than to exert a bit of effort working his legs to get him to the ledge. I followed him up the mountain, one foot in front of the other at a steady, comfortable pace - it wasn't very steep, fortunately - careful to stay on the path upwards to avoid stepping on rocks, moss, and other little things that could possibly lead to a slip and fall. Though my Gallade could've just teleported us to that location, I'd figured our sudden appearance would have startled the Psychic-type, possibly causing it to flee in terror.

"Now that I'm closer, I'm going to take you down!" Every word rang with enthusiasm and determination as the trainer reached down to snag a Pokeball off his belt. His fingers hovered indecisively over the three red-and-white orbs, before finally grabbing one and tossing it into the air after a moment's contemplation. "Come forth, Dragonite!"

In a flash of bright light, the mighty dragon sprang out from his spherical confinement, taking to the sky with an intimidating roar. He swooped back down, gradually slowing the beating of its wings, until he landed in front of his trainer. The Pokemon bellowed again, staring his opponent down with the most deadpan or serious of expressions.

The Abra, meanwhile, had already sensed the threat of a formidable foe, even before the Dragonite had made his presence clear with his powerful-sounding growls, and had immediately tensed, getting up from its sitting position and rearranging itself into a stance that looked more defensive - alert and cautious - than offensive.

Gaius wasted no time in issuing his Pokemon a simple command: to attack with Outrage, but not knock it out or damage Park property. Pulling out the "big guns" already, it seemed; the move was arguably the strongest physical Dragon-type assault in existence (though not without some sort of consequence or side-effect - a kind of drawback - of its own), if we based it purely on raw power. Having a Pokemon such as Dragonite, honed in close combat, use such as move - well, the opponent wouldn't be having an easy time, that's for sure.

... Unless, of course, it somehow managed to evade the attack, which is exactly what the wild entity accomplished when the dragon charged. Well, sort of.

The trainer's Pokemon had gone on a battling frenzy, lunging for the target with all that he had, striking and slamming into the Psi Pokemon as much as he could, trying to deliver the largest possible amount of damage with every bash. Except that, most of his blows did not even make contact with the Psychic-type; the Abra had teleported as soon as the first few smacks bruised its body, still suffering a decent amount of damage, but not as much as it could've been had it not flashed away to a safer spot.

The Dragonite, lost within its own fury, concentration, and the chaos of the moment, had only realized that his target had disappeared when he'd slammed head-first into the boulder the wild creature had been standing in front of just seconds before. He recoiled, and had it not been for his wings, he might've tumbled off the edge from the force of the impact, his own momentum throwing him back. Shaking his head, he glanced at his claws, which were now rather bruised, but nothing too serious.

With a roar of indignation, the Dragonite lifted his gaze to where the Psi Pokemon now was - at the very mouth of the cave - glaring at it as fury welled up inside of him, his blood boiling with anger.

The Abra, though, did not retaliate, did not advance; on the contrary, it built up its defenses, as if out of terror, cowering in the shadows of the cave's entrance. Its figure became cloaked in a glow of harsh light, the sheen outlining the creature as particles of energy gathered to form a defensive layer around it. When the brightness finally dissipated into thin air, the Abra looked as though it had been given a new coat of paint, or a secondary layer of skin, all shiny and reflective - resilient and firm.

I wondered how the trainer and his Pokemon would go about this situation now. Would they be able to pierce through or shatter the wild creature's defenses? Would the Dragonite's current rage give him enough, er, fuel and drive to lash out at the foe (while making sure not to cross the line into abusive or illegal territory, mind you), making its defensive precautions rather worthless?

BATTLE STATS:
Wild Abra (?, ???)
Health: 74%
Currently Using: [none]
Last Move Used: Teleport+Barrier
Status: [DEF+2][quite terrified/intimidated]

..::VS::..

Antichrist the Dragonite (M, Serious)
Health: 88%
Last Move Used: Outrage
Status: [none]​

Trainer Statistics:
Name: Gaius Vi Britannia
Location: Meteor Valley
Encounters Left: 10
Area Effects: Zorua Voice Disc [4x Remaining]; Abra Voice Disc [0 Remaining]
Pokemon Encountered: Gothita (?, ???)|Poochyena (?, ???)|Mandibuzz (?, ???)|Spoink (?, ???)|Meloetta (?, ???)
Current Encounter: Abra (?, ???)
Pokemon Captured: [none]

Total Items: Three Parkballs|Two Superballs|One Hyperball|Two Energy Roots|Two Revival Herbs|Digital Camera|Apricorn Box|PokePlayer|Abra Voice Disc|Zorua Voice Disc|One Rare Picture [Mandibuzz]|One Legendary Picture [Meloetta]
MCR: 12615/9000 [Uncommon]

Pokemon Stats

Pestilence the Gengar (M) - 100%
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Jolly
TM/HM/BM/MT/SM: Thunderbolt|Psychic|Will-O-Wisp|Sludge Wave|Substitute|Focus Blast|Icy Wind|Psych Up|Snatch|Giga Drain|Protect|Metronome

Crobat (M) - 100%
Ability: Inner Focus
Nature: Modest
TM/HM/BM/MT/SM: Roost

Antichrist the Dragonite (M) - 88%
Ability: Multiscale
Nature: Serious
TM/HM/BM/MT/SM: Extremespeed|Substitute|Protect|Ice Punch|Heal Bell|Earthquake
<Currently Engaged in Battle>

 

OOC: Sorry for late post

IC:

Gaius quickly watched the battle unfold, as his Dragonite quickly moved to attack his opponent. The dragon type Pokemon quickly rushed at Abra, planning to perform an all out attack with Outrage. 'Yes, the attack is working just as I hoped it would,' Gaius thought as he watched his Pokemon move. However, he soon saw a sight that he wished hadn't happened. Abra quickly teleported before Dragonite could hit the psychic type Pokemon with the full strength of the attack. Gaius quickly tilted his head and sighed. "Well, I guess hoping that this would be an easy battle would be too much to ask." He then thought for a moment on which tactics he should use to take down the teleporting Pokemon. 'His only real advantage over Dragonite is speed. The most obvious plan would be to either slow Abra down enough for my Dragonite to catch up, or for my Dragonite to speed up enough so that it could fight Abra as soon as it reappears. I could quickly tell Dragonite to use Thunder Wave to paralyze the wild Pokemon and then use Extremespeed to catch him quickly and hit Abra. Yes, that's an excellent idea.'

As Gaius opened his mouth to call out the commands, a thought suddenly entered his mind. 'Oh, no. My Dragonite is still locked in with Outrage for two more turns. I have to wait until it calms down to issue it any other commands. I could always recall my Pokemon and send out Gengar or Crobat, but I don't think I can easily switch out either when he's Outraging. The only thing I can do is try to tell Dragonite to keep attacking until its finished. It's not the best plan, but it's all I can do. The trainer then looked at his Dragonite who was still in the middle of the attack. "Dragonite, keep it up. Try to quickly hit the wild Pokemon as soon as it reappears. I know it's fast, but you still hit it with your first attack, so I know you can keep damaging it." Gaius looked at his Pokemon, hoping that it could keep up with the fast moving wild Pokemon. 'I really hope that this battle works out, it would be a shame if I missed out on catching Abra after I've been trying to find one all day.'
@MuddyMudkip;