The Rhyperior smiled joyfully and clumsily on the floor as Flame petted the huge Pokémon on the head. [color=ff961f]'Rhy!'[/color] He sounded out happily, very happy to have been able to not scare the Vulpix any further.

Kalmia grinned at hearing so many positive responses to the challenge, the Professor feeling rather giddy about seeing her trainers proving themselves. [color=82c6cf]'Great~'[/color] Kalmia said. 

Jacques smirked at Abigail's words, his eyes moving to meet hers with an expression of appreciating her attitude. He picked up a Pokédex-like item, on which he quickly typed a message and sent. [color=EF284F]'They should be heading here right now. Don't you worry...'[/color]

[color=EF284F]'Heh.'[/color] He then aimed an amused look in Ren's direction after her words. [color=EF284F]'Confident. Had I known you existed, I might have tried you out...'[/color] He shook his head a little. [color=EF284F]'None of my hopefuls have yet to prove themselves more competent than the rest. But, regardless of your opponent, I trust you'll find the challenge adequate... Fu-fu.'[/color] He sounded confident as well.

[color=EF284F]'Let us head outside and wait for them. We won't be able to hold a battle involving eighteen Pokémon in here.'[/color] He said, smirking at the kids in approval. He took out a Pokéball and returned the Rhyperior to his Pokéball, the big Pokémon on his belly waving a little to them and to Flame as he flashed back into a much smaller container. So then, it was time to head out on the streets. Kalmia nodded to the trainers, the Professor looking quite excited herself. [color=82c6cf]'Let's go.'[/color]

Assuming you went outside, a group of eight individuals approached after a brief minute. The first of them, noticing the group, immediately ran forward. A short individual in blue who was positively shining with eager intention... 

[hider=Simon][url=http://i.imgur.com/tfmllbg.jpg][img]http://i.imgur.com/9rvE9EW.jpg[/img][/url][/hider]

[color=607ebf]'Finally! I've grown tired of not seeing my opposition!'[/color] He spoke, putting his hands on his hips, and his high-pitched voice spoke words that sounded like he was trying to sound a lot more mature than he actually was.

[color=607ebf]'I am Simon, and I will be the very best, like nobody ever was!'[/color] He announced, raising a hand to point at nowhere in particular in the sky above, exceedingly excited.

Kalmia blinked at the kid, frowning a little, suddenly spinning around and grabbed Jacques by the collar and pulled the perturbed Elite Four a meter or so aside.

[color=82c6cf]'You got Simon!?'[/color] She asked in a loud whisper.

[color=EF284F]'I got Simon.'[/color] He answered her calmly with raised eyebrows and annoyed he had been pulled.

[color=82c6cf]'You got Simon!'[/color] Kalmia let go of him again and then turned forward, breathing out with a somewhat disturbed expression of her own while Jacques adjusted his collar after the rough pull, Simon not having noticed anything at all.

[hider=Rodger][url=http://i.imgur.com/xbE4eVz.jpg][img]http://i.imgur.com/xbE4eVz.jpg[/img][/url][/hider]

[color=9e8d77]'Oh? … So these are Kalmia's chosen trainers. … Heh, this will be fun.'[/color] A somewhat older young man bordering young adult said, looking over the groups with confidence. The confidence was different from Simon's, in the way that he seemed to actually know something. He looked over at Jacques, smirking.

[color=9e8d77]'Thank you, sir, once again.'[/color] He said, genuine gratitude in his confident tone. [color=9e8d77]'You've given me the chance to prove myself against strong trainers right off the bat.'[/color]

[color=EF284F]'Think nothing of it, Rodger.'[/color] Jacques smiled sinisterly in turn. [color=EF284F]'Hopefuls grow the most when they have a goal to overcome...'[/color]

[hider=Ellyn][url=http://i.imgur.com/Kkflh7x.jpg][img]http://i.imgur.com/ZOJgIpF.jpg[/img][/url][/hider]

[color=507173]'Ueh... We have to fight...?'[/color] The next girl said, with her long hair and casual clothes, except for a notable choker around her neck and something similar on her arm. She looked extremely unenthusiastic about this. [color=507173]'Pueh... Guess I'll have to...'[/color] She said, sounding extremely bored of this despite apparently being on the way of embarking on her own Pokémon journey.

[color=507173]'Pokémon Trainer, Ellyn.'[/color] She grabbed a Pokéball from her belt and guided it up to hold with both hands in front of her. [color=507173]'… I'm ready.'[/color]

[hider=Maple][url=http://i.imgur.com/AR2cOhz.png][img]http://i.imgur.com/G7uSu9D.png[/img][/url][/hider]

[color=db845c]'Ooooh! More people!'[/color] A girl with a red-green dress, brown hair in two braids, a small top-hat on her head and a random shovel on her back ran forward and bowed all the way down to the crowd in front of her. Her tiny hat appeared to be attached to her hair.

[color=db845c]'I'm Maple! It's extremely nice to meet you all!'[/color] She said, eagerly, before standing up straight again, her eyes wide with wonder as she inspected you all.

[color=507173]'Ergh, so loud...'[/color] Ellyn complained right next to Maple, her pose disturbed by the girl's introduction.

[hider=Joshua][url=http://i.imgur.com/h6d9fcG.jpg][img]http://i.imgur.com/H8RAtFr.jpg[/img][/url][/hider]

[color=668570]'Wooo~ More people for the party~!'[/color] The next boy practically danced in, excited and with one hand on one headphone. He looked over the crowd and... He pointed at Claire. [color=668570]'You're cool!'[/color] He thrust his hand back and then thrust his other hand to point at Abigail. [color=668570]'You're cute!'[/color] Then at Ren. [color=668570]'You're cool!'[/color] At Erika. [color=668570]'You're cute!'[/color] At Donna. [color=668570]'You're cool!'[/color] And then. [color=668570]'And the rest of you are guys! Wooo~'[/color] … He didn't particularly sound like “being a guy” was something negative, but he had clearly made a distinction for the girls. He spun around on the spot and made a small bow at the end of his... “performance”.

[color=668570]'The name's Joshua. I look forward to seeing more of you all!'[/color] He smiled genuinely, before rising again, though the headphones were still in place.

[hider=Ewan][url=http://i.imgur.com/6N9jlim.jpg][img]http://i.imgur.com/TbQ3Nbt.png[/img][/url][/hider]

[color=decdad]'…'[/color] A clear contrast to the last person, this blonde young man walked into place without a word. He looked over at the crowd, but only to confirm that they were there. He made a serious nod as his only greeting, before...

[color=668570]'And this guy's Ewan. You wouldn't know, because he'd never tell you~'[/color] Joshua jumped over and started hanging on Ewan's shoulder, significantly overweighting the boy on that side.

[color=decdad]'… I felt no need to tell my name, we're going to have a battle and then go separate ways. Besides, this is not a proper time to compare our abilities. Our battle should more rightly happen after we've all been able to developed. As it is, having a battle immediately like this, the winner will not represent our skills.'[/color] Ewan defended himself, frowning a bit, explaining his problem with this. He was swiftly rewarded with a light smack onto the back of his head by Joshua.

[color=668570]'No sense. He's got the looks, but he's not playing the game, eeeeh...!'[/color] Joshua complained, taking off from Ewan and got back on his own feet, Ewan just frowning and looking slightly inconvenienced by Joshua's behaviour...

[hider=Cathia][url=http://i.imgur.com/RlrQBN9.jpg][img]http://i.imgur.com/oTPkRqB.jpg[/img][/url][/hider]

The next girl walked with grace in her steps, her clothes and posture implying something about her upbringing. She looked a bit perturbed, no doubt disturbed by the messiness of it all where she stopped a bit away. Regardless, she recovered and curtsied to the gathered people. [color=b2dced]'I'm Cathia. It is a pleasure to meet you all.'[/color]

[color=b2dced]'… And now, I'm sorry.'[/color] She took out a Pokéball as she looked towards the gathered individuals. [color=b2dced]'Because I'm going to need to defeat whoever challenges me. I can't lose this early...'[/color] She may have sounded she has a reason she cannot lose. … Still, that's unreasonable in this world.

[hider=Oaken][url=http://i.imgur.com/9XFt4r1.jpg][img]http://i.imgur.com/JwzuDUO.jpg[/img][/url][/hider]

The last one... came with an annoyed stare looking over the individuals waiting for his group. His eyes wandered over the present, before he looked towards Kalmia.

[color=82c6cf]'Oh.'[/color] The Professor made a noise of realization when she saw him. She gave a little smile towards him. [color=82c6cf]'I'm happy to see that you still managed to get a Pokédex, Oaken~!'[/color] Kalmia called, happily. … He glared back at her, unamused.

[color=7eab87]'… You chose all the members of this rabble... over me?'[/color] He asked, straight to the point. [color=7eab87]'I don't get it. I've completed every test you've put in front of me without issue, perfectly. And yet...'[/color] He frowned, looking over the crowd, those who might feel less confident of their achievements might feel his eyes linger on them for longer.

[color=82c6cf]'I had my reasons.'[/color] Kalmia filled in, still smiling. [color=82c6cf]'It doesn't matter, since I see Jacques gave you one anyway! And I must say, you fit pretty well on his side~!'[/color] She said, in a way that might have been a stealth insult depending on whom is listening.

[color=7eab87]'… I'll prove you made a mistake.'[/color] Oaken's eyebrows twitched, and he looked completely ready to battle as he recovered a Pokéball from his jacket.

_

[color=82c6cf]'So, it looks like my trainers outnumber yours.'[/color] Kalmia concluded, looking over them. [color=82c6cf]'So, should we have one of mine-'[/color]

[color=EF284F]'That won't be necessary.'[/color] Jacques quickly dismissed Kalmia's words, without even listening it through. [color=EF284F]'See, I do have nine hopefuls.'[/color]

[color=82c6cf]'You do?'[/color] Kalmia looked over the present individuals, and then back at him. [color=82c6cf]'So, where's the ninth?'[/color]

[color=EF284F]'Hm. So you don't know?'[/color] He asked, looking a bit amused and a bit surprised. [color=EF284F]'Then, I suppose I'll have to drag her out of hiding.'[/color] He said, and then lightly raised his voice.

[color=EF284F]'Vivia.'[/color] … There was the sound of someone stumbling into a bookshelf and all she carried crashing into the floor from inside the lab, the assistant not having joined the rest on the outside. [color=EF284F]'Come out.'[/color]

Kalmia turned and looked inside the lab, her eyebrows raised with a mild expression of disbelief.

[color=82c6cf]'… You snagged my assistant?'[/color] She asked, her voice also expressing surprise.

[color=b5e6e2]'I-IT'S NOT LIKE THAT!'[/color] Vivia stormed out of the lab, her expression flushed and froze in front of the Professor, her hands raised as to explain a misunderstanding, her glasses ajar.

[color=b5e6e2]'I-it's just that I also wanted to become a Pokémon Trainer, secretly, but I didn't tell you because you might show me favour, and that would be unfair to other new young trainers, so I resolved to just being your assistant, then Jacques appeared and he... he...'[/color] Vivia tried desperately to explain, wide-eyed and looking quite terrified.

[color=82c6cf]'You snagged my assistant.'[/color] Kalmia laughed, still addressing a smirking Jacques on the side, before leaning in and hugging a surprised Vivia.

[color=82c6cf]'Don't worry, Vivia. You have my blessing. You can do as you like with your life. Take this opportunity and make the most of it, alright? The lab will still stand here when you come back~'[/color] Kalmia giggled a bit as she embraced her assistant, who looked surprised before slowly calming down.

[color=b5e6e2]'Th-thank you, Professor...'[/color] She answered.

[color=82c6cf]'I wonder, though.'[/color] Kalmia asked, pulling back a little to stare at Vimia. [color=82c6cf]'He gave you a Pokémon, did he? Don't you already have-'[/color]

[color=b5e6e2]'[b][i]THAT ONE DOESN'T COUNT.[/i][/b]'[/color] Vivia exclaimed loudly before Kalmia could finish the sentence, the Professor staggering a bit as the words came out. [color=82c6cf]'Ah.'[/color] Kalmia sounded. [color=82c6cf]'Of course it doesn't.'[/color] Kalmia grinned a bit at that [color=82c6cf]'Then, suppose you have to join those over there?'[/color] She asked, and Vivia looked a little downcast.

[color=b5e6e2]'I-I'm sorry. I swear, I didn't know the first thing we were going to do was attack... If I'd known, I...'[/color] Kalmia gently placed a finger over Vivia's mouth to interrupt her words, before smiling kindly at her. [color=82c6cf]'Get going~'[/color]

At this, Vivia nodded, looking a bit regretful at Kalmia before turning around and dashing over to join the rest of Jacques' hopefuls. However, getting there, she spun around, took a deep breath and assumed a straight, competitive stance.

[hider=Vivia][url=http://i.imgur.com/ZOa4kVb.png][img]http://i.imgur.com/XyjJyiW.png[/img][/url][/hider]

[color=b5e6e2]'A-and there you have it! Looks like I'll have to fight one of you now! Be wary, for I won't hold back!'[/color] She announced, trying to sound tough but her doubt was still heavily in her words, Joshua smirking at her from behind and several others just giving her confused glances.

… Kalmia threw a brief, wordless glare at Jacques.

[color=EF284F]'Hey. She's a young, promising soul. I took the chance.'[/color] He defended himself.

[color=82c6cf]'Hmpf. Don't I know it.'[/color] Kalmia responded. Then... she smirked at you guys.

[color=82c6cf]'Alright~ Which ones would you all like to fight? Want to fight alone or in teams?'[/color] She asked, and now for the complicated parts. Refer to the OOC for details.