Liz walked through the woods, the sun was getting low once again. She chanced upon a lake, it was a massive party zone. She wondered what was with this town, everyone being drunk all the time, it was increasingly fustrating. As she walked by she heard a whistle in the air, she looked over and saw a little boy on the verge of tears with a Sableye. She walked over and sat next to him.

"Hey sweetie what's wrong??" She asked him.

@balthazar007

Rin had never seen a larva move so fast before, but in the blink of an eye the Fire Type fled from Anu's Water Gun and launched its own counter-attack. In the form of String Shot no less! Not only blocking the Water Type's vision, but Anusobeket's mouth was also quickly stopped up. As well as her face. Then her arms. Legs too! "Anu," Rin cried out as soon the Totodile was almost indistinguishable from a Silcoon. Her one exposed eye was swirly from having fainted, and so her trainer's grimace became one of concern and defeat. As Rin began clawing away at the stringy binds that held their starter, the Larvesta fled. "Dammit," they muttered under their breath after whipping their head around just in time to see The Torch Pokémon leave. "I wanted to start off today with a win, but," Gerseti shuffled awkwardly as Rin paused having finally freed the fainted pokémon. "I couldn't give that to you. I'm sorry. You did your best." Rin dusted off the last few strands of String Shot that remained. Holding her in their arms, Rin returned her to her pokéball. "Rest well, champ. Hopefully we'll be in Sunsay by the time you wake up." Rin turned to Gerseti with a half-grin. "You want some breakfast?"

With that, Rin proceeded to heading back to camp where Olotah and Osajyin had been patiently waiting; Olo entertaining himself with a seashell he'doesn't found, and Osaja still soaking up the sun's rays. Thankfully for the pokémon, Rin's older sister Yeri had gifted them a box of assorted poffins on New Year's Eve. Thankfully for Rin, their other sister Umi had acutely taped a small chart to the back of the box explaining the relationship between Pokémon Natures and Poffin Preferences. It took awhile to work out seeing as Rin couldn't really gage if Osajyin was Docile, Mild, Quiet, Calm, Gentle, Relaxed, or Lax . . . (finding the difference between the last two had taken well over half an hour), but after some trial and error, everything sorted itself out, and Rin learned a lot from the experience. Especially on the exact distiction between queasy green and Osaja's naturally yelow-green. Following breakfast, they all helped pack away camp. Well, as much as two quadrupeds could actually help pack, but in the end the beach was left as spotless as when they'd first seen it; all of it stowed back into their rucksack from home or their backpack from Professor Eugene. At some point their Pokédex lit up, indicating a message from Liz, but Rin was too caught up in cleaning to notice. While Rin wasn't really the nit-picking type, they still had nightmares about falling into their sister Kairi's abysmally deep pile of dirty clothes when they were four. So to say the incident had taught them the moral of picking up after yourself would be an understatement.



One binder, two hearing aids, three layers of warm clothing, four strapped-in pokéballs, and five attempts at a cheesy speach later and Rin was back on the main road between Zurest and Sunsay. Wind at their back and their goal ahead of them, Rin confidently marched forward. They'd definitely made a lot of progress yesterday through all of their ill-advised running, but with all of their backtracking Rin just hoped they could get to Sunsay before sunset. They probably could, but Rin's perception of travel time was greatly skewed by having only taken a ferry between far distances before. Rin had never walked this far from home in their life. It was exciting though! One never knew what they'd encounter, and the possibilities were endlessly growing with each step they took. Would they bump into a trainer? Would they stumble across a Legendary? Would nothing hinder their journey forward at all? Rin didn't know, and that was the best part of it all. This was an adventure! They were a Pokémon Trainer! This was everything they've ever dreamed of.

Liz walked through the woods, the sun was getting low once again. She chanced upon a lake, it was a massive party zone. She wondered what was with this town, everyone being drunk all the time, it was increasingly fustrating. As she walked by she heard a whistle in the air, she looked over and saw a little boy on the verge of tears with a Sableye. She walked over and sat next to him.

"Hey sweetie what's wrong??" She asked him.

The little boy did his best to restrain his tears when Liz walked up to him. "It's that stupid Sableye. I caught him three days ago, but he doesn't listen to a word I say. He ran away from me while we were training. I've been chasing him for two days trying to get him back in his Pokeball so we can go home. And now... now I'm lost."

The boy's speech was delivered to the ground, not even bothering to raise his eyes. Sableye's back stayed against the tree that the two of them shared. He was having a good ole time, silently copying the boy's body movements as he spoke, in an exaggerated manner of course.

One binder, two hearing aids, three layers of warm clothing, four strapped-in pokéballs, and five attempts at a cheesy speach later and Rin was back on the main road between Zurest and Sunsay. Wind at their back and their goal ahead of them, Rin confidently marched forward. They'd definitely made a lot of progress yesterday through all of their ill-advised running, but with all of their backtracking Rin just hoped they could get to Sunsay before sunset. They probably could, but Rin's perception of travel time was greatly skewed by having only taken a ferry between far distances before. Rin had never walked this far from home in their life. It was exciting though! One never knew what they'd encounter, and the possibilities were endlessly growing with each step they took. Would they bump into a trainer? Would they stumble across a Legendary? Would nothing hinder their journey forward at all? Rin didn't know, and that was the best part of it all. This was an adventure! They were a Pokémon Trainer! This was everything they've ever dreamed of.

Rin walked through the hills for quite a while without seeing any Pokemon. No doubt some Senrets were lurking around in hiding though. It wasn't until the sun was high in the sky with the town visible in the distance, that Run saw a Pokemon. It was a Phanpy.

The little creature came walking out from behind a rock. Boom, trainer and wild Pokemon made eye contact. Phanpy did his best to pretend this didn't happen however. He slowly, carefully walked backward behind the safety of his rock. Maybe if he was lucky, the trainer would just keep moving. He closed his eyes and pretended he was invisible.

Rin took a deep breath having reached the peak one of the last few hills between them and Sunsay. They'd ran off the path several times on the hunt for Sentrets who Rin just knew were snickering at them specifically over their failure at catching their evolved form. Once they crested that hill though, it was all worth it. Not too far in the distance, Rin could see the roofs of buildings. Sunsay was in sight! Taking off at their top speed Rin had almost run right past the wild Phanpy on the road! Nearly falling flat on their face with how fast they spun back around, Rin hastily reached for Osajyin's pokéball. Apparently the Phanpy thought that if it just inched away long enough it would look boring, and Rin would lose interest, but this just bought Rin enough time to aim their throw. With a strike of white light, Osaja grew right in front of the Long Nose Pokémon. Its path now blocked on both sides, there was only one way it was getting out of this predicament. "Osajyin, let's put that advantage to use! Use Razor Leaf!" Dramatic finger point and all, Rin was ready to raise Osajyin's winning streak. This would be easy.

...Not too far in the distance, Rin could see the roofs of buildings. Sunsay was in sight! Taking off at their top speed Rin had almost run right past the wild Phanpy on the road! Nearly falling flat on their face with how fast they spun back around, Rin hastily reached for Osajyin's pokéball. Apparently the Phanpy thought that if it just inched away long enough it would look boring, and Rin would lose interest, but this just bought Rin enough time to aim their throw. With a strike of white light, Osaja grew right in front of the Long Nose Pokémon. Its path now blocked on both sides, there was only one way it was getting out of this predicament. "Osajyin, let's put that advantage to use! Use Razor Leaf!" Dramatic finger point and all, Rin was ready to raise Osajyin's winning streak. This would be easy.

Phanpy's attempt at hiding had turned up lame. As Rin called out for a Razor Leaf assult, Phanpy opened his eyes just in time to see Osajyin appear from his Pokeball. He flicked his head. Leaves began flying toward Phanpy. Out of pure defensive instinct, Phanpy rolled into a ball. His hard outer hide deflected every single leaf.

Poised and ready to strike back from his coiled up position, Phanpy prepared his next move.

Result: Phanpy's Defense!

Rin had already prematurely jumped into the air in congratulations when the wild Phanpy curled in on itself in an exemplary display of Defense Curl. Osajyin's super-effective leaves bounced useless off of the Long Nose pokémon, littering the ground dirty with green. "What?! Oh come on, that's not fair! You definitely deserve to be on my team for that one . . ." Rin pouted, but not before shaking it to clear their head of their frustration. "No . . . Osajyin and Gerseti were more than worth it," Rin reassured the Leaf Pokémon despite his being unphased by the earlier comment. "I should have tried harder to bring your Power down first, but what's done is done." Noting the Phanpy had taken Rin's minature monolog as the opportunity to stalk off again, Rin dove in front of it like a Herdier using Take Down. Falling with an audible oof, Rin huffed out their next command. "Hurry, Osaja, before it tries getting away again: Razor Leaf!" Rin hoped this attack would be different, but with the Phanpy's Defense Curl up, and Rin right in front of it, that may be enough to throw him off again. Still, Rin had total confidence in their Bayleef. His individual winning streak won't be beat yet!

Rin had already prematurely jumped into the air in congratulations when the wild Phanpy curled in on itself in an exemplary display of Defense Curl. Osajyin's super-effective leaves bounced useless off of the Long Nose pokémon, littering the ground dirty with green. "What?! Oh come on, that's not fair! You definitely deserve to be on my team for that one . . ." Rin pouted, but not before shaking it to clear their head of their frustration. "No . . . Osajyin and Gerseti were more than worth it," Rin reassured the Leaf Pokémon despite his being unphased by the earlier comment. "I should have tried harder to bring your Power down first, but what's done is done." Noting the Phanpy had taken Rin's minature monolog as the opportunity to stalk off again, Rin dove in front of it like a Herdier using Take Down. Falling with an audible oof, Rin huffed out their next command. "Hurry, Osaja, before it tries getting away again: Razor Leaf!" Rin hoped this attack would be different, but with the Phanpy's Defense Curl up, and Rin right in front of it, that may be enough to throw him off again. Still, Rin had total confidence in their Bayleef. His individual winning streak won't be beat yet!

Phanphy was almost in the clear, "Thank goodness this trainer likes to talk!" he thought.

But he wouldn't get far before Rin noticed his movements. They called out Razor Leaf, and a shower of leaves went rushing toward the Phanpy. Reacting by instinct once again, Phanpy began to use roll out. After all its only the natural move following a Defence Curl.

But his luck wouldn't hold up this time. He had turned his back to the opponent when he was trying to walk away. So in order to start his Rollout, he first had to do a 180 degree spin. The leaves came crashing down upon him before he could build any momentum.

Result: Critical Hit!

"How bout I talk to Sableye?? See if I can get it to listen,
if not I can always battle it until it's tired and you can call it back than?? And than I will help you get home." She said to the little boy. She ruffled his hair and walked to the Pokemon. She called out all six of her Pokemon and the stood around her.

"Hey Sableye, listen you really should listen to your trainer,
he worked very hard to capture you. The little guy only wants to help you get stronger, just like I help my pokemon. We have awesome adventures together,
so get your head out your ass and help each other grow got it?? Or else you will always be weak." She stared at the Sableye and waited to see it's response.

@balthazar007

Rin could only wince in anticipation as Osajyin's Razor Leaf came raining down upon the Phanpy in front of them, but when the leaves settled, Rin knew it was the right call. Pushing themself off the dirt, Rin's cheeks poked out with their gleaming smile. Their first win of the day, and just outside of Sunsay! It couldn't get much better than this. It was just so cinematic. "This is a sign of good things to come, Osaja, so let's not keep those things waiting!" Looking down at the vulnerable Phanpy did make Rin realize again how easy it'd be if they could catch it, but no matter. They'd already made up their mind and made peace with the situation. "How about you give this buddy something nice to remember us by? Osajyin, show off your unforgettably handsome beauty with Synthesis." Stepping back, Rin let the rest of the battle unfold. Tapping their foot excitedly, Rin just couldn't wait to get to Sunsay, and really start begining their journey! Just as Osajyin's light began to get its brightest, Rin shot the Phanpy finger guns and cockily invited the Phanpy to their team. "I know, impressive. So join us next time we meet, yeah?" All Rin needed were sunglasses, and not only would they look like an arrogant prick, but also so that they'd stop damaging their eyes by looking straight at Osajyin's Synthesis all the time. Alas, such is the price of pride.

"Hey Sableye, listen you really should listen to your trainer,
he worked very hard to capture you. The little guy only wants to help you get stronger, just like I help my pokemon. We have awesome adventures together,
so get your head out your ass and help each other grow got it?? Or else you will always be weak." She stared at the Sableye and waited to see it's response.

Sableye watched Liz as she spoke, and when she was finished, he bowed and nodded his head, as if in compliance. He then held up his hand in front of his face, palm toward himself. Slowly he looked back and forth between his hand and Liz. He did this long enough to create confusion. What was he trying to say?

He then tilted his head to the side and lowered two of his three fingers, the outside two. Where he learned that signal, who knew? But he sure enjoyed using it. With his other hand, he pointed at Liz's face. His whole body began to shake violently as he laughed in silence.

..."How about you give this buddy something nice to remember us by? Osajyin, show off your unforgettably handsome beauty with Synthesis." Stepping back, Rin let the rest of the battle unfold. Tapping their foot excitedly, Rin just couldn't wait to get to Sunsay, and really start begining their journey! Just as Osajyin's light began to get its brightest, Rin shot the Phanpy finger guns and cockily invited the Phanpy to their team. "I know, impressive. So join us next time we meet, yeah?" All Rin needed were sunglasses, and not only would they look like an arrogant prick, but also so that they'd stop damaging their eyes by looking straight at Osajyin's Synthesis all the time. Alas, such is the price of pride.

As Osajyin's body began to glow, the weakened Phanpy reacted in fear and balled up for another Defense Curl. This shielded his eyes from most of the light, but he did catch a glimpse.

"Well the fun way it is than, rude." Liz turned and started walking away, she gestured with her hand.

"Chloris, show Sableye the beautiful Magical Leaf your known for." Bayleef began glowing as leaves shot out of it and took aim at the kids Sableye.

@balthazar007

After Osajyin's brilliant display, Rin patted themself on the back before hooting a triumphant cheer. Hopping over the, unbeknownst to them, still conscious Phanpy, Rin pulled Osaja in for an eager hug. "That first turn had me petrified, but now you're up four to nothing!" Rin petted Osajyin's head affectionately, much to the Leaf Pokémon's hummed approval. "You're doing great, Osaja! Keep up that momentum while I train up the rest of the family, alright? You've got a big headstart, but everyone else needs to be ready for the Gym." With a click on his pokéball, the Bayleef returned to his respective device. When they turned back towards Sunsay, the curled up Phanpy still laid in the middle of the road. Apparently it believed if it was still long enough, the trainer would think it was defeated . . . It was right! Once more jumping over the Long Nose Pokémon, Rin sprinted off towards Sunsay. They knew their chest would regret it later, but that was nothing but a whisper of a thought in the back of their mind.


Rushing to the the Sunsay Pokémon Center, Rin smacked face first into the sliding doors that couldn't accommodate the trainer's speed fast enough. It wasn't even a surprise to the most oblivious observer though as Rin had nearly kicked up a dust-storm behind them trying to reach the new city. They hadn't even gotten a look at anything, but now all Rin could see was the sky. Whether it be the exhaustion from running at their top speed; their face's abrupt meeting with the Pokémon Center's doors; or the egregious wound to their ego from sheer humiliation, it didn't matter. In that moment Rin fell flat on their back. Wide eyed and heaving for air it was no wonder why Sunsay's very own very concerned Nurse Joy was kneeling down besides them within seconds.

"Are you alright?" She placed the back of her hand on Rin's forehead to gage their temperature, and looked none too pleased. Rin's face felt hot. "Do you feel pain anywhere other than your face? I could hear your collision." Rin's expression grew more awkward and emotionally constipated with every word. "Oh dear, you poor thing. Tell me if this hurts" Tentatively pressing Rin's nose for any sign of injury was the last straw. Rin bolted up and away from the Nurse Joy like she'd burned them. That was too much. That was- that was . . .'That was so embarrassing!' Rin pulled their coat over their mouth so they could burry a disparaging exclamation. 'Great, just great,' Rin thought as they stomped to no particular destination. 'One second into being in Sunsay and make a total fool of myself in front of a Nurse Joy no less!' The frazzled teen could practically feel the eyes of everyone on them even though they weren't. Their confidence always did love to play a vanishing act when around girls way too cute for Rin's health were around. 'They really are as pretty as people say . . .' Rin mused dreamily as an inkling of a smirk played on their face. 'But that's not the point!' Rin shook the away the thought and slapped their cheeks.

"Focus Rin," they chastised themselves aloud this time. "You need Pokéballs, which means . . ." Swallowing thickly, Rin balled their fists at their side and turned back towards the Pokémon Center. The Nurse Joy frome earlier was watching them with worried eyes as an equally upset Audino held his trainer's hand. 'Arceus, why?' Taking a deep breath Rin decided to get this over with in the best possible manner they knew how . . . which was sprinting past the Nurse Joy, slowing only enough to not have a repeat crash, and finally throwing themself at the PokéMart stall. "I need stuff!" Rin feverishly kept checking over their shoulder for the Nurse Joy. Talk about First Impression, First Fail . . .

"Well the fun way it is than, rude." Liz turned and started walking away, she gestured with her hand.

"Chloris, show Sableye the beautiful Magical Leaf your known for." Bayleef began glowing as leaves shot out of it and took aim at the kids Sableye.

Sableye watched as Liz walked away. A battle? Pshh. Sableye wasn't scared. He stood up in defiance. He stuck both of his hands out. To the outside world, nothing was happening, but to Chloris, her surroundings were getting darker. Sableye was casting Night Shade.

This obviously didn't bother Chloris in the least however. Without mercy, she sent a shower of glowing Magical Leaves toward Sableye. The attack was super effective. Sableye fell to the ground hard and passed out.

The little boy rushed over to help his Sableye. He then looked up and screamed at Liz, "You monster! How could you!? What's your Bayleef at!? Level 30 or above!? You could have killed him!" Sure, Liz could try to explain the logistics of what being a ghost meant, but the chances of him listening.

Just then, two men came running up on the situation. "Ricky! Ricky! We've been looking all over for you. Don't scare us like that." The family reunited with many tears. After a few moments, they left, but not before oppologizing to Liz for the trouble. They even gave her a Rare Candy for her troubles.

As the family walks away, a strange light starts to engulf Chloris...

Result: The Hard Way

"Focus Rin," they chastised themselves aloud this time. "You need Pokéballs, which means . . ." Swallowing thickly, Rin balled their fists at their side and turned back towards the Pokémon Center. The Nurse Joy frome earlier was watching them with worried eyes as an equally upset Audino held his trainer's hand. 'Arceus, why?' Taking a deep breath Rin decided to get this over with in the best possible manner they knew how . . . which was sprinting past the Nurse Joy, slowing only enough to not have a repeat crash, and finally throwing themself at the PokéMart stall. "I need stuff!" Rin feverishly kept checking over their shoulder for the Nurse Joy. Talk about First Impression, First Fail . . .

It was early afternoon by the time Rin made it to the Poke Mart. "I need stuff!"

The man behind the counter motioned them to the counter. "Hi there! Absolutely. We've got the goods. Just check out the monitor behind me here. All the prices are listed. Just select your items and hand me your Pokedex. And we'll have you checked out in a jiffy!"

@Balthazar007

Liz stood there with a deadpan expression on her face. As the dad's took the boy away she thanked them for the rare candy. As she put it away Chloris began glowing, she looked on with a slight content smile on her face. Chloris grew and got a bit bulkier the leaf became two antenna. Her color became a darker green, and her flower blossomed. As the light faded a brand new Maganium stood before her.

"And you wanted to fight me catching you, look at you now!!
A big strong Maganium!!" She hugged the Pokemon and recalled it, with a new power hitter she knew nothing would stop her.

Liz stood there with a deadpan expression on her face. As the dad's took the boy away she thanked them for the rare candy. As she put it away Chloris began glowing, she looked on with a slight content smile on her face. Chloris grew and got a bit bulkier the leaf became two antenna. Her color became a darker green, and her flower blossomed. As the light faded a brand new Maganium stood before her.

"And you wanted to fight me catching you, look at you now!!
A big strong Maganium!!" She hugged the Pokemon and recalled it, with a new power hitter she knew nothing would stop her.

With a newly evolved Pokemon in toe, Liz was visibly on cloud nine, but she wasn't the only one on cloud nine.

From behind a tree, there had been a boy watching Liz's short lived battle. He wasn't trying to be sneaky. He was just taking a piss. As Liz began to walk away, the boy zipped up his pants, picked up his beer off the ground, and ran to catch up with Liz. His path wasn't exactly a straight one. "Hey! Hey! I saw tha battle. Jus wow! Wha else yu got on Ur teeeaam? Got any other goo ones? I take yu on if yu do!"



The boy reached for a Pokeball off his belt. It slipped out of his hand and landed on the ground in front of him. Out popped a Pidove. The boy shrugged his shoulders like, 'Whoops!'.

"So whaddya say?"

@Balthazar007

Liz was beep bopping on he way, enjoy ing the rush of a newly evolved pokemon. A drunk guy stumbled up to her and issued a challenge to any pokemon that wasn't her new Maganium. Liz thought about it for a moment and decided she knew the perfect little home wrecker.

"Are you sure you want to take little old me on?? A big strong man like yourself attacking a poor little girl?? My, my what ever shall I do" Liz said sarcastically, she tossed a pokeball out and a light shot out. "Enyo, be a sweetie, Fake Out this gentleman's Pidove." Liz stood back with a sickly sweet smile on her face, knowing her act would fly over the drunkards head.

Liz was beep bopping on he way, enjoy ing the rush of a newly evolved pokemon. A drunk guy stumbled up to her and issued a challenge to any pokemon that wasn't her new Maganium. Liz thought about it for a moment and decided she knew the perfect little home wrecker.

"Are you sure you want to take little old me on?? A big strong man like yourself attacking a poor little girl?? My, my what ever shall I do" Liz said sarcastically, she tossed a pokeball out and a light shot out. "Enyo, be a sweetie, Fake Out this gentleman's Pidove." Liz stood back with a sickly sweet smile on her face, knowing her act would fly over the drunkards head.

The boy was already an experienced drinker (perks of growing up in Nasi Town). His motor functions were certainly impaired, but he caught onto Liz's act. Through a loud laugh he responded, "You're a feisty one aren't you!? Alright! Let's do this! Pidove, use Gust!"

Pidove began to flap her wings. Air started building up. But before she could gain any momentum, Mienfoo came charging forward. Her eyes were locked with the Pidove. She reared her fist back and then made a quick intimidating noise as she stopped the attack. Pidove was so thrown by these Fake Out movements that it quit flapping its wings and fell back to the ground, not injured, but definitely shaken.

Result: Pidove Studders