@BladeSS4
The old man listened patiently to the trainer, nodding a few times. He didn't mind the young trainer was rambling, it was nice to see enthusiastic young trainers on the island. The abrupt departure of the haughty girl wasn't unexpected, nor unwelcome. Luckily most trainers who came to the islands were not like that.

"Thomas Redcliff," he introduced himself. "Born and raised on Rhando. I am not the gym leader, although you were correct to assume he doesn't need to walk around with a ground type." He glanced down to his silent Houndoom before he faced the trainer again. "He has a Nidorino as his partner, but he doesn't use him in the official gym battles." He had a smile on his face. "I watched young Henri grow up, get his Nidoran, build the gym on this island." He nodded a bit. "I'm sure you will have a good battle."

@BladeSS4 "It was nice to meet you too," Thomas replied with a nod. "Have a good battle."
He watched the trainer leave and remained in the Pokémon Center a little while longer. When nurse Joy had a moment she sat down next to him for a chat.

Meanwhile a Marowak was patrolling in the entrance hall of the gym with its club over its shoulder. The walls had a brown mud colour and there were some stone benches that were more comfortable than they looked. A television set hung in a corner, it showed some kind of nature documentary.
A double door straight ahead led into the arena, and a closed door was on the left. There weren't any trainers inside.

---

@CitrusArms@Salenea
As professor Maple awaited their reply, two haunters floated into the lab, talking to each other. When they noticed the others they fell silent and floated to Maple, but one of them transformed into ditto and fell from the sky. Maple catched it, but kept her attention on her two guests.

"An Onyx? Well, you're in luck. I just so happen to be especially handy in the mountains and caves. My pokemons' fighting-type techniques will take care of things handily." Was that all the professor wanted? It sounded like there were other things she could use a Ranger for, but she'd keep it simple for now. If it was important, the professor would say something.

She turned to the... student? Not a traditional trainer, if she was receiving assignments this way. "I'm Regan, pleasure to work with you. Lucky you, gettin' your own escort. I'm no slouch, either."

Sarah nodded when professor Maple spoke. She had heard about the Onyx and it had been a pokemon she wanted to see anyway. Hearing it hadn't been seen for a while made her think of the reasons why. "Of course Professor, I'll leave right away," Sarah said before she turned to Regan. She looked at the Ranger as she introduced herself.

Sarah arched her eyebrow when Regan said how lucky she was. Sarah didn't feel particularly lucky to have someone escorting her, but it was probably for the best.
"Very Lucky," Sarah said with a small smile. "I'm Sarah. And if possible I would like to leave right now. Unless you need to buy some supplies at the Pokemart?" She asked Regan.

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"Awesome, this way," Gabe said before he turned to lead the way. "My parents aren't home though, they both are working," he said as he walked on. "My house is easy enough to spot, the house has a pond and a massive oak tree in the front yard. And dark green doors with a big door knocker in the shape of a Timburr."

Gabe stopped in front of his parent's house. "This is my place. Make a mental picture so you can find it again," he said with a wink. "Wanna grab a drink inside or go further to your place. It'll be a good walk."

@JrVader @CitrusArms

@BladeSS4
The Marowak nodded to the trainer and marched to the door on the side, pushing it open and marching into the dark corridor. The distant sound of the Marowak talking to someone could be heard and soon footsteps echoed through the corridor. A man emerged and locked eyes with the trainer with his Absol.
"Welcome to the gym," he said, spreading his arms. "I'm Henri. How can I help you?"

Henri looked at the trainer in front of him and nodded. "This way," he said, gesturing to the glass door on the other side of the room and he led the way. "Coming, Nido?" he asked as he walked away and a Nidorino appeared from the corridor too, he nodded a greeting to the Absol and followed his leader. Henri opened the doors for them and stepped into the arena. The arena was circular, a stone path circled around a sandpit, leading to two opposite rectangles at the edge of the sandpit with a Poké Ball painted on them.

"How many Pokémon will you be battling with?" Henri asked as he took place at one of the trainer area's. "We can battle with a minimum of one and a maximum of three Pokémon. All types are allowed in this gym, but not in the league."

The Marowak had followed them inside too and stood near the door, watching the trainers in silence. The Nidorino sat next to him.

"I'm all ready to go. Shall we?" Regan gave a smile and led the way out of the building. She checked the compass on the side her bag, getting her bearing for North. Ah, but how far North? And which way would be best? She was completely unfamiliar with the lay of the land around here, which created a problem. "I'm from a much larger island nowhere near here, so I'm not too sure of the area. The approach to the area we're looking for is just straight north, then?"

The Ranger turned her attention skyward, waving to a bird soaring high. The bird banked and descended quickly, stopping and landing in front of Regan. "There's my good bird. Rapier, we're looking for a large Onyx to the north. I'm not sure how large, exactly, but I'm sure you'll be able to pick it out. Sarah, have you seen it before? Do you have a more... useful description for Rapier?"

@Salenea

@BladeSS4
"Very well," Henri said and he looked at his Shedinja. "My first Pokémon will be Sandslash!" He threw the Pokéball in the air and after it opened the Sandslash stood on the sand. "Let's start off easy, shall we? Sand Attack!"
The Sandslash alternated his right and left paws to scoop up sand and fling it in the direction of the Shedinja.
One thing that was rather abundant in the gym was sand, but after six swift scoops the Sandslash stopped the attack, reading itself for what was next to come.

@Salenea

Lucian thinks for a minute, than answers "I am fine, My pokemon and I just got something to eat. But you get what you want!" He feels a buzz from his pokedex, once he looks into it, his face pales. "Oh no, oh no, oh no." He starts freaking out.

Umbreon instantly runs to his side, trying to comfort him. She nuzzles his side and tries to get into his lap. Gardevoir knew immediately what was happening. "His sister is here" She said in a harsh tone

Sarah nodded and returned the smile. "Ready. Let's go." She followed Regan outside, pleased to see the ranger was well prepared. Sarah looked in the direction they would be going. It wasn't the first time she was going there but she never spotted the Onyx before. There was a path, a direct road and usually kept well enough to travel with ease. "There is a path that leads to the rocky area where the Onyx resides. If we go straight North from here we'll get to the path, maybe an hour away when walking normally, it'll go a little North-East."

Sarah looked at Regan's pokemon, she had seen Rapier before. Even pointed the flying type out to Lorie. But so close she could study the pokemon better. "No, I'm sorry, I haven't seen the Onyx myself yet. It must have a good hiding place so any cave or caverns Rapier could spot would narrow it down. Maybe some of them can be better seen from a different angle then eye-height. Or spot some kind of tracks that are larger then average Onyx make."

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Gabe nodded and quickly went to grab a drink and a little bag of assorted nuts. He frowned as he heard the Pokedex and looked worried when Lucian was starting to freak out. "What's up buddy?" he asked, "something wrong? Anything I can do to help?" Gabe couldn't imagine what it could be.

Machop looked up alarmed as he heard the tone. "His sister? Bad news I take it. She contacted him through the dex or something?" Mareep looked with big eyes at Lucian. "Poor guy, We should hurry and hide him away in his house."

@CitrusArms @JrVader

"Simple enough to get there, then. Very good. Rapier, you know what you're looking for and where, then?" The bird gave the Ranger a sharp nod. "Good. Fly on ahead and let me know what you find." She was about to move on when Rapier nudged her arm, pecking lightly at her sleeve. "Wh- oh. Haha, you want a launch? Alright, alright. Hop up." She put her arm out and the large bird pokemon lit to her arm. They both turned north, and Regan stretched her arm out. She drew back, Rapier leaning his body forward with the motion. Regan, in a movement not unlike a baseball pitch, put her whole body into a throw. Rapier pushed off of her arm at the right moment, gaining great speed. He put his wings out to glide at this great speed and lifted high into the sky, beginning his search.

"Ok, our scout is searching ahead of us. Let's follow him."

As they walked, Regan decided to strike some conversation, "Tell me, Sarah. You're not a typical trainer, are you? I met a Coordinator just today, which was a completely new thing to me. Never so much as seen one before. The Association came to my island just recently, so the different occupations seem strange. Some of them are obvious; trainers. That's how I got my start, before I became a Ranger. Traditionally, though, where I come from, we would simply live alongside Pokemon; the formalities can be somewhat strange to me. So, tell me, what path do you walk?"

@Salenea

@BladeSS4
Henri looked at all the duplicates that were being formed. Double Team was a tricky move, it usually gave the advantage to the one using it as they could attack unexpectantly unless his Pokémon would be lucky.
"Fury Swipes," he ordered and the claws of the Sandslash started to glow.
the Sandslash swiped at each copy of the Shedinja. The first few slashes met nothing but air, but he continued his swiping as he worked his way through the clones, hoping the next one would be the real thing.

Henri watched it happen, keeping a close eye on all the Shedinja's. One of them would move when a new order was given and he hoped his Sandslash would see the next attack coming.

Sarah watched the interaction with Rapier and the ranger. She smiled amused when Regan launched her pokemon. It showed her the bond between them. The ranger was quickly rising in her esteem and seemed to be an enjoyable travel partner. She enjoyed being out and walking in the nature.

Rapier was flying ahead now and Sarah nodded when Regan suggested to follow him.

Regan started talking and Sarah glanced in her direction a few times. Her lips curled up in an amused smile when the last question was asked. "What path?" Sarah looked downwards. "This one I'd say." Sarah grinned before she looked ahead again. "I'm not a typical trainer no. Even though I did walk that path briefly. I even picked up a pokemon in the lab Kanto and did two gyms there. But I am a student now. I study to become a pokemon researcher." Sarah paused. "I love pokemon and I realised that there is still so much to discover, so much we don't know. And I want to part of that." She looked at the other female again. "What made you decide to become a ranger?"

@BladeSS4
The Sandslash got hit by the Hyperbeam and slammed against one of the pillars around the arena. Henri returned him. "I suppose I can give you a bit more of a challenge," he said, taking another Pokéball and he threw it in the air. "Rhydon!"
The large ground/rock type emerged and locked eyes with the opponent.
"Rock Throw," Henri ordered and the Rhydon lifted his arms in the air and a lot of rocks hurled in the direction of the Shedinja.