Well, he certainly had not expected her to go along with that easily. Basil blinked with a blank expression, expecting that he would have to bargain with her, but there was he was. "Well..." He trailed off as he thought what he should ask her. The Gothita strangely enough tilted her head when he stated who she was. Was she even that same Gothita or was he jumping to conclusions again? That seemed to be a developing habit.

Deciding on the most pertinent question, the young noble decided to just go for it. "Let's confirm it. Are you the same child of that powerful Gothitelle in Worldedge?" He could only hope that she would be honest with him. Any information should be taken with a grain of salt.

@Remram

The Gothita stared at him blankly as he posed his question. After a pause, she reached for the pencil and pad that Basil had offered her, and then dropped the pad onto the ground. She gripped the pencil with both hands, before placing it down onto the pad. She wasn't the most skilled of artists, but she did her best. In fact, it did seem like she was using some psychic power to keep the pen steady.

What she drew…

A black form in the middle, a triangle in under and a circle above, with three lines extending on each side. Giant rectangles to its left and right, and a line across above them. Then, two more forms. An uneven ball with a happy face and black round spots drawn around it, and a dark form with a vaguely recognizable shape. She poked at the drawing.



‘Gothita,’ she declared, looking up at Basil. This was her answer.

Then she promptly flipped the page and started drawing anew. She drew a couple rectangles, then the roof above those, and what looked like a building. Then a stick-figure and a small ball of a creature on legs.

‘Gothi,’ the Pokémon gestured at the stickman and ball, then to Basil and then herself. She pointed at the rectangles and houses, then made a gesture at a nearby house and some trees.



‘Goth…’ She then started drawing a line, extending from the new drawing to the edge of the paper. She then flipped the page back to the first picture.

‘... ita?’ she asked, as she finished the line on the new page by drawing the line to the first form she drew and looked up at Basil questioningly.

What would Basil interpret this?

Basil held up the drawing pad and examined the drawing and did his best to extrapolate meaning from the drawing. Well, even with vague shapes he could gather enough information from the drawing. "So, you are the Gothitelle's kid." He said before he placed it back down for the little psychic type to ask, well, draw her own question to him.

And she did. Basil looked down at the drawing and even though it was crude he could figure out that those trees and the buildings most likely represented where they were currently. She was asking where they were. "We're currently in Stillwood Village. Believe me, as soon as I saw those guys looking for you, I hightailed out of Lakewatch. If you're worried about them, they probably won't be able to track us for a good bit." However, he didn't doubt that if they were really eager that then they were bound to cross paths eventually.

With a deep breath Basil asked, "Alright, I need to know what I am dealing with so I can help us both. Who exactly are those people?"

@Remram

Gothita stared up at him quietly, and then tilted her head at the statement of confirmation.

Then Basil responded to her question. She once again didn’t really move, tilting her head a little in the other direction as she gazed up at him with wide, oval eyes. Then, though, Basil asked his next question. She looked down into the ground, not moving for a couple seconds as she was considering…

‘Gothita,’ she eventually said, grabbing the drawing tools to sketch out a drawing. Eventually, the result was presented back to Basil.



How he might best interpret the drawing was up to him.

After that, it was Gothita’s turn to draw a question. She stared blankly at the new page she’d turned…

‘Ita!’ she finally realized something, and then excitedly drew something pretty fast. When she was done, she showed it to Basil and poked at her drawing over and over, looking up at him with wide eyes.



‘Gothita! Ita!’ she energetically asked.

What does Basil think?

❄Erika Olson❄

---

---

"Oh my." Erika couldn't help but express shock as her next opponent came out with a hot pan and still cooking something! Erika shot a glance to Sno on her right who hovered over her shoulder with a bit of an interested expression. She looked back and both shrugged. "Well, be careful. I'm sure it'll be yummy at least!" Erika offered to her opponent as the rules of the match were decided.

King of the Hill.

"Hmm..." Erika pondered as she raised a finger to tap thoughtfully on her chin. Two minutes wasn't a lot of time so speed had to be essential. Then again, she needed an anchor who could hold it down. Erika shot a glance to Sno, knowing her speed was quite impressive. She also had a good anchor in Eep.... but who would she go with for her third member?

"Aha! Alright, I'm ready!" Erika drew two Pokeballs from her belt and threw them out summoning...

"Lileep!" "Kaaay!"

Eep and Kay would work nicely with Sno. "Alright team, here is the plan. Sno, race up there and hit them with Icy Wind, the coldest and harshest wind you can muster and keep them struggling to climb. You should get there first, I bet. Give time for Kay and Eep to catch up. Once they do, confuse ray the opposing team and then return to Icy Wind. Eep, you are going up there to Ingrain yourself at the very top. Really dig those roots in. Once your set, Acid all around and make it very slick. Kay and Sno will be floating so anything needed to walk up will have trouble. Kay, Reflect for the team and help protect. Hypnosis the opposing team once Reflect is up. Alright? Let's go!"

Amelia grit her teeth a bit as she realized something from her small exchange with Froakie. Anise was a much stronger trainer then her. She wasn't sure how she knew but she had to feeling that this was not a battle she would be able to win. She might be at too much of a disadvantage in terms of strength. Wits were nice but if she didn't have power to back them up, she wasn't going to be able to win this. Still, she had issued chosen to do this and there was no retreating from a trainer battle.
Sorry everyone She thought to herself as she watched Anise call Froakie back and send in Meditite. She wasn't sure what to do. On on hand, she could keep Pumpkaboo in and try to fight it out. But Punpkaboo was her only way of getting a way to deal decent damage to Froakie. Driffloon couldn't be risked, incase Anise sent out something her only Flying-Type could take care of. So, with those facts in front of her, she had to make a choice.

"Pumpkaboo, come back." She said, returning the injured pumpkin to it's pokeball. She then reached down and clearly hesitated while selecting her next pokemon, biting her lip nervously before making her choice. "Go get them, Shuppet!"

From the pokeball came her little puppet. Shuppet blinked before realizing the situation as a confusion came it's way. Regardless of the result of the attack hitting or missing, as long as Shuppet remained standing, Amelia would issue her next command.
"Shuppet, use Night Shade!" She called out. She wasn't sure Shuppet had the means to win this battle. Knock Off likely wouldn't deal much damage and Spite and Screech would only do so much. So, Night Shade seemed to be her best choice in this scenario.

"They experimented on you?" Were the only words he could muster in response to her image. There was a sensation that he never felt before, like magma boiling in his veins. He could feel the muscles in his face contort, but the young noble did his best to fight the rage trying to force its way out. There was no need to frighten the poor thing. She had already been through enough though perhaps she wasn't so bothered by it considering how quickly she drew her next question.

Was that...him? Was that stupidly large shape his mandolin? "You want me to play for you?" A puff of air rushed quickly out of his mouth, holding back a laugh of disbelief. Of course, that's why she was so excited. He could've almost laughed at her eagerness. "Okay, but can you be patient? We need to establish some rules."

"As you can guess, I am a trainer, but I am working with a professor to help record the Pokemon in Isson with this device called a Pokedex. This thing was what tipped me off that you were so strong." Basil pulled the device from his belt and after clicking a few buttons held it towards her to show her profile. "However, I am also taking on the gym challenge. As it stands, you are so strong that I cannot actually order you to do anything, so how about this?"

The young noble held a single finger up. "One, every now and again I will have to send you to her lab where some of my other Pokemon are and the good professor will treat you very well." He then lifted a second finger up. "Two, while I can't make you battle in a gym challenge, and I wouldn't want to abuse your strength anyway, you still need to contribute. So, I'll play you songs in exchange for your help for things outside of gym battles." Basil then lifted a third finger. "And three. I reserve the right to make any addendums should they come up. Is that fair?"

@Pirouette

The battle started! Eep and Kay made their way forward. Eep, unfortunately, was the absolutely slowest Pokémon on the battlefield. On the flipside, Sno was the fastest, the ghost quickly flying up and claiming the top for Erika’s team, giving her a valuable advantage. If nobody claimed the top, it was now Erika’s win!

In front of them, the Tropius flew high, and unleashed a Razor Leaf! Sno replied with an Icy Wind! Both of them wide-reaching attacks capable of hitting entire teams as the air filled with leaves and ice… but ice beats grass, so Sno’s attack broke through, hitting Tropius for an incredible x4 effectiveness! Now, in this game-mode, you cannot be knocked out… but the more effective the move, the more you’re launched back! Tropius was sent flying!

The two others, however, being Fire and Ice respectively, were not very effectively affected by what wasn’t even the full brunt of an attack, and advanced more or less unaffected! And as retaliation… Pansear Yawned, and Sno felt a sudden drowsiness. She’d fall asleep after one more move. She used said move to throw a Confuse Ray at the opponent closest to getting to the top, which was Pansear.

Pansear got hit by the Confuse Ray and suddenly stumbled. Sno then couldn’t help but fall asleep, but at least she fell asleep on the top.

The next two to reach the top were therefore Kay and Vanillite, basically at the same time. They unleashed their moves at the same time! Vanillite sent out a wide Icy Wind, intending to hit both Kay and Eep! However, Kay erected a Reflect wall… which did absolutely nothing because Reflect blocks physical moves, not special ones! Icy Wind blew straight through! Kay was hit directly and was blown off the top, then Eep ended up getting slowed down! … Suction Cups ensured Eep wasn’t blown anywhere, but he could be slowed down!

It was Not Very Effective against Sno, however, so no being launched off the top for her. Vanilitte went over to try to physically push Sno off the top… only to be reminded that Sno is a ghost and went right through. Vanillitte looked confused.

Kay and Eep had yet to reach the top, so Eep couldn’t do his strategy yet. Right now at the top was Sno, sleeping, but also Vanillitte freezing the score, and a confused Pansear was also stumbling up now.

‘Pansear, use Incinerate to blow the Froslass of the top! Vanillitte, keep using Icy Wind! Tropius, fly over there and Stomp down, keep them from reaching the top!’ John commanded. Vanillitte and Pansear looked like they intended to follow the commands, while Tropius was recovering way over there and took to the air again, but would need to spend some time flying back!

‘It’s an intense fight!’ Makirisu commentated. ‘Erika took the lead with the dash of having the quickest Pokémon, but doesn’t it look like things have swung in John’s favor!? But, everything could change if Sno wakes up!’

What would Erika command now?

________________________

@Joshua Tamashii

Amelia switched Pokémon to Shuppet! She risked being hit by Confusion as Meditite focused her power to use Confusion… and then ended up instead having the Psychic power erupt right in front of her head and Meditite was blown back, flipping over and hitting the back of her head into the ground! Meditite hurt herself in confusion!

‘Ow,’ Anise winced. ‘That’s fine. I’m confident you can fight through this! Meditite! Confusion!’ she commanded, and it was now simply a question of if Meditite could get off the move or not!

Meditite confidently punched forward! … Wait, a punch is not Confusion-

Meditite suddenly recoiled like she’d been punched in the face and her body curved sideways as she flew spinning through the air and Anise had to dodge aside as Meditite rolled around behind her. Anise looked a bit confused.

Probably because she wasn’t aware Meditite’s Pure Power was boosting the attack power of Meditite hurting herself in Confusion, doing more than half Meditite’s health on her own.

Shuppet launched Night Shade, a dark shadow hitting the already fallen Meditite. It did a bit more damage.

‘Okay. I realize I maybe should have switched Pokémon,’ Anise told, frowning as she watched Meditite slowly standing up. ‘But at this point, Meditite is too damaged to be sent in in the future. So, Meditite! Confusion!’

Meditite smiled, standing looking damaged, before focusing for another Confusion!

What would Amelia do?

________________________

@Remram

Gothita tilted her head at Basil’s question first question. That was perhaps too complicated a word. But she was on to the drawing soon enough.

She kept looking excited as he held back his laugh. So, he mentioned rules… and she looked at him with wide eyes. Not that her eyes were ever not wide.

She listened patiently for him to finish speaking, still staring. As he finished… she took the paper again and started drawing on it. Eventually she finished, turning it around and presenting it to him.



‘Gothita,’ she told, pretty intently.

What’s Basil’s response?

Once again, Basil looked at whatever the Gothita drew. He squinted his eyes to try and figure out what exactly it was that she drew. There was a big 'X' over what looked like what he assumed to be her attacking someone. Was she saying that she won't attack people? "Of course I'm not going to ask you to hurt someone. That goes without saying."

Where in the world did she get such an idea? What exactly did those people ask her to do. Those were questions for another time. Instead, he had a much more pertinent one.

"Well, I have one more question. I can't just keep calling you Gothita. Would you like a name? Personally, you look like a Stella or would you perhaps like a different name?" He asked the little psychic type with a gentle smile.

@Remram

Gothita stared up at him quietly when he said he wouldn’t make her hurt people. Just a little bit of a head-tilt. She kept the drawing steady in her hands until he spoke next. A name.

‘Gothita?’ she asked, sounding almost a bit confused as she lowered the drawing to look questioningly up at him. However, she seemed to consider it, and…

‘Gothi,’ she nodded to him. A single, fast nod, eyes still locked on him as she did it.

How does Basil interpret this?

❄Erika Olson❄

---

---

Erika clenched her fists. She was winning but barely. Yet things weren't going awful for her yet! Sno was hanging in there even if she was asleep. Eep needed more time but as he made his way up, he did have one attack he could do. "Eep! Lob some acid over to their side! Aim for Pansear and try to get the feet to have his attacks go wildly off course!" Her gaze shifted to Sno who was still asleep. Did she have any move to help wake her up? Tara did with Safeguard. Maybe she should have brought her instead of Eep... but she knew Eep could hold his ground. He just needed time!

Her turned her head and caught Kay floating her way back up. [color=6ecff6]"Kay! Play dirty and go for Foul Play! Knock that Vanillitte back and hopefully off the top of the hill by any means!"

"Sno! Get up, please!" Honestly Erika didn't expect that to work but she liked to hope.

That left her team to enact their orders. Eep had to pause his climb to fling Acid up and over the top of the hill like a purple cascade of goo. Kay would charge and ram herself against Vanillitte since Foul Play was physical but used Vanillitte's attack against itself? Erika wasn't quite sure how that worked... That left Sno who was still sleeping!

Basil smiled at the little Gothita's nod and gently patted her tiny head. "Well, I look forward to travelling with you then, Stella."

The young noble sat down on the grass with a plop. "I won't push the matter anymore. I think we've both had a pretty tiring day already, so, I'll end this with one more question. Do you have any song requests?"

@Pirouette

Pansear went over towards Sno, intending to hit the sleeping ghost with an Incinerate… when Eep flinged acid that splashed on the surface of the hill they were trying to become king of. It spilled over Pansear’s feet just as it was going to send out a burst of fire, and with a searing noise the monkey cried out, the Incinerate flying harmlessly into the air as it recoiled, and then proceeded to stumble backwards from trying to save its feet, eventually resulting in it falling backwards over the edge of the top!

Vanillite was about to send another Icy Wind shooting… when Kay flew up and struck with a shadowy Foul Play! It struck true and straight in Vanillite’s face! Critical Hit! Vanillite was sent flying off towards John’s corner of the battlefield!

With two precise moves, the two of them had cleared the top! Additional seconds were added just for Sno sleeping on the top. She showed no signs of waking up yet.

‘Tropius, Razor Leaf!’ John commanded, and Tropius, still in mid-air, sent out a swarm of leaves, and Razor Leaf was one of those attacks that could be sent indiscriminately forward, and all of Erika’s Pokémon were currently in the danger zone! Kay’s Reflect was sure to mitigate the damage, but did Erika have any other plans for this?

‘Pansear, Leer! Make them more susceptible to my seasoning!’ he commanded, because Pansear had only barely fallen off the top, and was able to quickly pull itself up to glare threateningly to lower their defenses! On Kay and Sno, then, because Eep hadn’t yet made it to the top.

‘Erika strikes back! But how will she deal with a storm of leaves!?’ Makirisu commentates.

Vanillite was sent far by the Critical Hit, and has to spend time recovering and trying to get back.

What would Erika command now?

________________________

@Remram

Gothita blinked a bit at the pat, then smiled what tiny little smile her mouth could.

‘Gothita!’ she called. Then he asked what kind of song she wanted to hear. Her eyes positively sparkled.

‘Gothi! Gothita, goth! Ita, ita, Gothita!’ she did an attempt at singing something that vaguely sounded like something he’d played for her before at Lakewatch Town. Maybe.

She’d happily listen to whatever he’d play for her, for as long as he’s willing to play.





Connected areas:
Route 4. Forest route at the base of Mt. Strength leading west to Rainrock City.
Route 5. A grassy incline connecting mountains, forests, plains, Stillwood and Lakewatch.
Route 14. The waters of Dragon Lake are also known as Route 14. It connects Lakewatch Town, Highhill Town and Stillwood Village.
Mountain Valley. A passage between Mt. Strength and Mt. Chill, a shortcut to Worldedge City.

Well, someone was excited. Basil chuckled as he grabbed his mandolin case and flicked the locks open. "Alright, I've got a feeling that I know what you like already," he said as he pulled the mandolin out of its case and plucked its strings as he fiddled with the knobs, humming the pitch that the strings needed to be tuned to. With a satisfied mutter he then said, "And here we are."

Basil looked back at the Gothita and his fingers began to pluck the strings with deft fingers though it started off with a repeating single note before he started to add a folky melody that carried a comforting sweetness if a bit melancholic. Then he started to sing softly, vulnerably though the lyrics were something that would have gone over such a young Pokemon's head though to anyone passing by that were in earshot it sounded like a song about loving like 'real people do' and had lyrical imagery of dirt, bugs, and digging as if someone fell in love with something they unearthed.

Some would have said that there was a grimness to it, but Basil played with such a gentle smile for his audience of one. But after that, Basil decided to walk around the village. He had no idea if Anise and Amelia were done so he ventured to the herb store out of curiosity.