[Agate Valyn]

If he think about how his life generally... he would describe it with word "simple". He woke up, if he's around the house he offers help such as taking out the Miltanks and Wooloos to graze, afterward he pump water out to water the crops if his sister isn't up yet... if she is, then he just going to lift haystacks to the storage. Afterward, if there's any ripe berries, he would climb the tree and put them on the basket... pretty standard, really. Honestly, he doesn't really have the instinct to be a farmboy. He just know when it is OK to harvest, when it's OK to water them... he left the weeding to his sister to not cause any sort of trouble to her...

Thing he likes though? It's when his chores are over. After chopping firewood for the day (what's it even used for? It's spring!) Agate decided that he's done for the day. As for why they're still this traditional... well, let's just say that their debt is not going to decrease if they're using technologies in times where they can be frugal... such as... no, not cooking thankfully. Heating the bath, heating the room... and if they have hose generally it doesn't go all the way to all of their trees, so they opted to use water pumps instead...

...That pretty much explains his strength, now that he think of it... But it doesn't matter! Now it's time to dig for pretty stones and whatever it is!

"Riku! I'm done for the day, let's go!"

The Riolu on the tree immediately landed beside him. He greeted his trainer with an energetic cry. The two left the farmfield, to route 8, where they're going to head toward their main destination to mine for special rocks! "Hmm... alright, so we're heading to route 8 and after that we'll be heading to the Grumble Volcano. If we timed all of this right, we'll get home around the afternoon, get ourselves cleaned up, and rest, after that for our big day tomorrow of travelling far, everyone going to give us a feast for breakfast! Don't you think that's great?"

The Riolu just looked at him through an unamused eyes, as if Agate himself is jinxing it. There's no plan that's going straight when it's with this boy.

"What, c'mon! Even if we get distracted on the road, I'm pretty sure it'll be a fun adventure! No problem!" Riku himself just sighed and shook his head while shrugging. The Riolu ended up accepting whatever his trainer was planning."

That day, it was pretty much windy. It's not too bad for hiking. The wind sort of a welcome change, blowing the heat away... But he suspect when he get to the volcano, it'll be... different. It most likely going to feel like being blown by a massive hairdryer. Agate currently looking at the map while planning his routes...

"So from here, we go from this side of the mou--" at that moment, when he looked at Riku, he felt as if his sight doubled. There's... some faint color on Riku? "...?" Agate rubbed his eyes. His vision soon turned to normal. "...What... was that? Do I need some glasses?" he mused out loud. "...Hmmm, best not. Probably going to eat some mixed berry juice or something?"

I don't think that sort of vision problem can be cured with berry juice! Riku thought... if he could retort in human way that is. But then again, Agate... isn't a psychic, so... eh.

---

Party:
Riku (Riolu lv 5) 5/5
Azalea (Frillish lv 8) 5/5

[overlordie]

A random event has occurred!

What will you do?

Agate Valyn

As you slowly begin down the route, gravel and dirt crunching under your shoes as the ashy route passes around you, you can hear the umistakabely and soft sound of some sort of squeak, a sorrowful chime that seems to call you forward, past trees that seem to be struggling to grow in the peculiar weather. Crying. The sound is crying, and it seems to be coming from up in the trees- above you.

[Agate Valyn]

He wonder if his vision problem is simply because it's hot or something... like... vision could get wonky in heat, right? Yeah, yeah, that might be one of the reason! Agate continued his trek. While clutching his head from the heat and hypersensitivity toward these strange lightworks, he pressed on forward... It's nothing, it's just probably the heat... maybe if he poured some water above his head, they will eventually just gone. But water is quite precious. He's not sure if Azalea could help him, meanwhile. Getting hit by Pokemon's water move probably going to harm him more than doing good.

...Now he's hearing voices too. "Could have sworn that I heard some voice... is that.. someone crying? ...It can't be just me who heard that, right?"

Riku let out a cry as if saying he's hearing it too.

"Oh, you do!?" now that's good! That means the chance of it being a ghost is decreased quite a lot! Agate shook his head, and found once again his vision has returned to normal somewhat. Good, good. Time to check where does the voice came from! Hmmm... to the left? Nothing there... the right maybe? Nothing either... above? Actually what's above? Agate looked toward the trees that looked more like dehydrated trunks than actual trees. He knows they're trees, but they looked more dried up than trees he usually seen in Fuji. Perhaps the heat affecting them?

Riku let out a cry again, like to inform him that the voice came from above the tree. Above this?

"...It's not ghost, is it?"

A shrug from the Riolu.

"...It's NOT A GHOST, right?"

'Why don't you just look at it yourself?' the Riolu let out cry in that general feeling. He looked frustrated. Understanding, but at the same time frustrated. Why on earth would he ask if it's a ghost? It's still so early in near afternoon! Finding a ghost in midday is like finding a Shiny Legendary! You're probably either so fortunate, or unfortunate to the max. Either way, thanks to Riku's frustration... Agate decided that he probably should indeed climb that tree and see what's going up on the top.

"...Pleasedon'tbeghostpleasedon'tbeghostspleasedon'tbeghost..." Agate chanted under his breath. At this point Riku just shook his head in amusement. Which temple prayer chant is this?

[bone]

A random event has occurred!

What will you do?

Agate Valyn

Good news!  It's a shiny legendary!

Wait, no, it's a ghost.

There is a Drifloon up in the trees, holding its tails over its eyes and crying mournfully into them.  Every once in a while it peeks through its tails, squinting intensely towards the ground below, before sinking into another fit of sobs.  It drifts from tree to tree, waiting, searching, and then sobbing again.  The poor thing seems to be trying so hard to find something.

Its so consumed by its grief, it doesn't even see you as you're climbing.  Look out!  You're going to crash!  AAH!

A wild Drifloon has appeared!

What will you do?

	Drifloon Lv10
		5 Energy
	Average	Hasty
	Aftermath
MOVES
Astonish / Minimize / Gust / Focus Energy
NOTES
N/A

[Agate Valyn]

...Arceus has abandoned him, Reshiram has showed a cruel truth, Zekrom has abandoned him, and Kyurem laughing from the depth of chilliest lair. That's what he thought when his face hits a Drifloon. It's not a scary ghost, no, but even so, it's a ghost. Agate's face goes pale as he remembered the Pokedex Entries for Drifloon.

These Pokémon are called the "Signpost for Wandering Spirits." Children holding them sometimes vanish.

Agate practically freefell toward the ground... and thankfully for him, Riku immediately caught him! Agate's teeth clattered in fear. His phobia at it again. But even so... the crying sound is from it as it's looking something... there's something about that crying that made Agate, no matter how scared he is, felt like he must help this Pokemon at all cost. He's scared, he's... he's ready to run as his entire body repulsed this notion that he must help the Pokemon... yet, his heart told him that he must help it anyway... It couldn't be bad, right? Agate climbed the tree up again, although this time he looked more like a sloth... if sloth vibrates at 20 tics a second.

"H-h-h-h-hey there! A-a-are you looking for something? C-can I help you?" Agate asked the Drifloon. Part of Agate is ready to run though if this Drifloon turned out to be hostile...

Pleasedont'behostilePleasedont'behostilePleasedont'behostilePleasedont'behostilePleasedont'behostilePleasedont'behostilePleasedont'behostilePleasedont'behostilePleasedont'behostilePleasedont'behostilePleasedont'behostilePleasedont'behostilePleasedont'behostile

[Elayne]

A random event has occurred!

What will you do?

Agate Valyn

The Drifloon was admittedly startled by the sudden crashing sound. It was enough to make the Drifloon use Minimize to make a quick getaway from whatever had made that racket. What he saw instead was... a human? Oh! A human could help, right!? Maybe... The offer to help had the cries dying down to softer sniffles before the Drifloon floated down from the tree. He looked hopeful and tried to pantomime that he was looking for something. Oh, why wasn't he better at charades ;3;

[Agate Valyn]

Was it minimizing itself to run away? That was... rather cute to be honest! ...For a moment, he thought that the ghost Pokemons aren't so bad at all. But even so, his trauma sort of winning it some. He's still afraid, definitely still afraid... But even so...

"Ummm... how about going down for the meantime?" he asked. His voice no longer shaking at the very least. Agate slid down from the tree as easily as it were a fireman pole. Down there, Agate called out a fellow ghost type, Azalea... She's not entirely ghost type, but even so, both Drifloon and Frillish more or less have similar look, right? Perhaps Azalea could understand what this Drifloon want... and well, Azalea can also speaks with Riku, and Riku could tell him what's going on by miming. So it should checks out! He can be so smart sometime! (ehen)

"Right, this is Azalea, you don't have to worry about her or Riku. We really just want to help. You can tell her what's going on, so she can tell Riku, and then Riku tells me. We have been best bud for years so we're pretty much joined at the hips, right buddy?" Agate slung his arm on Riku's shoulder, who just smiled wryly as if saying "yeah, sure... you're so handful." The Riolu nodded at the Drifloon though.

"...But yeah, we'll try our best to help you!"

[bone]

A random event has occurred!

What will you do?

Agate Valyn

The Drifloon zooms over to Azalea, letting out a few whistling cries to his fellow ghost types. His frantic, worried tone may make it a little for the Pokemon to follow what's going on, but after a few moments the pieces all start to follow again. The Drifloon is looking all over the route for a rambunctious pack of Helioptile that had fallen into care. They were like his very own hatchlings, and now they missing without a trace! Surely the human must have seen them, right?

The Drifloon seems to be at a complete loss for where to go next. But, clearly the Drifloon isn't a master explorer on par with the one and only Agate!

[Agate Valyn]

What was that? Azalea was nodding several times. She doesn't quite understand what's going on at first, but apparently it clears up quite easily. She turned immediately to Agate after fully listening. First, she made a gesture as if electrified. "Eh? What was that? It was zapped?" Agate asked. Both Azalea and Riku shook their head, and tried to explain again. First, Riku made gesture as if someone looking....

"They're looking something..."

Then he pointed at him.

"Looking for a Riolu?"

A shook of his head, but another pointing at him

"A Pokemon?"

A nod. A Pokemon it is. Oh! That makes sense. Agate opened his Pokedex immediately after. "Alright, what Pokemon it was?" he asked. This time Azalea once again makes zapped gesture. "Ah, Electric type?" a nod. "Is it single typing or double typing?" Riku holds both of his paws up. Two. Alright. "What was the second typing?"

Riku made a gesture as if being a balance. Hmmn? "Oh, is it normal typing?" both Pokemons nodded. Electric... Normal...The only available Pokemon of that typing would be a Heliosk or a Helioptile! Hmmm... "So this Drifloon is looking for Heliosk or Helioptile? ...Oh, a Helioptile? Come to think of it, we seen none of them... but Heliotpile? I wonder if they're normal around here..." Agate crossed his arms.

"...Could you please guide us to where you last see them or put them then?" he asked the Drifloon. "Or if you have any material on you, the ones with their smells or something? Riku, you're pretty good with your nose, right?" Agate asked his Riolu, who nodded in affirmation. He's quite proud of what he can do with his nose!

"Right. So there you go! Azalea, take the sky and help us look around!"

[Elayne]

A random event has occurred!

What will you do?

Agate Valyn

In all his frantic worrying the Drifloon was glad that the two pokemon were able to translate what he was talking about. He practically jumped (or well, floated) for joy when Agate figured it out, flying around quickly before excitedly wrapping an 'arm' around Agate's wrist and leading them to the spot where the Helioptile were at before where the road forks. There appear to be signs of a scuffle, but the Drifloon has no idea which way to go and looks around glumly. Uh oh, looks like he's about to cry again!

[Agate Valyn]

"Whoah, excited are you?" Agate commented. He doesn't blame him though. It's definitely stressful to lost someone important, but even so, he wish that he would give him a little heads up before pulling him like that. Azalea still floating on the air, looking for sign of the Helioptile. Riku meanwhile not liking the sight of if, being the more sharp eyed of the Trio. Agate understood what happened soon after. A sign of scuffle... This is... not good at all.

"Azalea, go ahead of us, check the surrounding area. Riku..."

Riku gets into all four to sniff the area. Too bad he don't have odor sleuth, but even so he's much better than Agate in tracking the Helioptiles. Meanwhile, Agate cross-checked the reference of footprints in his Pokedex into the ones on the ground. If it's still fresh then it should be a bit warm, or at least still retain most of its shape. Agate's eyes darted from one side to another, trying to find any sense of coherence of what have been going on in here.

"Please don't cry," Agate told the Drifloon "We need you to be strong. We need you to call out for the Helioptiles when the time came. Granted, I'm just a newbie explorer, but even so, I'll make sure to get you to your Helioptiles before long!"

Agate looked for mark that could help him know what sort of Pokemon is fighting here too. Hopefully... Hopefully he'll get it.

---

meSJ8UN0 boost to Profession (Survivalist) if succeeded.

[bone]

A random event has occurred!

What will you do?

Agate Valyn

Your expert survival skills not only boost your skill at the art, but they also help pinpoint you towards a set of footprints on the ground. Helioptile footprints are all over the place here, as if they've been scampering and playing in this area for a long time. It's a little bit eye-hurting, trying to tell which are fresh, which are weathered, and which direction any of them are going in. Even now, you're not really sure where the Helioptile have came from and where they went.

However, you do notice a far easier set of footprints to track; human footprints. They walked here, stopped by the Helioptile footprints, then walked further down to the other side of the route. A few other wild Pokemon passed through this area, but none were so close to the Helioptile pack as these were.

Worse still, the human footprints are about as old as the newest Helioptile footprints.

[Agate Valyn]

...This... he hates to overthink this, but these signs are all pointed at either a hunter or something else. Agate called back Azalea, who admitted that she had seen nothing. Drats. What worse, Agate only have Riku and her. Both of them are quite weak by themselves. Agate clicked his tongue, but thought fast. At the worst case scenario... They have to fight.

"Drifloon, calm yourself down alright? First, I want you to know that there have been some humans who came here. I have no idea if they're Pokemon Hunters or just some people who wanted to catch Pokemons... but it's better if you go with Azalea for the meantime for ambush. If the negotiation failed, then I want you two to attack them, or divert attention or something... Hopefully the Helioptiles are coming with them willingly rather than captured by force."

The two sides of Pokemon capturing... you're separating Pokemons from their family. Sometimes it's a good, happy story, but there are no denying that there are also sad stories behind it too. Agate ordered Riku to go ahead of them, tracking the human footsteps first. He sniffed the ground and ran toward direction of where it goes. Speaking of which, Azalea would gently pat the Drifloon, trying to calm him down. They will get them, is what she's saying.

She followed the duo while trying to keep her distance, and most importantly the Drifloon, just in case the humans turned out to be hostile.

...Arceus, please let this be a happy ending.

[SG]

A random event has occurred!

What will you do?

Agate Valyn

The Drifloon is on the verge of freaking out at your explanation, but he decides to trust you and listens, hanging back while you take the lead.

You're able to follow the human tracks for a way, and they definitely seem to be getting fresher, but it seems there might be a little more walking before you catch up. Might want to pick up the pace?

Curiously, Helioptile prints occasionally dot the ground alongside the human prints, but not as if they were walking side by side. The prints are scattered, random, and deeper in some places than others.

[Agate Valyn]

Yeah this... gonna take a damn while if he's dilly dallying. Agate dropped to the ground, checking the freshness of the track once more before signing at Riku. From this point on they will sprint. Azalea is not sure how long could Agate run and maintain his top speed, but she'll trust her trainer. Azalea tried to explain this to the Drifloon, that both Agate and Riku will now increase their pace.

Speaking of which, Agate had no idea what this means... the prints are scattered random, and sometimes deeper in one part than another.... if he could guess then could it be that they're hurt? He hope that he's wrong.... The Drifloon better off not knowing for the meantime. Agate ordered Riku to go ahead and run following the trails. He's the one who got the smell of the Helioptile and the Hunters after all. As for him, he's not sure that he could find them without slowing them down... So in the end he decided to follow Riku instead.

Azalea meanwhile began to fly low to avoid being detected for the meantime. She ordered the Drifloon to follow her example of flying at low altitude to avoid alerting the humans. If the Drifloon can't do it, the Frillish would gently wrap her tentacles around him and followed Agate from behind.

[Jae]

A random event has occurred!

What will you do?

Agate Valyn

The Drifloon follows close but keeps looking around uneasily now. What could have happened here? He's so worried... Meanwhile, you hear a cry from not too far off, more like.... a sob? Perhaps something was weeping? The Drifloon immediately lets out a cry as well and starts making gestures in that direction!

[Agate Valyn]

Sound of sobs? Agate gestured to Riku the Riolu to check out the sounds. Azalea meanwhile stayed behind, asking the Drifloon to stay calm. She understood that it's impossible for the Drifloon to stay composed in times like this, especially when his important family member is assumed to be in danger but even so... Please, just for a little bit... please hold it in. At least that's what the Frillish pleaded. She understood, she truly do, but at the same time going to panic like this wouldn't help anyone. Thankfully Agate is ready with one of his potions. For someone who's in debt like him, this potion is something that came out from a lot of sweat and tears...

But none of that matters in front of the safety of these Pokemons.

Adrenaline pretty much paced him to run faster. Agate quickly headed toward where the sobbing voice is. He hoped to hear any sort of explanation what happened, so he could prepare himself for any sort of problem that might arise. Is it really a hunter like he was expecting? Or is it something else? Before long, Riku would bark and pointed at the source of the sob. Agate hope that this is the target that they're looking for.

[whimsae]

A random event has occurred!

What will you do?

Agate Valyn

As you round the corner, you come across an odd sight. There's a Helioptile laying facedown in the mud, wailing and sniffling and sobbing, and a young Scout girl looking utterly frazzled over what to do. She's looking from side to side frantically, wringing her hands, and there's what looks like a wriggling burlap sack on the ground beside her. The familiar cries of more Helioptile can be heard, albeit muffled, from the sack, and as soon as she spots you the girl immediately moves to step in front of the crying Helioptile almost defensively.

"Y-you didn't see anything!!" The Scout declares, holding her hands out like she could cover up her misdeeds with her tiny body alone. The Drifloon bobs and makes a wild gesture towards the wriggling sack. Just what's going on here?

[Agate Valyn]

...A scout... a scout with... with a Helioptile. She's still young... is she younger than Agate? Either way...

"...Yeah I know, please wait," Agate tried to reassure the Drifloon. "...Alright, first, drop that down. Being in the sack going to make the poor Pokemon even more distressed."

A sack is unlike a Pokeball. A Pokeball is designed to make the Pokemon comfortable inside because it could mimic their preferrred terrain, thus making it more like "home"... but the fact that this scout doesn't use Pokeball, but uses sack instead... certainly felt a bit odd. The way she childishly covered the bags with her small body... She guessed that this person might be... perhaps, someone who has yet to get their permission to own Pokemon.

Agate glanced at Riku and Azalea. The two of them walked a bit away from the scout, but it's clear that they're not going to let her go that easily as they're actually attempting to block away her escape. On top of it, they're looking for signs of any possible cahoots.

"...Can we talk?" Agate asked. Just in case, he gave the kid a bit of a space, so that she know that it's not as if he'd harm her unprovoked or anthing like that. "I think I can guess what happened, but just in case, could you say whether I'm right or not? First... you might not be old enough to own Pokemon, or is old enough but for some reason you're not allowed to have one. So you want a Pokemon and decided to go this way... Second, with the sack and all it feels like you've been targeting the Pokemon since the start or just trying your luck finding juvenile Pokemons to catch without actually fighting them. You don't have Pokeballs, so you decided to use sacks instead... That one happened to get hurt during process to catch it... so far, is this all true?"

[Elayne]

A random event has occurred!

What will you do?

Agate Valyn

At Agate's words, the Scout bursts into tears, unable to say or do anything aside from nod. The injured Helioptile in the meantime saw the Drifloon and tried to move toward their friend. They wanted to get away from the scary trainer.

"I-...I didn't mean to..."