Set in the original region of Arciel, Legends Rising is a route-inspired, but not strictly route-based, Pokemon roleplay. Pick a faction, pick a class, and strike out into the wild to take on the League, master Contest coordination, research the mysteries of Pokemon and Arciel, and much, much more. Will you be a classic trainer? A criminal? A farmer? Choose your destiny on Legends Rising.
"Right right, what do I need again... First, obviously my Pokemons... Ummm... Azalea, Vorpal, Kagari... and finally Schera. Ummm, Riku, you want to walk, right?" Agate asked to his starter Pokemon inside his room. The Riolu nodded. "Alright, that settled it! Next the potions... I only can afford two... ugh..." hmmm, what else? "...I should stock some Pokeballs, I think... but ughhh... I wonder if I have enough for on the road? Arrrgh..."
A knock broke his monologue. A young woman stood near the doorway. Her blond hair is a contrast to Agate's red, but their resemblance is unmistakable. "Hey, you're leaving already?"
"Oh, Sis! Yeah, I'm just getting ready to leave. Do you need something?"
"No, not really... just, I guess I'm a bit... melancholic? I guess this is the first time for me to feel how it feel for... moms or family members whose younger member of the family is a trainer who embark from home... I know three years ago you wanted to go on your own adventure, but things... happened."
"Things indeed..." Agate smiled bitterly.
"...Well, we have new life now! Sure we might be riddled with debts and such, but it's problem of adults to worry about!"
"Barely an adult, yet an adult the same way! I can drink, so by that logic, I can worry myself about adult matters! So it's both a blessing and a curse! Let your sister worry about it so you could have fun out there, don't you agree? Have fun, don't worry about our house, let the adult handle it and gain as much experience out there! Kids should be carefree!"
"...Hearing that doesn't make me happy the slightest though..." Agate lifted his bag and looked up at his sister. "It's not like I'm not going home, so don't cry or anything. If you miss me you can always call."
"Awww, worrying about your big sis? You're a sweet guy. Don't worry! Big sis will cry anyway, right after you leave that is."
"...Even though I said you shouldn't cry... Eh well, that's what make you my big sis anyway."
Agate hugged Vert, who gently brushed her fingers through his hair. "Mom and Dad's on the field. They told you that it's fine to not say anything and go on ahead. Just in case you'll cry."
"Why are you all already deciding that I'll cry!? I mean, I would, but hearing that makes me embarrassed all the same!"
Agate walked downstairs afterward. He wasn't expecting his mother to be downstairs, but here she is. "Ah, mom, morning."
"Morning, ready to head out? Dad will come back soon. He's just shearing the Wooloos at the moment."
"Oh it's alright. I'll just meet him on the way out. It really shouldn't be a big deal, you know."
"But it IS a big deal. It's your first adventure after all."
"We already made a feast yesterday, Mom..." Agate wryly commented. "Anyway, is that lunchbox for me?"
"Yep! Here you go! Don't forget that you can come home anytime! It's not like we want you to dig some crazy treasure anyway before you can come home. Riku, too, please take care of Agate, alright?"
Riku nodded, already used to it pretty much.
"You won't let me live it down, huh." Agate referred to the time he was interviewed. He had no idea that his parents would overheard that part! "...Cut me some slack already. Anyway, I'm off!"
He exited the house, straight to the side of the barn where his father is shearing the Wooloos. It's... it's definitely a rare sight seeing shaved Wooloos. As much as he wanted to laugh, these fluffykins would definitely take offense to it.
"Dad, I'm heading off now!"
"To Ash is it?" his father wiped sweats from his forehead. "Be careful out there! Also, make sure you call home whenever you need any money, alright? We might be in debt, but it doesn't mean all of our money goes to paying the debt off. So don't be a stranger. You're member of this family no matter what. Here, allowance."
"...Dad, like I said..."
"Take it," Agate's father pushed it to him. "I don't want to hear another word of rejection from you, young man!"
"Right right..." Agate sighed and smiled. "Thanks, Dad."
"What for? It's already my duty, my rights and my privilege to give my son support for his journey. Go!"
Route 8, the first time where he met Schera. The Skarmory now just hovering idly, squawking happily as if she felt more at home. Yes, he let her out. Riku the Lucario honestly was not happy with this place meanwhile, considering that this was the place where he first felt a really bitter situation that he could call a defeat. The target too was the one floating up there, squawking happily... It's a complicated thing. Either way, as for Agate himself?
"OOOH LOOK, IS THAT WHAT I THINK IT IS? IS IT A MINERAL DEPOSIT!?" Already, he's climbing a cliffside to check for any minerals. Yes, already. He'll get distracted easily like this. Riku himself feeling conflicted that apparently he's the only one who stays on the road, while Schera seem to humor Agate by telling him about areas where he might be able to find any items while on the road. So here's the situation. The boy has climbed the small hill and proceeded to use his mining tool there... Will he get something out of it?
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Regardless of whether he got something or not, Riku would attempt to remind Agate of his travel by poking at his cheek. "Oops! Sorry about that, Riku! Let's get back to the main road shall we? Schera! Let's return!"
The Lax Skarmory squawked and returned together with Agate to the main road. "Eeto... let's see..." Agate opened the map app once more and looked at his destination. "So basically, I need to go through this main road, then straight to Ash... Over there is the Grumble Volcano, and the other hand... what ruins was that again? But either way they're sort of invalid. Let's go to Ash!"
Riku however raised a question.
"Hmm? What was that, Riku? ...Hmmm? Uh, you're asking what to do over there?" a nod. "Oh, well, I think I just want to see the world. Get more Pokemon to befriend and train, and after that, hits places! Maybe we can go to wild areas and whatnot, you know? Plus... I haven't told Mom, Dad or Sis yet, but... I kinda wanna know what's up with my eyes... heh." Agate's Party: Riku (Riolu) lv7 5/5 Azalea (Frillish) lv8 5/5 Schera (Skarmory) lv10 5/5 Kagari (Torchic) lv2 5/5 Vorpal (Sandshrew (Al)) lv3 5/5
After taking a few days off in Fuji to rest and recover, as well as make a quick buck doing more beta testing for Shovelware Studios' latest retro project, Josh was ready to head south again. Resheph was already wrapped around his right arm and looking at him while upside down. "I know you're excited, but I really need my arm free." When the Dratini wouldn't let go right away, he shook his arm, which was enough of a cue for the young one to float to her trainer's right instead, her head down. This must have been what it was like to raise a Pokémon from an Egg - they have no discipline, no pliability...just instinct. Yes, instinct that could be tempered according to the trainer's wishes, but man was it ever work.
Once they were west of the city gate, Josh was excited to call on his new Pokémon. "Bladestorm, let's go!" The Skarmory let out a loud battle screech upon being called out, which was followed by the rustling of smaller bird Pokémon flying out of nearby trees. She looked around while Josh located riding gear for aerial Pokémon. Bladestorm stared at Josh while he was pulling out all of the gear needed - it was a lot more than with land Pokémon. As Josh was reaching forward to attach the reins, the steel-type scowled at him. He took a step back, then tried starting with the other side. A lightning-fast, sharp peck right in front of his left foot made him let out a "Yipe!", the avian shooting him a death glare that burned in his mind.
Getting the picture, Josh put the equipment away, instead relying on Twilight, his Absol, for travel. Saber needed to rest for Ash City's big race this weekend - he was planning on using the Manectric in it, and there was no sense risking injuring him while traveling; why even bother bringing him? Resheph was content to float between the land-bound dark-type Josh was now astride, and the metal predator whose ever were ceaselessly shifting, looking for an easy meal. Not even a thousand feet down the road, she spotted a rival Skarmory standing next to a Lucario--or wait, was it a Riolu? It was awfully big for a Riolu. Whatever it was, Bladestorm let out another cry and raced after it, flipping her talons forward. "Bladestorm, don't! It's trained!" Josh cried, Twilight and Resheph chasing the speedy bird down before she injured another trainer's Pokémon...or herself.
The screech was what snapped Agate out of it. A LARGE Skarmory! Is it another swarm!? But before he could do anything, both Schera and Riku shot forward. Sensing the danger of the bigger Pokemon, Schera answered the screech with her own, uncharacteristic for her. She usually so chill and relaxed that Agate often wonder if she's really part of that aggressive swarm. It sounded as if she just wanted to get captured, fed, and let doing her own device, which he complies, but even so...
"Schera, no! Come back! It's too strong for you!"
But nope. Schera does not listen. She already gave this Pokemon a warning. -Come and she will attack, even if she's smaller and weaker-. Talon attack is it? With plenty distance to cover, added with her smaller size, Schera attempted to dodge! But even so, the talon managed to it her, causing a scraping, unpleasant sound that made Agate grit his teeth. Seizing the moment, Riku aimed a Sky Uppercut toward the other Skarmory! Schera too, in retaliation, immediately blasted dust from the ground to blind the other Pokemon! It's a Sand Attack!
"Riku!"
The Riolu does not even hear his trainer. He wanted to knock out this threat as soon as possible to prevent any possible problem down the road. However, that's when Agate noticed something... someone... guh, so bright... did he have any lamp behind him or something? He's riding a... is that an Absol? Someone riding an Absol? Wow, that's... gutsy in many way! But even so, Agate hand goes toward his Pokeball, ready to toss Azalea to help if this one turned out to be someone who want to fight...
Please let it be an accident, please let it be an accident... please don't come here and be some sort of criminal trying to fight my Pokemons... Agate could only pray in his mind.
Bladestorm's great speed let her reach her "rival" much faster than the Absol did, even with Josh pushing her like he would during a race. Though he had his yellow and purple racing helmet on, that wasn't going to save him if any of those Pokémon ahead attacked him. A worried-looking Resheph trailed just behind the worried-looking white Pokémon - the first time she had shown true emotion in weeks.
The bloodthirsty Bladestorm, on the other hand, continued her battle with Schera. Her next tactic was to try to grab the smaller Skarmory and slam her into the ground using a high-speed dive...but grabbing the small, defensive Pokémon was a little harder than she'd like. The two went back and forth a little longer, until Twilight and Josh had arrived. "Bladestorm, stop! They're trained!" he shouted. The metal menace looped around again, barely missing grabbing onto Schera.
"I said, stop! Stopstopstopstopstopstopstopstop!" he continued shouting Bladestorm was not listening to his commands at all. "Then I'll make you stop!" A well-timed recall from her trainer, and she was back in her Poké Ball. Twilight jogged up to Schera and Riku. "Are you three okay?! I'm so sorry!" he continued to shout, hyperventilating. The young man dismounted his Pokémon and frantically started emptying the medical supply pouch of his bag, tossing medicine vials around like play things while looking for the right one. It was a minor miracle none of them broke. Twilight shook her head, both at Josh and his out-of-control new Pokémon.
Schera might be weaker, but she's sure as hell putting up a fight! She might be lax, but anyone who threatens her flock is a threat to herself! Schera dodged. The sand attack might be a factor of as why the attack does not hit. She attempted to zoom past Bladestorm, then gain aerial superiority to scratch the bigger Skarmory with her own talon so she might fall down. She knows that it won't be effective, but even so, she want to make Bladestorm lose her balance, where Riku is waiting below with his sky uppercut. That's where finally both of them could fight in even ground.
Agate doesn't quite hear what the other guy is saying... wait, is that a racer? A racer...? If he recalls it, they're a big fad in Kalos aren't they? But that's not important. He finally... heard him saying stop repeatedly. Oh, so it's an accident! Agate released his grip on Azalea's ball and it back to its mini form. "Heeey! Could you please stop that Skarmory!?" Agate shouted toward the rider. Thankfully he does, even without him needing to shout like that! The moment it passed, both Schera and Riku returned to Agate's side. Riku, being the more braver one, seem to ready for a second round, while Schera just... looked relieved more than anything. She returned to her usual thing... hovering idly.
Oh? The man apologized a mile, and Agate panickedly answered. "No no, it's alright! I-I mean it's NOT ALRIGHT in a sense losing control of Pokemons like that! But it's alright as it's an accident! Riku too, don't look so miffed! It's alright, right? He apologized, so it's no problem!"
Riku let out the usual Riolu voice while huffily looked away. "Ah, I think he's just annoyed that his match got interrupted... Sorry, Riku just really like a good fight. But please don't let out your Skarmory? The adrenaline rush was too real... I thought it's going to be a traumatic first encounter..."
...Doesn't help either that most of his Pokemons are ineffective against steel types!
"U-um, so who are you... Mister?" Agate's Party: Riku (Riolu) lv8 4/5 Azalea (Frillish) lv8 5/5 Schera (Skarmory) lv11 4/5 Kagari (Torchic) lv2 5/5 Vorpal (Sandshrew (Al)) lv3 5/5
After the battle, Agate's Riolu looked dejected, unable to finish the battle with Bladestorm. His Skarmory seemed content hovering close to her trainer. "Maybe she just didn't see you or something," Josh explained, starting to calm down but still with a raised voice. It didn't help that his voice really carried - he could be a great public speaker with some practice. "I just caught her a couple of days ago - she'll be fine as long as she has Pokémon to fight along the way. She just loves battle...a bit too much." Josh rambled on for a while longer about the species' aggression and how keeping her satiated with other prey was important in the first weeks of raising a Skarmory.
When Agate brought attention to Josh's lack of introduction, he stopped. "Oh! Right." He took a deep breath, Twilight shaking her head again but otherwise keeping up her usual blank stare. "I'm Josh. Josh Devlin, an amateur Pokémon racer...for now. I'd like to eventually turn pro, but that feels like an eternity off. I also started the Gym Challenge on the side, but it's more important to enter as many races as possible this season. There's going to be one in Ash City this weekend, and I'd like to make it back there in time."
Resheph coiled herself around Josh's right arm and tried to pull him toward Agate. "Hey, stop it!" he snapped at the young dragon-type. "Don't mind her - she's like a toddler. I'm sure once she gets a battle or two in, she'll start to grow up. But until then...is she ever a handful. And who might you be?"
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NAME SPECIES LV EP Aslan Litleo 22 5 Nitro Skiddo 20 5 Blitz Luxio 21 5 Twilight Absol 22 5 Bladestorm Skarmory 23 4 Resheph Dratini 1 5
Didn't see him? After he... practically yelled at Schera and Riku to stop? But it looks like they got stronger regardless, so that's good. "Schera!" Agate called his Skarmory, who squawked and landed beside him. She folded her wings and looked at Josh, then crooned at him. The other Skarmory loves to battle eh... Well, that's a sentiment that Riku shares, but...
"...Um, will you be alright? I mean... the Skarmory doesn't sound like she's a proper ride Pokemon yet... and well... what if they start wreaking havoc by attacking other racers Pokemon?" Agate asked.
After seeing what happened just now, admittedly Agate is worried. But even so... "I really hope that you could tame her though, like... making sure that she won't be attacking and all that. I mean, she's really speedy! The reason why Schera managed to slip past her is simply because she's smaller... But if she could be trained and all that, pretty sure she'll be really speedy!"
Oh, who is he? "Name's Agate. I'm just a..." what is he? "...an aspiring stone collector and explorer! So if there's any sort of fun thing you have heard, I wouldn't mind to forgive you entirely in return for that!"
Riku looked at him, like asking if that's enough. But Agate doesn't seem to mind. "I'm interested in treasures especially, but any good places to dig and find rare items would be appreciated too! Oh, and rumors about anything that happens in Arciel would be really great too!"
Well, there's that.
...Speaking of which "...Oh yeah, does your costume includes any light or something in it? Like... lamp or whatever..." Agate's Party: Riku (Riolu) lv8 4/5 Azalea (Frillish) lv8 5/5 Schera (Skarmory) lv11 4/5 Kagari (Torchic) lv2 5/5 Vorpal (Sandshrew (Al)) lv3 5/5
Agate's Riolu shared a common love of combat, sure, but there was a big difference between "love of battle" and "indiscriminate slaughter" that Bladestorm seemed to be fixated upon. Josh was confident, though, that she would earn her respect in due time. "I wouldn't expect her to be right now," the trainer answered, flipping his helmet's visor up after forgetting he had it down. "After all, I just caught her earlier this week! Being from Johto, I know how dangerous Skarmory are - if you live near a mountain, they're a constant threat."
Agate expressed concerns about Bladestorm attacking other racers' Pokémon, to which Josh elaborated, "Some amount of contact in a race is inevitable. While Pokémon racing isn't a contact sport in paper, in practice it very much can be. I won't be entering her in any aerial races until she grows up, that's for sure."
A little down the road, Josh spotted a small, purple Pokémon he had never seen before. Probably a poison-type. "All she needs is a wild Pokémon to keep her attention!" With confidence, he released Bladestorm, a few scratches on her from her scuffle with Agate's two partners but otherwise raring to go. Her blood-red eyes locking gazes with the Toxel, she didn't even need a command to know what to do.
The bird looped upward to evade what looked like sparks coming from her foe's forehead before coming down on top of the wild with tremendous speed, performing a brutal talon snatch. The young poison-type let out a wail of agony, sparks flying out of her forehead and completing a circuit with itself and the bird's metal wings. Both of them crashed to the ground at high speed, her wings too stiff to stay aloft. "Wow..." Josh gasped at how violent his Skarmory was, even against what he now realized was an electric Pokémon. "No wonder..."
While the Toxel had passed out from the tremendous G-force alone, the crash had roughed up the Skarmory quite a bit too. She turned around and tried to fly back toward Josh after the quick battle, but could not get into the air. One eye on the victor and one on his medical supplies, he rummaged through them looking for Paralyze Heal. Not one. "You'll feel better soon - return!" He recalled the steel-type, then resumed his conversation with Agate.
While Josh was re-ordering his medical supplies, Agate had introduced himself as a stone collector. "Funny you say that - I found a pretty cool-looking stone when I took a trip to the Moonrise Ruins last week." He procured a small, red, hexagonal prism from his bag, the number 20 carved into its largest faces. It fit approximately into the palm of his hand. "Seems like it might be currency of a bygone age. If you're into exploring, I wouldn't mind going back up there with you some time soon. It's pretty dangerous up there, though."
Finally, Josh was asked if his costume had a lamp. "Actually, I'm just wearing my helmet," he answered. "The safety suits we wear on the track are a bit harder to move in than regular clothing, but you'll be happy to have it on when you brush against a wall at 80 miles an hour." He couldn't help but chuckle, despite how serious his statement was. He put the stone back with his other things before climbing back atop Twilight. "Well, shall we go? It'd be faster if we rode down the mountain."
---
Apply EXP. Share to Resheph.
Bladestorm's level is now 24! Resheph's level is now 2!
...Are Skarmories really that scary? He looked at Schera, who squawked like it's no one's problem. She just love to hover and as long as you give her food and drinks, she pretty much would appreciate your presence. In fact, she's so chill that it's a question whether she's truly the Skarmory Josh described or not... But either way, Schera... actually what is she doing? Is that an Apricorn on her mouth? When did she get it? Oh right! Agate also looked at the item that he got few moments ago... It turned out to be a good Cyan Shard! This is a good score! But either way, returning back to Josh... there's a clear wince on Agate's face as the older trainer let out the Skarmory again. Both Schera and Riku immediately at guard, both readying their stance again at the appearance of their former attacker. Schera seem to find the other Skarmory's reaction to immediate fight a tad too aggressive. She squawked in discontent... and Riku seem to agree as he too let out a sound of agreement while nodding his head. Perhaps they're concerned about the baby Pokemon?
"...Hmmmm... Paralysis eh... A karma perhaps?" Agate thought.
Huh, what's that? A hexagonal prism with 20 on it? "...Some sort of fancy dice?" Agate asked, his curiosity piqued. "But it doesn't sound like that... it more like... hmmm" what could it be? That's just so interesting to him! Maybe he could go there to mine too? "Well, I'm not going there anytime soon, but I guess it's a good idea to go somewhere that way with someone I know... But probably when my Pokemons are stronger? I'm not sure if I want to go there at the very moment."
Riku let out a protest, as if saying that he's strong enough. Schera meanwhile seem to agree with Agate to go there later.
Hmmm, no lamp? "...Nevermind me then. Must be the sunlight," he decided, trying to clear his vision by rubbing his eyes slightly. "I guess I'll be counting on you in this journey to Ash Town then!"
Josh noticed what appeared to be a relieved-looking face from Agate and all of his Pokémon as soon as he withdrew the paralyzed Skarmory. "I think she just needs time," Josh replied in defense of his new Pokémon. "I find if there's a Pokémon you can't handle, just give it what it wants and it will warm up to you in time. In the meantime..." Josh reached for his belt, grabbing his Skiddo's Poké Ball and releasing the grass-type. "I think the weather's nice enough for Nitro here to get in a good run," he gestured toward the Skiddo, who immediately put himself between Josh and Agate's two Pokémon.
"I wondered that myself at first," Josh answered, "but it couldn't be - it's not the same area on all sides. My best guess it was a currency of some kind. Probably going to take it to an archaeologist when I head to Ivy Town next month." Agate continued to express interest in the ancient object, including where it was from, but was hesitant to commit to a trip. "That's probably a good idea - the wild Pokémon up there are really dangerous. Plus almost everything up there is nocturnal - to really get a feel of what the place is like, you have to go there at night. I want to go back there during the next full moon. Well, day's-a-wastin'. Shall we?"
Twilight shrugged her shoulders before moving at a brisk walk down the mountain slope. Coming up the mountain certainly was a lot harder than going down. Hopefully he wouldn't need to climb back up - by the time he came back here, he hoped to have earned Bladestorm's trust. Nitro went a little bit off the trail, noticing the glint of a loose Apricorn while Josh was looking away. The Skiddo retrieved it and held onto it for a few hundred feet before jogging in front of him and showing him the fruit. "Apricorn, growing all the way up here? Wow, that's unusual," Josh remarked, gently tugging on his Absol to slow her to a stop while Agate and his team caught up. "Score!" he smiled, storing it with the rest of them. His stack of them was growing - he needed to find a Poké Ball crafter soon. Hopefully he didn't charge an arm and a leg like Kurt did, especially for large orders...
"Sometimes if you give it too much, it'll actually treat you like a pushover though," Agate commented. "There's this Dubwool in our farm that always just want to graze, and we were being too lenient to it when it was a Wooloo... it ended up being a stubborn old man that still trying to go out even when it's raining outside. At that time, I think I just lifted it and doesn't show it much leniency anymore after that... He learned his lesson or sort. Ah, I don't mean to preach! Just sharing experience is all!"
Hmm, he named to Skiddo Nitro? That's an interesting name. "Will they be alright? I mean, it's a hot place and all that...."
Talk about the currency makes him wonder too. Oh, right, it's flatter... so there's no way it's a die eh. "If it's a currency then it's interesting... Unless it's a key or sort, like 'open room 20 door' or something. But then again how to pull this thing out if it's a key? I guess currency it is?" Agate muttered out loud. "Hmmm... hmmm, curious, curious... but yeah, you should probably get it to a specialized guy or something!"
Next full moon... two weeks or so? "Why the full moon specifically?" he asked. "Is it only open in full moon?"
Speaking of catching up, though, the boy seem to be catching up just fine. Schera is fast, so she doesn't seem to need any sort of help... Riku just hopping around from rocks to rocks, seem trying to make good of training meanwhile. Agate? He's probably the one that doesn't sound like he'll keep up, but here he is... walking down the mountain trail without breaking that much of a sweat. Granted, he must have half marched, but it doesn't look like the boy was close to needing any sort of break.
And that's when suddenly on the road, they found a Hawlucha that stopped them. Riku immediately landed near where the Hawlucha is. Both of them speak toward each other, seem to talking about something the Hawlucha wanted. ...A Pokemon battle perhaps? Riku readied his stance. He's not going to let a good chance to spar to pass. The two Fighting Types stared at one another as they circled around... The first one to attack was...
The Hawlucha! But it's not an attack, if anything she's honing her claws. With his rival doing that, the Riolu opened the act with a Metal Claw! It hits the other Pokemon squarely, launching it to rock formation behind! But as if already knowing that it would be launched like that, the Hawlucha instead used the momentum to flip around, and use the rock as a stepping wall to launch itself toward the sky, where it attempted to use wing attack! But Riku wasn't that dumb. he moved away at the last moment, before driving a sky uppercut toward the other Pokemon! The gravity and the force of sky uppercut knocks it down!
"And the winner is Riku!" playfully, Agate raised his Riolu's paw, who looked so happy with himself. The Hawlucha soon stood up and nodded, as if saying they can pass now. Good good.
"Thanks, Agate," Josh answered after listening to his partner's story about the stubborn Dubwool. "But I did a lot of research on raising Skarmory when I decided I wanted one for my flying-type. Most of them have a lust for battle - if they don't battle every so often, they're liable to turn on you. It's like you have to prove yourself to them. Again, I'm sorry you had to be on her receiving end. I'll keep that in mind, though!" He turned toward the Skiddo, who walked right next to Agate, standing all the way up to his shoulders. "He'll be fine. If you want to get to Ash City faster, hop right on - he loves to run!" The Skiddo's eyes started to bead. Twilight sighed - there Josh goes again, trying to push his hobbies onto everyone else again.
Josh listened to some of his suggestions as Twilight continued to trot down the hill and take a bit of a lead. Ash City was still a speck at the trail bottom, but he was able to see the grass in the distance, compared to the rough, rocky trail they were currently on. "I'm planning on taking it to the lab in Ivy Town once Resheph evolves." When asked why a full moon, Josh answered, "The ruins are clearly dedicated to the moon or a moon goddess of some kind...maybe even a legendary Pokémon associated with the moon. It only makes sense to go out there then - maybe I'd even be able to meet one!"
On the side of the trail opposite from Agate's battle, a Bunnelby was slamming his long, tough ears into hard-looking Berries, cracking them open one by one and drinking the juice inside. Josh reached for Bladestorm's Poké Ball, then gave Agate's advice a second thought. It wouldn't be as relishing of a victory for her. Perhaps Bladestorm wanted to prove herself to him as a combatant before doing something "mundane" like chauffeur him through the sky. Arceus knew what she was thinking at any given time - it was up to him to figure out when the time was right.
Lust... for battles? Agate looked at Schera, who still squawking like it's no one's business. "...Yeah, um... are you sure about that or is she like... an exception or something? I mean, I'm happy with her no matter what, considering she's one of my first Pokemon in this Region, but... at the same time I'm wondering if you're serious on that or you're just joking... or if she's some sort of an exception. When the first time we found her, she just hovered around, not even attacking Riku or anything... hell, she let two attacks hit her without dodging it! I don't get what's going on either, but... She's sort of... Odd."
Eh? Eh? So he want him to ride him? Agate not too sure about that, considering this Skiddo belonged to someone else, not him. But.. the way it looked at him, could it be that he want to let loose? "...Hmmm, well, I guess that's fine... " Agate decided to trust the Pokemon. "...I think I'm still going to gather some rocks though! Like... over here!" Agate looked toward a mineral deposit, and began to ready his mining kit again. He gotta try to get something this time around!
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Just as he about to strike the rock, suddenly a Charmander approached. A Charmander? Here? It hids from him when it noticed that he's there. "...Oh? Hey, what's wrong? Do you want something from me?"
Schera squawked, poking at the can on his bag. "Hmmm? What, are you hungry, Schera?" the Skarmory however shook her head. She's not hungry. She pointed at the Charmander... Oh! Could it be that he's the hungry one? "...So you want me to give this Pokemon food to it?" Another squawk. Riku approached, then seem to muse the situation a bit. He poked Agate, then seem to... uh? What's that? He's making a slashing motion to his arm and something invisible behind... then pointed at the Charmander.
...Oh, he's wounded. But why? First, Agate poured some of his Pokemon food on a bowl for it to eat. The Charmander seem to be happy to eat... but the mystery is still here. Why is it here? Where are its parents? Riku made sounds like he's not expecting a Charmander this weak to be up and around, especially aimlessly like this. Could it be...
"...Could it be, it's alone after hatching?"
Riku made a sound as if saying "It could be."
"...Hmmm... Say, little one, would you like to come with me?" Agate put down a nest ball just to be sure. "...I have no idea what happened to you, but if you're alone in here, I don't think you'll be safe, especially with the Skarmory Swarm around... so... would you like to?"
Attempting to befriend the Charmander! Nest Ball GO! Attempting to mine!
"It could be different here," Josh answered Agate's concerns about Skarmory as a species. "But in Johto, where I'm from, Skarmory are not to be disturbed, and are some of the most difficult flying Pokémon to raise. They're no joke. They're fiercely loyal once you break through their instincts, but it's a lot of work. Rewarding, but a lot of work."
Bladestorm's Poké Ball began shaking, as though she wanted to be let out. Josh peered inside, the steel-type scratching from the inside toward the wild Charmander Agate was feeding. He pat the top of the Ball gently. "You wouldn't want to eat that anyway," Josh reassured. The Skarmory wasn't hungry - she just wanted to hunt! To prove her superiority to her trainer! She was going to make herself the leader of Josh's pack over her dead body!
Twilight and Nitro walked over to where Agate stood, hunched over what appeared to be a freshly-born Charmander and with a Nest Ball in his hand. "...Good for you," Josh encouraged, though he was a bit jealous on the inside. Charizard was another Pokémon he'd love to have - while they weren't ideal for most races, there were a couple of courses toward the end of the Johto season that the fire-breather excelled at. "You'll find that Pokémon a very rewarding one to raise, as well. Long as you're not afraid of flying."
"...Huh, hear that, Schera?" Agate asked as he pat the Skarmory's beak. Schera let out a pleasant squawk. She doesn't need any instinct to be broken, really! She's loyal to anyone who let her do what she please and feed her, and give her a lot of affection! Pretty easy, right? In a sense, Agate might have scored a jackpot by getting her from that swarm. Perhaps?
Well, things are good, looks like the Charmander is accepting his invitation, so... he guess that's his flying Pokemon, eh? Not sure how it will be when he becomes a Charizard, but... fly to the sky? Afraid of height? "...I'm not... afraid of height for sure... but I remembered being very claustrophobic."
...What caused it? He himself doesn't remember too much. It feels like a blur... All he could remember was the voice of his sister soothing him... his vision was so blurry... There was a speck of blue, red and white... a majestic roar... He remembered extending his hand toward that color filled sky...was he scared? No idea...
"Yeah, pretty sure I'm not scared of height. But being in very tight spot makes me afraid... Specifically while inside a building though. Don't have that problem in caves or anything like that... Weird? Eh whatever."
Agate now have six Pokemons. From this point on, he will need to send his Pokemon to the PC if he wanted to catch more... But even then... "Say, how in hurry are you?" he asked to Josh.
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