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.
Post by Elliot Sunderland on May 29, 2020 2:20:50 GMT
Koa wasn't the first person he'd met to have such a romanticized view of battle. Lynn, who went from plucky stranger to dear friend, had a similar view. To both, battle was less a means to an end and more a unique and powerful way of connecting with one's Pokemon, building trust, appreciation, and respect for one's abilities. Granted, Lynn's was a lot more competitive and combative than Koa's, which seemed almost spiritual by comparison, which may have been part of why Elliot's first instinct was to find it intimidating. Yet, by this point, it was an ideal that two people he cared about and respected were championing, and they couldn't be more different as people. Was there more to the art of battle than Elliot had originally given it credit for? "I've always been kind of intimidated by the idea," Elliot admitted. "I'm usually pretty gentle and conflict-adverse. But hearing the way you put it . . . it really makes it feel more important than just self defense, y'know? It certainly helps me feel better about tossing my hat in the ring."
At the mention of Aylin's place on the team, Elliot smiled softly. "I know how that is. Before evolving her, Murex was so shy she spent most of her time in her shell. Literally!" Elliot chirped. "But now she's been spending a lot more time with the team. She, HYAH!, and Curly have actually been getting along really well, and her and Echo have always been best friends. It's so nice seeing her blend in with the rest of the group! I'm sure Aylin'll find her place too, in much the same way." Elliot sighed nostalgically, looking out towards the distant waters. A large mass of pink drifted past in the distance; Corsola, perhaps?
Life did move forward. And the life he was moving towards was a fantastic one. "Life really does keep happening, doesn't it?" he asked. "You know. A while ago, that idea worried me. But now I feel like it's something to look forward to." Home becoming less of a satisfying equilibrium and more of a monotony weighing on him had a way of making him feel more ready for a change. Funny how life works, huh?
At Koa's question, Elliot opened his mouth to speak. Yet Koa was busy, and Elliot respected that fact. The work of a ranger was never done! He turned on his heel, preparing to follow, only for a cheery chirp to interrupt him. He turned towards the sound, noticing that the Corsola pack was drifting off into the distance. They seemed so serene and peaceful as they drifted through the waves, splashing at each other and giggling all the while. It was hard for Elliot not to stifle an awww at the sight. Yet his cute squeal gave way to a confused grunt as he noticed a small, white shape drifting away from the pack. It was another Corsola, this one's stark white color sticking out like a sore thumb from its pink packmates. Despite windmilling its arms and legs as quickly as it could, the currents were starting to sweep the poor thing away from its fellows. Despite this, it chirped and giggled with amusement, as if it didn't even know it was being dragged away.
The waters crested into a small wave, and soon the Corsola was dropped onto the shore. Elliot ran over to check on it, the poor thing looking less like a Pokemon and more like a huge white boulder. Where its prongs would normally be, there were only small, porous holes. In light of a two-toned pattern along its bottomside, instead grey scarring stretched up its body. And its famously hard, healthy shell instead looked brittle and cracked. Elliot's heart sank. What happened to this poor Corsola?
As Elliot approached, it startled. Did it hear his footsteps? Its tired, red eyes lit up as Elliot made his way towards it, and it gave the boy an exuberant wave. Despite all of its suffering, it was somehow just as cheerful as its Corsola kin. The sight was enough to leave Elliot blinking tears back from the corners of his eyes. "H-hey there," he said, a shy smile spreading across his face. "My name's Elliot. It's nice to meet you.
Was that your family that just went sailing by?" The Corsola nodded, the cheerful smile across its face spreading. Elliot felt like he had just been stabbed in the heart.
Hopefully, Koa would've finished his rangering business soon! Elliot needed an expert's opinion here!
Koa gave Elliot a patient smile "It's very important for self-defense these days that's for sure, but there's definitely more aspects to it. It's intimidating, yes. There are a lot of people out there who can be a bit too competitive or push their Pokemon too hard, and that's always something I've disagreed with. Train your Pokemon, push their limits, but if they need to rest, let them rest and spend some quality time with them. Pokemon respond well to care and affection like anything else."
He smiled at Aylin "She already has her spot on the team. She had it the moment she was in the Pokeball." He said kindly to her. "Every Pokemon has their own pace and it's up to us as trainers to find it and respect it. Sounds to me you did very well with Murex. It's awesome that she's started to feel more open and comfortable with the rest of your team. I can only imagine how nice that was to see."
"We just have to take life one step at a time, and cherish the good times while enduring the troubles that will inevitably come. It can be a struggle, but those times will pass and make the quiet, peaceful times all the more important." He said. He seemed to really appreciate concepts like hope, perseverance, and spirit.
Once Koa's battle was finished, he looked around and noticed Elliot tending to something in the distance. He jogged over "Hey, what's...oh..." He looked at the Corsola and frowned, then looked out to the cluster in the distance. "This...Corsola is of the Galarian variety. My dad wrote a lot about Pokemon variants and I heard about this at the academy. Some kind of climate change deeply affected the Corsola which led to this variant's existence."
He crossed his arms and thought about what to do "Well here's what we can do. You can set it adrift again towards its family, or...you can try keeping it." He pat Elliot's shoulder "Look at that face, though. They seem happy and respond well to you. Don't be so swift to judge a Pokemon by its appearances. They've all got their individual personalities all the same, and this one seems to endure hardships with a bright smile. Reminds me of Azura in a way."
Post by Elliot Sunderland on May 30, 2020 23:59:28 GMT
Sheesh, what was Lynn's home region like if this was the state the poor Corsola from that region were in? And if it was a result of climate change, did it mean in the future more Corsola would be like this than not? The idea left Elliot's stomach twisting into a knot. "That's horrible. The poor thing . . ." Elliot said, all as the Corsola continued smiling at the two of them. It didn't even seem aware of its own bad state. Did it even know that there was powder literally crumbling off of its back as they were talking? Or that as it smiled, tiny cracks spread at the edges of its mouth?
Yet Koa had a good point, didn't he? To judge a book by its cover was to do it quite the disservice. And as worn and broken down as this cover was, the pages aside were soft, wholesome, and just plain happy to be here. Even now, he looked towards Elliot and Koa with trust in his eyes. Yet did that mean he wanted to come with Elliot as Koa suggested? Or did he just have a generally agreeable demeanor? Frankly, Elliot wasn't quite sure, and he didn't know if he wanted to jump to conclusions on the matter.
Instead, why not try walking a third path? "I'm not sure I just want to take him away from his family. I mean, I don't even know if they know he's gone," Elliot pointed out. "But with how far they must've drifted off by now, it's not like we can just send him back to them." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, only to suddenly perk up. "Wait! I've got it!"
He smiled gently at the Corsola, taking a few steps closer to it. As he did so he kept a hand raised, showing he didn't mean harm. The Corsola looked at him, unblinking, before melting into a warm smile. It didn't mind his approach! Emboldened by this he continued coming closer, finally kneeling down by the Corsola's side and setting a hand on its shoulder. "How're you feeling? Was the swim over here hard for you?" he asked. The Corsola looked around, shrugged, then flashed Elliot a heartrendingly brilliant smile. However, it seemed confused at the word 'swim'. It really didn't come over here under its own power, did it? "Oh. So you must've bobbed, instead. Did the currents sweep you up?" It nodded this time, letting out a happy chirp. As it chirped, however, it looked over its shoulder, checking the waters where its family had come from. Upon seeing they weren't there it turned back, giving another, slightly sadder chirp.
"Hey. It's okay," Elliot said, softly patting the Corsola's crystallized flank. "You're not the only one separated from your family right now. I know how it is. And I know that's why it's all the more important we help find your family for you. I know we've only known each other for a short amount of time, but I'm not just going to leave you hanging in your time of need like this. My friend and I here have strong, dependable teams, so we'll be able to keep you safe from any Pokemon that try to bully you along the way. And you'll get to see so much of the route that you couldn't see from the lakeside. It might seem big and scary right now. Or maybe it'll seem like a big, exciting journey. But whatever the case, we'll be by your side the whole time, through thick or through thin. And we won't let a thing happen to you.
So, what do you say? Do you want to come with us?" There was no offer of a Poke Ball here. Yet, for the time being, the Corsola let out an agreeable chirp. He nudged Elliot happily, then fell in step by his side. It seemed for the time being, they'd have a tagalong!
Elliot's obvious sympathy and worry for the Corsola tugged at Koa's heart. He simply stayed by their side as Elliot tried to come to a decision. This wasn't an easy one either, so he would be there to support him as much as he possibly could. It was definitely a heartbreaking sight to see the state of the Corsola, seemingly unaware, or simply not minding its current state. He would have to read more about this variant and see what he could discover.
Koa nodded at his decision "I can understand that...it's always a hard decision to catch a Pokemon when you know they have family nearby. Though they've drifted pretty far away...how are we going to get their atten-." Then Elliot had some kind of idea. Instead of making a clear decision now, Elliot would let the Corsola follow them around as they made their way through the rest of the route. Koa smiled at this "Well then! Let's stick closer to the beaches for its sake. It extends along the rest of the route, so there's no problem there."
He listened to what Elliot had said during his talk with the Corsola. "Sounds like you have a lot to deal with, Elliot. My offer stands if you want to talk about it, but I understand if you don't." He said as he gathered up his Pokemon. He picked up Sakuya carefully so she could rest and get some sunlight. Makoto and Aylin walked ahead of the group, seeming to talk to each other.
As they walked, he looked over at Corsola and gave it a warm smile. "You have a strong heart. Never lose sight of these warm happy days, okay?" He said before returning his attention to Elliot "That goes for you too, you know? We all struggle from time to time, and sometimes it's hard to handle it. Trust me, I know that feeling really all too well. But...it's because we struggle that we know how to do the most good. We know what hurts, so we do what we can to help others in similar situations, and I really respect how you're approaching this."
Post by Elliot Sunderland on Jun 3, 2020 2:19:30 GMT
Elliot smiled softly at Koa. "If I'm ever having trouble, I promise. You'll be one of the first people I come to," he said. "You've been nothing but kind, friendly, and understanding. It's honestly hard to think of anyone better to come to in hard times. But for now I'm okay. I promise." Perhaps Elliot'd recognize the irony, considering he was fussing over problems the Corsola didn't even seem to realize it had. Yet his heart was big, and his brain, while smart, was rarely the most aware brain in the room. So who could blame him?
That said, both of them were more alike than they might've realized. They beamed at Koa in sync, their expressions pretty much mirrors of each other. "That means so much. Thank you," Elliot said, the Corsola chirping in agreement. "I can tell you've struggled a lot. And I can tell those struggles have made you really, really strong. If I can tackle most of my journey even half as well as you have, I'll say it's been a success." And this time, he didn't feel like he was laying it on too thick. He did it! He read the atmosphere in the room!
Echo hopped onto his head, cupping a hand over her eyes as she scanned the horizon. If they were going to find this Corsola's family, they'd need to get looking, right? Koa did mention heading down the waterways, so Elliot turned to follow along the banks. "Alrighty! Let's go find your family!" Elliot chirped, the Corsola trilling as it followed behind him. Who knows what they'd find on their journey?
A Poké Ball with 50% chance of capturing a wild Pokémon, with a higher, 80% chance of catching the wild Pokémon if thrown at the very beginning of an encounter.
He was happy that Elliot felt that he was so reliable. He never really had a high opinion of himself, which has its own share of issues, but he tried his best to take praise when it's given by someone he trusted. He just gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder "Well as long as you're okay that's what matters. If there's anything you need though, don't hesitate to let me know." He said.
He blushed a bit as Elliot continued to look up to him. Did he really deserve that level of admiration? He didn't really think so...he just did what he felt he had to. "I don't know...I don't really think I'm anything that special. I just live one day at a time, one step at a time. Besides...I wasted a lot of time before getting here. It feels like I should have done something a lot sooner, honestly." He said. Aylin and Makoto looked up at Koa and looked sad for him. The two of them remained closer to him as they continued walking. "S-still, I appreciate what you're saying, Elliot. I really do."
Now the journey to find the Corsola's family began in earnest as Koa followed Elliot's group along the beach. Along the way, he spotted something shining in the sand. He knelt down and brushed away the sand. "A Quick Ball?" He picked it up and opened it. There was nothing inside, so at the very least no one lost a Pokemon. "Hm, I don't use this kind of ball very often, but it wouldn't hurt to hold onto it." He said as he put it away. There didn't seem to be anyone nearby who might have lost it.
In the distance it looked like a large group was gathering around. Corsola's family perhaps? Unfortunately not, it was another large group though. Mudkips and Marshtomps? A few of them were pretty big too. "Whoa, that's a big family...hey wait a second, Elliot weren't you mentioning something about Mudkips earlier?"
Post by Elliot Sunderland on Jun 4, 2020 2:08:19 GMT
"Believe me. I know how that feels," Elliot said. "But at least you were out there, making a difference, saving lives. I was just kinda waiting in my room for my chance to start. And even when I can't spend it how I wanted to, each day of my life's gotten me a little step closer to where I want to be. So don't be too hard on your start, okay? We all have to begin somewhere."
That said, the "somewhere" in this case may've applied to more than just Koa.
As Koa stopped, Elliot perked up. "Mudkip? Huh?" he asked, he and Echo immediately looking around the route. "Oh man, I've wanted one of those since I was a kid! Do you see one? Where?" Echo chirped excitedly all the while, Elliot's pure, childlike enthusiasm infectious to the Ralts. For a few precious moments, they were both ten years old and getting ready for their first journey.
One of the Pokemon Koa had spotted was similarly restless. A particularly large Mudkip, second only to the alpha Marshtomp in size, hopped around by the water's edge. Its gills twitched in agitation as it bounced back and forth, having a one-sided conversation with the various fish that swam past. From her perked-up fin and agitated cries, it was clear she was looking to get up close and personal with them, but the largest of the Marshtomp held her back every time her motions got too finnicky. He laughed as he did so, patting her on the head as she huffed.
Then she perked up, Koa and Elliot's voices catching her ear. Before the large Marshtomp could even move to stop her, the Mudkip ran off. His beady eyes widened in surprise, and he scrambled to follow in his rambunctious cohort's wake. But even with her entire pack scrambling on her heels, the Mudkip made it to Koa and Elliot's side undaunted. She circled them without a care in the world, sniffing at them curiously.
Elliot looked at Koa, almost in disbelief, and mouthed the words "you were right!" He then turned his attentions to the friendly, excitable Mudkip, a soft smile on his face. "Whoa there! Aren't you happy to see us?" Elliot asked. The Mudkip was so big and excited that she pretty much bowled Elliot over as she bounded up to him. Elliot could only giggle as she continued sniffing and nudging at him. "It's nice to meet you, too! But, uh, think I could stand up?"
Fortunately, the Mudkip obliged, if only because she noticed Echo shyly popping out from behind Elliot. Suddenly the Ralts was the center of attention, the Mudkip bounding around her and gently headbutting her. At first she shied away nervously, but between Elliot's excitement and the Mudkip's, it was hard for Echo not to get into it. Soon she was bouncing after the Mudkip, the two headbutting each other and giggling as they hopped in circles. The sight was adorable, and as Elliot sat up he couldn't help but see the rest of the Mudkip family looking up at him. The smallest and youngest of the three looked a little bit antsy herself, waiting for her chance to get involved. The next largest Marshtomp simply observed, a serious-looking Mudkip by her side. The largest Marshtomp just shot Elliot a bemused look, smiling apologetically.
"Hey, c'mon, it's all good!" Elliot said. "She usually this happy to see new people? Or did I leave a cookie in my pocket or something?" The Marshtomp sighed fondly, babbling as he gesticulated to the Mudkip. He couldn't quite put 2 and 2 together, but from the sound of it the Mudkip tended to make quite the impression on most people she met! Elliot giggled a little in response. "Well, hey, that's not always a bad thing. Though it makes me feel bad that we can't stick around too often.
Oh! Oh! Hold on a second! We can't stick around, but lemme give you guys something to remember us by." Elliot whipped out his backpack, taking out a few bowls, a pair of glasses, a carton of milk, and what looked like some old, overripe berries. What were you scheming, Elliot? Finally, he took out a Pokeball and a bottle of water, releasing The Dudes from their ball. "Come on, Dudes! Show us a Tri Attack!" They looked at each other, perplexed, but bobbed up and down in mimicry of a shrug. Ronnie glowed red. Bonnie glowed yellow. Donnie glowed blue-
And Elliot promptly pressed the bottle of water against his body, freezing it solid. "Perfect! Thanks, guys," he said, offering the water bottle over to Echo. She put a hand to her temple and lifted the bottle high, crushing the water within into powdery ice with pure Psychic power alone. The bottle fell right into Elliot's hands from there, the boy catching it, unscrewing the top, and pouring the ice into one of the two cups. Then he put in the milk, and finally he put the ripened berries in; a Bluk, a Durin, and a Magost, to be precise. A bit of vigorous stirring turned them right into a puree, letting them blend in with the milk after a bit more stirring. He set the two glasses together, the smaller nestling perfectly into the bigger of the two, then started to shake them vigorously.
Ten seconds later, and voila! Elliot poured some triple berry milkshake into the many Pokemon bowls he had set on the floor. There were enough for every Pokemon to try a few, and even some left over for Elliot to offer to Koa in the mixing glass. "It's kinda bitter at first, but when the sweet hits it hits hard," Elliot said. "You can try it, if you want!" The Mudkip and Marshtomp group sure didn't hesitate to give it a shot! The excitable Mudkip dove right into her bowl, sighing in relief as she eagerly lapped the milkshake up, while the others seemed a bit more good-to-mixed in their reviews. Echo picked her bowl up and flat out chugged the milkshake down, squeaking cheerfully. Even the Corsola wanted in, although the poor thing was having trouble actually bending down and reaching it. Fortunately, The Dudes were on the ball, balancing a bowl on their heads and tilting it towards the poor thing.
It was a delicious, refreshing way to spend a few moments. But soon it was just about time for everyone to go. Elliot smiled fondly at the Mudkips as he began picking up bowls, Echo splashing them with Life Dew to help wash any remaining milkshake residue away. "It was great spending the afternoon with you guys. But I think we gotta head o-" Elliot started, only to be caught off guard as the Mudkip ran back up to him. She swished her tail from side to side, looking up at him with expectant eyes. Her pack shot each other expectant looks, but the alpha Marshtomp extended an arm to keep them back. It was time to see where this went.
And where else could it have gone but Elliot smiling down at the Mudkip, fishing around in his pocket? "You're so full of energy, aren't you?" he asked, drawing a Luxury Ball from his pocket and offering it to her. "Something tells me a single route's not enough for you. How about you join me, and together we take that energy all across the region? And then, when you're feeling ready, we can bring you back to your family so you can show them just how far you've come. That sound good to you?"
Even through Koa's self-esteem issues, Elliot found some kind of way to say something that made him feel just a little bit better. "Looks like we have that in common, huh? We both feel like we could have done something sooner, but...well, here we are now, right? Worrying about should haves and could haves will just slow us down now. I just...need to keep reminding myself of that I guess." He said as he tried to keep on smiling.
In response, Aylin hugged his leg affectionately as Makoto climbed up to his back and smiled at him. He had his support through thick and thin. Everyone was here for him, and he couldn't be in a better place. "Thanks everyone..." He managed to say as he wiped his eyes.
Once Elliot's focus was on the Mudkip, Koa stayed a bit behind them so Elliot could focus on interacting with them himself. As Elliot talked to and played with them, he knew that Elliot had something special. He had a charisma with Pokemon. Combined with his cheerful, bright personality and gentleness, it made total sense why he seemed to attract so many different kinds of Pokemon to him.
He spoke so comfortably to the Marshtomp and watched as the Mudkip eagerly played and ran around with Echo. "This has got to be the sweetest thing I've seen in a long time." He said as he observed their play time. Next up was something rather interesting. Elliot used his Pokemon's abilities to freeze water and crush it into powder. Then, Elliot brought out other ingredients in order to swiftly make several different flavors of berry shakes that he passed around. Apparently he was pretty good at it too since the Pokemon all enjoyed it.
After a fun time hanging out with this massive group it was time to leave. However, the Mudkip that had played with Elliot's group had approached. After a little talk, Elliot decided to try and capture it...which resulted in success! Koa approached and smiled "You did good, Elliot. How does it feel to have a Mudkip now?" He asked, knowing it was a Pokemon he's been wanting for a long time.
Post by Elliot Sunderland on Jun 6, 2020 18:08:01 GMT
"It feels . . . right," Elliot said as the Luxury Ball in his hand finished wobbling back and forth. Clearly, the Mudkip had been convinced enough that Elliot didn't even need to put the ball down! That didn't mean she'd go quietly, though. As soon as the catch was completed, she sprang out of the ball, landing by Elliot's side with an excited cry. "Looks like you agree, huh?" Echo promptly teleported at the Mudkip for an attack hug, the two nuzzling each other and laughing. "Welcome to the team, Maggie. It's gonna be a fun ride. And you sure picked the right time to join . . ."
After all. Now he had his sixth water type for the gym battle!
"Can't thank you guys enough for sticking around and trying the shakes," Elliot said, shooting a wave towards the rest of the Mudkip herd. "We gotta go now, sorry. But it was ni-"
Before he could turn to leave, a "Marsh!" shot through the air. The largest of the Marshtomp took a few steps up, looking towards Maggie and nodding. The two exchanged a long, meaningful look, only for the Marshtomp to settle into a fighting stance. "I think I see what's going on here. One last test for the road?" Elliot asked. The Marshtomp nodded, and Elliot looked down towards Maggie. "That sound good to you? Cause if so, I'm up for our first test as a duo." Maggie looked somewhat nervously between her trainer and her old guardian, but in the end let out an excited yip.
Elliot took a quick scan with his Pokedex app, grinning. "Then kick things off with a Rock Throw, Maggie!" he cheered, Maggie spinning around and logging a large rock at the Marshtomp. Would the move do a ton of damage? Not at all! But it was a good chance to gauge how Marshtomp reacted to such attacks. Was he a dodger? A blocker? The type to just take a weak hit and capitalize?
The answer proved "none of the above." Instead, he swiped with his fins, launching a torrent of mud that broke the rock to pieces. The ball of mud and rock started to fall to the ground, but before it could land he spat a water gun right towards the pile. A rush of muddy, rock-filled water launched right towards Maggie, the impromptu mudslide hurtling towards her at shocking speeds. "Jump it, Maggie!" Elliot warned, but unfortunately she was a touch too slow. She cringed a little as the mudslide hit her lower body, disturbing her flight trajectory. "Come on, come on, try and recover! And hit a water gun on the way down!" Maggie nodded, trying her best to right herself. Once she was at least somewhat stable, she looked down towards Marshtomp, firing a cascade of water down on him from above. This time he was a hair too slow to dodge, skidding back as he fruitlessly tried to block.
"Hurry, while he's on the back foot, another Water Gun!" Elliot called. Maggie landed, primarily focusing her weight on her front legs, then fired another Water Gun. Unfortunately, this time he was on the ball, charging forward to attempt to power through the Water Gun. With his guard raised he was able to push through the technique with only minimal damage, his powerful forefins pushing water away before it could hit his midsection or face. Once close enough he switched gears into a shoulder tackle, a direct hit sending Maggie bouncing away.
As she flew back, he swiped his fins, launching forth another Mud Shot. "One last Water Gun! Try and shoot it down, Maggie!" Elliot warned. The Mudkip slide as she landed from the tackle, looking up to blast the technique out of the sky. Unlike the previous muddy flood kicked up by the Marshtomp, the two techniques neutralize and landed in a pile in the middle of the battlefield. Seeing this, the Marshtomp grinned, then rushed forward. The muddy ground let him pick up even more speed, meaning this Tackle was going to be even more powerful than the last.
Elliot didn't let this intimidate him. Instead, he looked towards Maggie and nodded. "Build up some momentum, too! Meet him in the middle!" he called. What was going on here? Maggie didn't have Tackle on her movelist! However, Elliot sounded so assured that she wasn't about to doubt. She shook her head, focused a glare, and charged onwards. The mud, too, slid her forward, and soon both combatants were hurtling towards each other at great speed.
The tackle made impact. Yet as it did, Elliot's grin widened. "Hold your ground and keep pushing through, we've got him right where we want him! Come on, hit him with an Avalanche!" Elliot cheered. Now it all made sense! Crystals of ice danced around Maggie's body, building up to an entire storm around her as Marshtomp started pushing her through the mud. As the storm intensified, so too did Maggie's power. Marshtomp's push slowed with each second, and soon it was actually Marshtomp that was being pushed back! Maggie started hopping forward, gritting her teeth, until soon she had enough strength to send the Marshtomp flying away. It hit the ground like a sack of bricks, and this time it wasn't getting back up right away!
Maggie hopped over to the Marshtomp's side, gently nudging it, only to receive a gentle pat on the shoulder. The Marshtomp eased an eye open, grin weak and shaky, and chirped reassuringly at her. She was ready. However, she wasn't the only one who intended on leaving her today. He hopped back onto his feet, clutching his side as he walked up to Elliot, then looked the boy right in the eye. For a few seconds they held this long, meaningful gaze.
And then Elliot tossed a Pokeball the Marshtomp's way.
While the Mudkip, now named Maggie, was ready to go, it seemed that one of the Marshtomp was ready to test the Mudkip one last time before it let her go. It was sweet, but also somewhat sad to witness. Was this particular Marshtomp Maggie's parent? He watched as Elliot and Maggie began their battle against the Marshtomp. Makoto peeked over Koa's shoulder to observe the encounter as Toki looked thoughtful. He remembered when he set out on his own. He had dueled his parents to prove his strength. They all left on friendly terms once Toki had proven himself, but deep down he was still hurting from his choice to leave his family. This could explain his reluctance around the Mienshao that were part of the aura group Koa found.
The battle was an exchange of Water Guns and Mud Slaps, the latter of which proved to be an effective counter to the former, thought with enough perseverance it seemed to eventually knock the Marshtomp back. However by that point the battleground was a mixture of mud and wet sand, which Marshtomp took advantage of to dive at Maggie with a full force Tackle. However, in a sudden twist, Maggie used the move Avalanche to create a storm of ice and snow to gain ground against Marshtomp until...he was thrown back with a heavy thud. Koa watched the end of this play out as Maggie nuzzled them. It would seem that Marshtomp has accepted this course. However, Elliot had other plans. He threw another Pokeball and successfully caught the Marshtomp. "Elliot..." Was the only think he could really muster in response to this act.
Koa stepped forward with his team and looked at Maggie with a smile before he spoke to Elliot "You've got a good heart, man. Really." He said to him. Then, something caught his attention. On a small tree just ahead and off the beach, a purple fruit stood out to him. He approached the tree and picked the fruit from it. There was something special about it, but Koa couldn't quite put his finger on it. However, for some reason it gave him fond memories of home and the time he spends with his team. He stores the fruit away and figures he'll have to use it for something in the near future. He returned to Elliot and his new Pokemon companions "If we're going to get this Corsola to safety we should move on." He said as he looked to the rest of the Mudkip and Marshtomp. "These two have chosen to be with you, Elliot. It...kind of reminds me of the day I decided to move to Arciel. Moving on to my own life and adventures, even if it means being away from family."
Post by Elliot Sunderland on Jun 9, 2020 2:48:08 GMT
Elliot smiled softly at Koa's kind words. "I don't think it'll be for the long term," he admitted, the Marshtomp nodding as he emerged from Elliot's ball. "I could tell he wasn't quite ready to say goodbye to Maggie yet. So I figured it'd be a good use of a ball to give them a little bit more time with each other. I'm not sure how long you want to stick around, big guy. But you're welcome with us for as long, or as short, of a time as you'd like, okay?" The Marshtomp smiled at Elliot, Maggie toddling up to nuzzle him. They turned to their packmates, exchanging several fond yips and waves of farewell, before turning to Elliot and falling in step with him. They had a Corsola pack to find, and they couldn't slow down here!
Yet still no Corsola to be seen. Elliot scanned the shoreline, but all he could see was a Staryu assembling a sandcastle. As they admired their handiwork, the sandcastle came to life, looming over the Staryu and startling it away. The sandcastle enjoyed a quick laugh, then turned back to the sands. "It really does, doesn't it?" Elliot said. "With how excitable she is, I can tell Maggie's been excited to adventure for a while." Maggie blushed a little, but the Marshtomp's laughter confirmed this was exactly the case. "How long has it even been for her? Took me six years before I could go on mine! Though . . . knowing I may've never had an adventure like this if I started when I was supposed to? I'm glad I didn't."
Maggie rolled her eyes, but Elliot shot her a soft smile. "Hey. It's okay. Trust me, you'll see what it's like, too," he assured her. "Just think. You're already really strong, and you haven't even gotten started yet! I can't imagine how tough you'll be once you've had some time travelling."
After a bit of time thinking, he perked up. "Oh! Koa!" he said, voice brimming with curiosity. "Think your Aura might be able to help us spot those Corsola? If your Aura Sight can pick up our friend here, maybe you can look for similar ones."
He smiled at Elliot's decisions. A chance for the two of them to be together for a little while longer. That was pretty noble and kind-hearted of him. He personally didn't see a problem with the Marshtomp staying. Lots of trainers had two of the same Pokemon for one reason or another, but this was Elliot's decision. "Well it's still a great thing you're doing for the two of them. It's clearly important for them." He watched as Maggie and Marshtomp say their goodbyes to the rest of the pack before the search for the Corsola continued.
Koa also smiled over at the funny little sight of the Sandygast scaring the Staryu. "That's always quite the thought, isn't it? The people we meet and the lives we could have had would be so different if we just made different decisions earlier. Who knows where I would have ended up if I didn't spend time with Team Skull and had the courage to face the Island Challenge. I might have just comfortably stayed in Alola, even after the Ultra Beast invasion. I can't even imagine that after everything I've been through here."
He smiled warmly at Elliot's encouragement of Maggie. Then, Elliot had an idea for Koa "Yeah, good idea! I'm...not really good at tracking yet, but I can at least see if I can see a bit farther." He said as he looked over the Corsola for a moment, eyes shining a bit as he read her Aura for a moment. He would then look out into the distance and focus, straining his eyes a bit as his vision magnified slightly. This was always a weird experience and it gave him a bit of a headache if he did it for too long, but if it would help out Corsola, he'd try his best. "Now let's see what we can find out there..."
Post by Elliot Sunderland on Jun 11, 2020 3:16:52 GMT
"Whether found family or by blood, there are some bonds you really can't just let fall to the side," Elliot explained. "I'd never dream of breaking one without a really good reason to do so, first. And if I can do anything to honor that bond on the way out, I will." Yet, as much as he says that, he couldn't help but think back to his own home. If that was the case, shouldn't he have talked to Isaac before leaving? Or said something once he was too far away from home to be stopped? It had been so long since he had last seen his brother. Yet the guilt and fear only got worse the longer they were separated. How could he even turn back at this point?
Maybe he couldn't. But maybe he wasn't supposed to. Every decision made along the journey was one you needed to live with. And even this, as much as it stung, was an important step along the way. "And I don't think I could imagine sticking to Hoenn. Even if it would be a lot warmer and comfier," Elliot admitted. "Or going with my original dream of being a Ground type specialist. Or even starting a journey without Echo. So much has happened, thinking about going back's impossible at this point. Though that doesn't mean the hopes of the past can just be ignored, either." Elliot smiled a little as he looked down at the Mudkip and Marshtomp by his side. "Sometimes, you follow an old dream without even realizing."
Elliot went quiet after this, letting Koa focus his energies on the aura reading. The Corsola's aura was a bright yellow, almost blinding to look at, that spilled from within its body. The ghostly tendrils that mimicked the Corsola's branches were completely overwhelmed by this yellow aura, forming bigger, longer branches than even the mightiest Corsola could possess. The rest of the yellow aura rippled along its body, its shape unstable and almost fragile. It looked as if even a touch would get the aura fracturing.
Elliot watched Koa curiously, looking towards the horizon. Would Koa pick up a similar aura along the way?
He nodded to Elliot, agreeing wholeheartedly. A good family was something to be cherished, regardless of where the people came from. Elliot's commitment to keeping that familial bond between Maggie and Marshtomp was something some trainers didn't even give a second thought, but here he was doing this like it was the most natural thing in the world. However there was something about Elliot's demeanor that just seemed sad about something, and that worried Koa.
Even through those worries, Koa listened intently to what Elliot had to say about his dreams and where he is now. "With a team as varied as yours it's hard to imagine you as a Ground type specialist. You and Echo are the sort of ideal dream team that trainers wish they had, man! It's like me and Azura. We both just feel like we're perfect partners. I'm glad that you've found a way to pursue the dream you've always wanted to. Sometimes it takes a while to reach that answer, but that's totally okay."
He winced slightly as he looked at Corsola's overpowering yellow Aura. Such a vibrant, cheerful color that totally contrasted paleness of its body. That was definitely a good starting point. He looked out to the horizon and walked while he motioned for Elliot to follow. "An aura that bright's going to be easy to spot from a distance...if its family shares a similar one." Aside from trying to find the aura, he scanned the ocean, the direction of the current, and if there was any natural formations like caves nearby that they could have floated into.
He blinked a few times after a while. He pinched the bridge of his nose and groaned "Ugh...it's hard to keep that up for long. My vision starts to get fuzzy." He said. "They can't be too far, and a mass that large and colorful shouldn't be too hard to spot in the water."
Post by Elliot Sunderland on Jun 14, 2020 22:33:56 GMT
"Funny you say that, considering I just got done trying to fight the water gym with nothing but water types," Elliot admitted, rubbing the back of his neck bashfully. "We actually came really close! But, sadly, we came up short when Hiro's Lapras went Mega on us. We've been practicing how to cinch the win ever since, and even catching a few more teammates to work with us. Come to think of it, Maggie here actually brings it to a full six!" At the mention of a gym battle, the Mudkip visibly perked up. She bounded in circles around Elliot yipping excitedly, much to the chagrin of the poor Marshtomp accompanying her. "I think she likes the sound of that! Looks like I've got my squad.
Still. Maybe after this, I'll start seeing what Pokemon I can find in East Arciel. I think I've got more than enough water types now," he admitted. "But lets be honest? I just know another one's gonna show up and steal my heart, and then I'll be at seven." After all, Pokemon training wasn't just numbers and types. It was bonds, hearts, and trust. He'd catch one of every water type, if that's where his heart lead him!
Besides, they were looking for water types, even if not to catch them. "That bright of an aura, huh? Makes sense, for such a sunny little guy," Elliot said, smiling softly at the Corsola. They pretty much lit up at Elliot's kind words. Not figuratively, either. Their aura brightened by another notch! Poor Koa! "Between that, and the fact that we're looking for a whole pack, this should be easy!"
Then Koa started nursing his headache, and Elliot smiled guiltily. "Maybe we should wait until we've moved along more before we turn the aura sight back on, though," Elliot said. "You need a break? A bottle of water?"
Koa had to pause for a moment to completely register what Elliot had just said "Well I mean...I can honestly see that working...though you'd also have to consider secondary types and possible moves to watch out for...though a Mega Lapras at the end sounds like something a gym leader would to really push the challenger to their limits." He said and seemed to be impressed with the unorthodox move Elliot made. Though from the sound of it, he absolutely intended to try it again. That, combined with Maggie's sheer excitement over the idea, made Koa laugh, though not in a mocking way "You're committed to it! I like it!" He cheered.
The fact that Elliot wore his heart on his sleeve and loved Pokemon so much was something that Koa found to be incredibly admirable. He respected many trainers' reasons to having the teams they did, but those who chose Pokemon out of love the the type, species, or personality stood out to him. To him, truly amazing trainers focus on bonds they can potentially form. "You make the team that makes you happy, Elliot. There's nothing wrong with that, and don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise. If it works for you, then it works."
He smiled at Elliot's concern "We can keep walking at least if you're up for it, but I'm not that tired yet. But...yeah, I'll need to stop using my aura vision for a little bit, sorry." He sighed. When Elliot offered him a bottle of water, he nodded "Yeah...yeah that sounds, good, thank you." Despite what he said, Koa did seem a little out of it. He had a busy week prior to all of this. Maybe all that work started to get to him. Maybe him not having a dedicated home was starting to exhaust him. He should really do something about that soon before he burns himself out.
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