[Elizabeth "Eliza" Joan]

                                             » (5 / 8 Route 2)
                                             » WORD COUNT, 415

She could make it in a day, no problem.  That was part of the reason she'd hatched a Ponyta to begin with--the transportation between cities was tiring on one's own, so having a Pokemon to ride cut that time quickly.  Of course Eliza had no real reason to rush from city to city; her work was in Bass, her idol group traveled as a pack, and Jamie was where she could keep an eye on him.  She had little interest in the gym challenge, whether or not the prize was what they claimed it to be.  If she really wanted a Beast Ball there were...other ways to try to obtain one.  None of them were especially legal means but, hey, what didn't get her caught didn't get her into trouble, right? 

So why was she ridding Seabreeze as quickly as the poor Ponyta's legs could take them?  Simply because of an announcment this morning in the news, that alerted Arciel residents to a danger in their midst.  A new Ultra Beast wormhole.

This was her chance!

It had been too long since that day.

She had to see it again--it wasn't a "want", it was a "need".  So much of a need that she had called out of work and taken off without warning.  Jamie would forgive her for this.  He'd understand.  If not, she'd help him to.  Gently, of course.

But she couldn't afford gentleness right now.  There was a thick fog on the route to Cedar that made it neigh impossible to see ahead of herself, and Elizabeth had several routes to go before she reached the woods.  After that it was a matter of finding this mythical, mystical tree that the wormhole had supposedly appeared over.  She had to be fast.  Who knew how much longer it would be open, how much longer it would take for them to disappear again...

I can't lose them this time!  I can't!  I have to-- 

"Hhann..." she breathed harshly through her teeth as her head pounded.  She could have sworn she was hearing thoughts, the invading minds of others, but the route was deserted.  Even Seabreeze wasn't saying anything to her--but then again, he might have just been worried about his trainer.  So it had to just be her nerves.  Excitement.  Dread.  Elation.  She had the chance to see it again. 

She wasn't going to let it pass her by this time.

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS

[Jae]

Scout Belenos would like to battle!

102 Pen Stone x3, Copper x2, Wood x2 Mankey Lv11 5 Energy Small Quiet Vital Spirit MOVES Karate Chop, Taunt, Leer, Focus Energy  Mareep Lv14 5 Energy Tiny! Gentle Static MOVES Cotton Spore, Thunder Shock, Thunder Wave, Growl  Dedenne Lv14 5 Energy Large Timid Plus MOVES Charge, Charm, Thunder Shock, Tail Whip

[Elizabeth "Eliza" Joan]

                                             » (6 / 8 Route 2)
                                             » WORD COUNT, 300

Despite the thick fog, and despite  the warnings, Eliza could suddenly make out a humanoid shaped shadow approaching.  Aside from that shape, and the fact that they were quite small, she couldn't make out anything else.  She gripped the reigns around Seabreeze to slow him down before they got too close.  Maybe...?

"Ma'am?"  A completely normal voice, a child's voice, met her as she slowed to a halt besides them.  Ah...no, they were just a normal kid.  A kid who looked kind of concerned when he, too, got close enough to make her out.  Judging from his own heavier breathing he was running in the opposite direction as herself--toward Bass, rather than towards Cedar.  Maybe he'd been on the route before the news alert went up and he was rushing home.  On his shoulder sat a rather impressively plump Dedenne.  "Ma'am, are you okay?  You look kind of sick..."

What does it matter to you?

Damn scouts and their helpful attitudes.  She pulled back from him when he drew closer.  She knew she didn't look good.  She didn't feel good.  She felt like her brain was trying to force its way out of her temples, and she was flushed and too cold at the same time.  Still.  Still.  "What's it to you?  I'm fine, kid.  Keep moving."

The brat didn't take the not-so-subtle hint.  "Ma'am, didn't you hear on the radio?  There's something bad happening!  We're supposed to get to somewhere safe."  He pointed in the direction of Bass.  "Let's go that way!  It's closer than Ce--"

"I said I'm FINE."  Eliza's voice snapped back with a hard pant, and before she'd thought much of it she'd procured a pokeball from her pocket.  "You want proof?" 

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS

cFto1X1x

[Elizabeth "Eliza" Joan]

                                             » (7 / 8 Route 2)
                                             » WORD COUNT, 602

The boy hesitated, looked entirely unconvinced, but after a second nodded.  "If I win, though, you need to turn around and go back to the city!  It's not safe to be on the road right now!"  He stepped back enough to give himself and Eliza more space, then from his shoulder the Dedenne leaped to the ground in front of him.  It squeaked nervously.  Elizabeth frowned at it.  It reminded her of Ari's Dedenne if it had swallowed a small melon.  The boy cheered: "You've got this, Brie!"

With a flick of her wrist, Eliza tossed her ball out.  "Fender, use Acid."

As a beam of white light shot from the pokeball, a tiny little Toxel took shape, shaking his little head and looking around.  When he spotted the Dedenne his back stiffened, tail going straight behind him.  With a little gurgle from his belly, a shot of purple goo burst past his lips and hit the Dedenne clean in the tummy.  It squealed in pain from the poison--a natural weakness of Fairy-type Pokemon.  The boy called out a counter-attack but...Eliza hardly could hear him, the blood in her ears was getting louder.  Just let me pass, you nobody.  I need to get there.  I need to keep going.  If I faint here then it will be for nothing.  I have to see it. 

The Dedenne's little burst of sparks flickered off of Fender's body like nothing, his dual-typing working to his advantage.  Eliza didn't even speak aloud this time, too irate and too dizzy to talk.  "Belch."  Fender nodded and another gurgle sounded in his tummy.  When he opened his mouth a burst of foul purple smoke came up from his mouth.  The attack was all it took for  the Dedenne to fall over, fainted.  

The scout huffed and took out another pokeball after returning the Dedenne to her own.  Eliza made out  the name--Jackie--and saw the Mankey leap onto the field.  Urgh.  She reached into her own bag.  "Fender, return.  Bean, you're up."  Another beam of light and from it came the large, glittering form of Jelly-Bean the Musharna.  "Zen headbutt.  Take it out quickly.  We need to go.  We need to..." 

Jelly-Bean glanced back at her trainer.  <Are...you sure you are alright...?> 

"You can help me later."  Actually, having her head cleared by Jelly-Bean might be just what she needed, but as for this moment--  "Handle this now." 

Jelly-Bean's attention returned to the Mankey.  Her whole body began to glow a faint purple hue, and suddenly she rushed forward, slamming her psychically charged head right into the Mankey's own.  It, in turn, flinched, missing it's chance at a counter-attack.  The scout winced.  "How--How is your Pokemon--?"

He didn't understand how her Pokemon could be following orders, with her not saying a word.  Eliza's mouth curled into a faint smile.  Nothing about it was kind.

If I gave a shit about you, maybe I'd explain. 

"Another one." 

Once again Jelly-Bean brought herself down upon the Mankey, and this time it didn't flinch, but fell backwards, properly fainted.  The scout whined softly.  "Why are you even going towards Cedar?  That's in the direction of the problem, isn't it??  Are you trying to go there?  Is that what it is??"  Well, as dismissive as she had been towards him, he wasn't dumb.  Maybe she could have avoided this if she'd told him she was a Ranger going towards the scene to help?  Maybe.  She was technically a nurse.  She could have used that instead.  Too late for that. 

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS

[Elizabeth "Eliza" Joan]

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                                             » WORD COUNT, 449

His last Pokemon came out--a Mareep tiny enough that, for a moment, she had mistaken it for a Cottonee.  Another electric type, but she didn't have anything in particular to use against it.  Her team was surprisingly water oriented these days. Whatever.  "Psychic Terrain, Jelly-Bean.  Then another headbutt after it moves." 

The earth around them, the fog around them, and even the faint beams of light streaking through them all became the same purple hue that had enveloped Jelly-Bean before.  For a moment, Elizabeth felt it wash over her, and she felt...a little better.  Not completely.  It gave her a little bit more push against the force trying to beat into her skull, but it wasn't gone.  She felt well enough to speak again if nothing else.  "Maybe next time you should mind your own business..." she hissed in the scout's direction, and he stepped backwards, somewhat afraid.

"F-Fleecey, use Thunder Wave!  Try to stun them!"  A few waves of yellow energy shot from the tip of the Mareep's tail.  They hit their mark, if nothing else, and little buzzes of electricity went over Jelly-Bean's body. 

Eliza huffed softly.  Annoying.  "Power through it, Jelly-Bean.  Zen Headbutt."

Jelly-Bean took a moment to compose herself...

[>35 for Paralyzed]
FW01Q95Vp_

And then charged forth, undeterred by the paralysis, and slammed her stronger headbutt into the Mareep's forehead.  It let out a pitiful little cry before it, too, fell aside.  The scout withdrew her, looking disheartened.  He was silent,  then, with a sharp jerk of his arm, held out the traditional winner's earnings for her.  "H-Here.  I know I lost, so I can't get you to go back.  But try to stay in Cedar.  Don't go any farther than there, or you'll get hurt!"  There was genuine worry in his voice and in his eyes.  All for a total stranger who was none of his business. 

How annoying. 

Eliza took the earnings.  "Get lost." 

Without another word he turned and  rushed off into the fog.  Jelly-Bean watched him go as the purple light around them began to fade away, then floated back in Eliza's direction.  Her long snout found her forehead and gently brushed her hair aside.  <You are very warm...and your mind...is full of terrible, terrible noise...> Despite her words being mental, they were soft, like she were trying to keep from giving Eliza more of a headache than she had.  <Do you need help...with that?> 

"Arceus, yes."  Elizabeth let out a shaky half-laugh, half-gasp.  "Hell, you can eat my thoughts 'til we get to the woods.  As long as we stay on track, I don't care.

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS

[Jenesis]

Elizabeth "Eliza" Joan

You've won the battle! Your winnings will be delivered to you shortly.

A wild Vaporeon has appeared!

What will you do?

	Vaporeon Lv15
		5 Energy
	Tiny!	Quirky
	Water Absorb
MOVES
Water Gun, Sand Attack, Quick Attack, Baby-Doll Eyes
NOTES
N/A

[Elizabeth "Eliza" Joan]

                                             » (9 / 8 Route 2) (lol)
                                             » WORD COUNT, 398

Even with Jelly-Bean perched on her back, their trunk resting on the top of her head, Elizabeth still could feel the aches of something trying to get into her head.  The effect of a Musharna wasn't perfect but it was something.  She did feel like her thinking was clearer, and she didn't feel like she was going to pass out on the back of a horse, but just like the fog that was slowly dispersing into a sunnier, warmer day, it still lingered just enough to be an annoyance.  It was something.

Rounding one of river's bends she nearly missed the flash of pink on the water's edge, and even then by the time she'd pulled on Seabreeze's reigns they were a little too far away for her to see it clearly.  But it was a lovely Pokemon.  Was that a Vaporeon?  Its colors were Arcielian, but yes, that was a Vaporeon.  And it was so small, and so colorful...hah, she could see the other girls getting quite a bit envious of it, should she catch it.  But did she have the time to do this?

I'm in a hurry.  I need to get there.  I have to.

I'm making good time, the clearer part of her mind pipped up, I can catch it.

She drew out one of her Pokeballs, and tossed it in the direction of the Vaporeon, but not close enough that it would notice with its body curled up, sleeping in the warming sand.  In a little flash, Mimichu's clumsy, creepy body stumbled forth.

"Mimi, use Wood Hammer on that Vaporeon."  Her thoughts reached across the space that her voice could have, but not without waking the wild Pokemon.

Mimichu let out a little sigh and strode forward.  Pssh.  Even as tiny as this thing was, it was still bigger than she was.  Oh, the curse of being tiny and cute...

She raised her wooden tail up, and in a hard swing brought it back down.

FWACK.

The super-effective and very, very strong attack landed perfectly, and the Vaporeon jolted away, but was too dissoriented to launch an immediate counter.  By the time it would gather its bearings, a blue pokeball with black "netting" on the shell came right for her, catching her up in a beam of red light.

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS

[SG]

Go, PokeBall!

One... two... and...

R4ANrG_ap_


The Wild Pokemon was caught!
One Net Ball has been removed from your inventory.

Psychic Freeman would like to battle!

164 Pen Copper x2, Stone x2, Generic Dye x1 Bronzor Lv17 5 Energy Small Hardy Heavy Metal MOVES Hypnosis, Confuse Ray, Psywave, Confusion Ralts Lv10 5 Energy Tiny! Impish Trace MOVES Hypnosis, Disarming Voice, Confusion, Double Team