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.
Having spent the night at one of Cork Town's fine lodges (let's face it, everything was pricey up there), Josh checked out of his hotel room at 11 AM that morning, looking for the address he had agreed to meet Makoto at. Seeing how far northeast it was, he crossed the street at a nearby traffic light before releasing Blinky and guiding her into a fast trot down some side streets. His eyes shifted back and forth - even the homes in the town were quite large. "Must be where the rich folks live," Josh mused aloud, the occasional spark flying out of the racing-bred Jolteon's paws.
After passing by a few rich neighborhoods, including a gated, luxurious-looking mansion, Josh arrived at his destination: the town's largest park. While it wasn't quite as open as the wilderness, it would be open enough, especially late morning, before all the children got off school and the young adults got off work. This park, with its twisting walks and even a giant hedge maze, would be a great spot to teach Makoto how to ride a Pokémon. He donned his racing helmet, visor up, and released his entire team, all six of his Pokémon happy. Ixion, a Ponyta he recently caught, seemed particularly excited. Despite the large size differences in the six species natively, Nitro the Skiddo was the odd one out; Saber, Aslan, Ixion, Twilight, and Blinky all stood at roughly the same stature. He brought a variety of Pokémon to try to give Makoto as many choices as possible. Now where were they at? It was almost half past eleven, and that's when they were supposed to meet up...
It would be shortly after 11 when Makoto and co would set out of a hotel of their own; having picked out the cheapest lodging that they could find, given that they'd only be here for a day or two. It was a nice day, from the looks of things; the sky was clear save for a few fluffy clouds, and with the shifting from spring to summer the day was - overall - pleasantly warm (even if it would only get warmer, once it started getting to the afternoon.) With a full party of pokemon to accompany them (including a little ebony songbird Pidgey that they had caught up at a local community garden,) they were in a wonderful mood; smiling brightly as their team followed at their heels. Although...
"Ah - Yurei, please don't eat fruit from trees that don't belong to you, dear..!"
... Perhaps there were still some kinks that needed to be hammered out, with time. Thankfully, most of the pokemon were otherwise quite well behaved; Tachi quietly walking alongside Kama as they made their way, Tengu and Esper both flying (or perhaps more like floating in Esper's case) after Makoto, Yurei plodding along - staring longingly at the occasional fruit tree - and Kuro curled up in his trainer's arms.
In any case, it wouldn't take much waiting for Makoto to arrive at their agreed meeting place; a wide open park, that the criminal trainer couldn't help but admire with a warm smile. For as rich of a place as these parts seemed to be, they still couldn't help but appreciate just how nice everything looked. Upon spotting Josh, Makoto would wave to him with a single arm and a wide smile; jogging on over. "And there you are, Josh darling! How has your morning been?" They'd greet the young man, before glancing to his assembled party of pokemon. "And look at all of you; quite the variety, I must say - with a few familiar faces to match! It's nice to meet you all, dears."
Kama and Tengu both would greet Josh's pokemon as well - the Sneasel with a chitter and wave of his claw, and Tengu with a few melodious chirps as he perched on a nearby branch. Tachi seemed disinterested, however; instead wandering off with Esper to a quieter part of the park to meditate on their own, while Yurei idly grazed at the grass and Kuro shyly nestled himself in Makoto's arms.
Glancing over to Josh though, Makoto would smile a hint humorously; a teasing tone to their voice, as they asked "So what's the first thing on the agenda, teach?" Briefly chuckling, Makoto would soon adopt a more respectful and serious demeanor; simply continuing to smile as they commented "I'm eager to see what there is to learn, in any case. I noticed that you have a good handful of pokemon here - might I hazard a guess that all of them have been trained to be racing pokemon?" Kuro the Zorua - Level 11 Kama the Sneasel - Level 11 Tachi the Mienfoo - Level 11 Tengu the Pidgey - Level 10 Esper the Abra - Level 1 Yurei the Arcielan Stantler - Level 15
Last Edit: Jun 19, 2020 7:15:14 GMT by Makoto Kurumi
"Ah, there you are," Josh greeted Makoto. "Been good so far - just needed to fill out some forms and make a small adjustment to my appointment at the Gym today. I'm a bit nervous about it - I've heard this is one of the tougher Gyms here." Ixion in particular looked excited - her fiery mane extended all the way to her tail, breaking ranks to nuzzle Makoto if they allowed it. "Nitro, Twilight, and Blinky I believe you've already met. The others are," he gestured to his Manectric, Pyroar, and Ponyta in that order, "Saber, Aslan, and Ixion. Saber was the one Pokémon I brought with me from Johto. I got him when I was thirteen!" The Pyroar let out a prideful roar, getting stares from some elderly couples nearby. "Aslan means no harm - he just likes to make his presence known. At least he's not as much of a handful as when he was a Litleo. Ixion is the sweetest Ponyta you've ever seen - I was going to recommend her to you."
When Makoto asked for their first lesson, Josh's immediate reply was, "How close is the bond with your Stantler? I think her name was Yurei?" At least they seemed to be excited to learn - that was half the battle with showing someone the ropes like this. "Not all of them. Ixion is a recent addition to my squad, so she doesn't know the finer points of racing yet. I mostly brought her along because she's such a good choice for someone new to learn with. You can learn with any of my Pokémon - they'll all be gentle, I promise." Twilight didn't look like it, but she was at least willing to play along. Ixion and Aslan in particular seemed eager to welcome a beginner aboard, the latter raising and extending a paw in Makoto's direction.
"You need to have a close bond with your Pokémon to serve as an effective partner," Josh continued, "especially if you don't want to tack them up like I do my team. A few people have told me learning with tack is easier, too. If you trust Yurei enough to not vanish on you while you're learning, that's fine. It's just that control with and without tack is different; without, it requires a lot more trust and synergy."
Post by Makoto Kurumi on Jun 20, 2020 19:46:52 GMT
As Josh mentioned how his day's been, Makoto would nod and smile gently. "Poison types can be pretty nasty to fight, but I trust you've got a gameplan in mind for standing up to them; especially given the brief talk we had about the gym, out on Route 9." They'd mention with a nod, a reassuring and encouraging hue washing over their smile as they added "I'm rooting for you, in any case, darling!"
As Ixion trotted on up to nuzzle Makoto though, they couldn't help but laugh and coo over the affectionate Ponyta; happily stroking her fur, smiling brightly. "Dawwwww; such a cutie pie, aren't you?" They'd coo lovingly, giving Ixion gentle scritches. "Lookit you; you're so big, and you look ready to take on the day!" Kuro, however, seemed a bit startled with the Ponyta's approach; letting out a soft 'yipe!' as he turned into a bush, whilst still in Makoto's arms! Makoto couldn't help but blink at this, before sighing and patting where they believed Kuro's head to be. "Darling, it's okay - she was just saying hi," They'd try to reassure the Zorua; though the fox-turned-bush would simply hop down from Makoto's arms, to instead hide behind their legs - prompting a gentle sigh from the trainer, and probably a few quizzical looks over what was (essentially) a sliding bush. Ah well...
With the introductions, Makoto would nod along as Josh indicated the different pokemon - smiling warmly at each one. At the mention of Saber, Makoto would open their mouth as though to comment - although... Aslan's roar would proceed to startle them a little; blinking a bit owlishly in response! "Well then..." The other pokemon, too, would startle a little; Tachi glancing back at Aslan with alarm from where he was meditating, Kama and Kuro (who was still in bush-form) both jumping and backing away, and even Tengu squawking a bit in surprise! The only pokemon who seemed to be unaffected were Esper - who simply continued to float in place and meditate - and Yurei, who simply lifted her head up from the grass that she was munching on to give Aslan a neutral look.
Josh's reassurance would make the assembled group relax a little, though; and the mention of how sweet Ixion was would make Makoto smile. "I can tell; she's quite the affectionate little sweetheart, aren't you Ixion~ Yes you are~" Once more, Makoto would lovingly coo to Ixion; stroking her neck. It seemed that even Kama was getting a little jealous, squeaking and chittering insistently as he nuzzled up to Makoto's leg! The trainer, in response, blinked a bit; though would smile down to him in understanding. "Ah... I'm sorry, Kama; did you want some love, too?" Makoto would ask; reaching down to pick Kama up, briefly tickling the Sneasel's belly, and prompting a happy laugh-like chitter from him!
At the question of how close their bond with Yurei was though, Makoto would pause to think a second; glancing to the passive ghost. "I'm still getting to know her, to be honest - we only just met yesterday, after all." Makoto admitted; smiling sheepishly. "But she's rather calm and cooperative for the most part, and quite food motivated; I think she'd be more than happy to be put to any task, as long as there's caramels in it for her." As if to prove their point, Yurei's gaze would suddenly snap to them at the mention of 'caramels' - prompting an amused chuckle from Makoto.
It sounded as though Josh had picked out his team with learning in mind, though; which was a comforting thought for Makoto. Glancing between the assembled pokemon, they'd idly comment "Ixion or Nitro both seem like they'd be most similar to how Yurei is, at least as far as gait and how it feels to ride them goes. I might switch between everyone to get a feel for different types of pokemon, though." It wasn't a for-sure, but the fact that the option was there was nice, in Makoto's opinion. As Aslan raised a paw in their direction, though, they couldn't help but chuckle warmly; accepting the extended paw, giving it a gentle squeeze, and then giving Aslan a proper handshake. "It's good to meet you too, darling." They'd mention to the large Pyroar; visibly impressed at his large size. A lot of Josh's pokemon were quite big, in fact!
As Josh mentioned the importance of a good bond though, as well as the difference between tack and no tack, Makoto would nod in understanding. "I was unable to find good tack for Yurei, sadly - and I imagine that even if I did, my darling's ability to phase through things would mean that the tack would fall right off if she decided to go incorporeal. Though like I mentioned before, she's quite calm and cooperative - especially with the proper bribery." Hopefully, the lack of proper tack wouldn't pose too much of a problem...!
"We'll find out come two this afternoon - that's when I'm supposed to be there. If you don't have anything to do, maybe you could stop by!" For now, Josh needed to get down to business, though - they had come out here for a reason. He cleared his throat, smiling at Makoto's affection back. It was like they were made for each other! "Seems like she's so eager to teach you! She's a little fast for a beginner, but I'm sure she'll go at whatever pace you want her to," Josh reassured them.
When Makoto mentioned Yurei's ability to go incorporeal, Josh replied, "Ah, a ghost-type...sounds like tack won't be an option then. Probably best you learn without, then." When they expressed interest in giving all six of his Pokémon a go, Josh stopped for a bit. It would be a bit annoying removing their tack, but it would be worth it in giving them what they wanted, and would especially be helpful if they catch a different ride Pokémon. "You're right - Nitro and Ixion are most similar to what Yurei would feel like. Wouldn't want you to startle her and fall to the ground if she were to phase out."
With that, he started to remove Aslan's, Nitro's, and Ixion's tack, starting with the cream fire-type first. It would be interesting trying to control him without tack; Josh had never done that before, and it would be a little rougher on him due to how much Pyroar flex their backs when they run. Ixion stood on the side Makoto was facing, beckoning her to hop on. If they were to do so, Josh would climb atop Aslan's back.
"First, I'll have Ixion just follow Aslan, so you can get used to what it's like. Just want to make sure you can handle her first." If they were okay with it, Josh would start Aslan walking just outside the park's main sidewalk, then push him into a trot, then a brisk canter, Ixion keeping pace. "Once we make a lap around the concourse, I'll show you how to control her yourself!" While it felt slow to Josh, it probably didn't feel too slow to a newcomer.
The invitation to come on down to the gym would prompt a warm smile from Makoto, and they'd nod in response. "That sounds nice - I'll have to come watch you and your fight, then." They'd agree; smiling warmly.
As Josh changed the subject though, Makoto was more than happy to adjust accordingly; smiling and nodding as the young man mentioned Ixion. "That's good to hear - I don't think I'll mind if she goes fast too much, but I won't say anything for sure until I actually experience it for myself." Couldn't make assumptions, after all...!
Nonetheless, as Josh took the time to take the tacks off of the assembled pokemon, Makoto would take the time to familiarize themself with the different pokemon; briefly admiring each of them, smiling warmly. "Your assembled pokemon are quite impressive - and some of them haven't even evolved yet, at that..!" They'd muse out loud; looking everyone over. "Are you going to evolve Nitro and Ixion, do you think? Or are you going to keep them at their current stages, like with Resheph?"
Before long though, Ixion and Aslan - the two pokemon that they would be riding first - would have their tack removed; and the Ponyta in question was already eager for Makoto to hop on. They couldn't help a warm chuckle at this; gently patting her side as she climbed up onto the horse pokemon's back. Kuro, hesitantly dispelling his illusion, would soon hop on as well - nestling himself just in front of Makoto, as Kama and Yurei both fell in behind them; seeming keen on seeing if they could keep up. Tengu, though, appeared content to simply perch and sing to some of the local bird pokemon; lightly flustered at having such an audience, but keeping his composure.
Josh, meanwhile, would give them the rundown - that Ixion would first follow Aslan around the concourse, so that they could get a handle on things. "Sounds good, darling; ready when you are." Makoto would respond, nodding in confirmation to his explanations. With that, they'd begin on the outer edge of the park; the assembled group soon cantering along, as Makoto placed their hands on Ixion's front shoulders for balance.
Indeed, this pace was a respectable pace for Makoto - and it was quite enjoyable, at that. Kama and Yurei both seemed to be able to keep up as well; Kama chittering happily as he soon hopped onto Yurei's back, much to the ghost type's brief surprise! The Stantler, however, seemed to not mind having a Sneasel for a rider - at least for the time being - as she simply continued to canter along, keeping pace with Ixion. Was Kama trying to become a rider, like Makoto? The notion certainly had the trainer chuckling, as they glanced back to the duo.
"I'm gonna need all the help I can get," Josh answered, having reviewed the Gym's challenge rules beforehand. "You see, at that Gym, when you register a Pokémon team, you only battle with half of your team...and the Leader chooses which Pokémon you battle her with. Can't help but feel it won't end well. This is one of the toughest Gym Challenges I've ever seen." He perked right back up when he heard that they didn't mind going fast. When asked about the rest of his Pokémon, he answered, "Nitro's actually on the cusp of evolution. Ixion I'm undecided about - she might get uncomfortably big when she evolves...to the point where even getting on and off her could be an issue." Ixion couldn't help but let out a whinny at hearing her name called. "I want her input on it, too."
Once Josh saw Makoto was in place and had reasonable-looking balance, Aslan slowly accelerated around the concourse. While it seemed slow to him, it was important to not overwhelm new riders with speed. To them, that kind of wind in their face was probably something they rarely got to experience. When the Pokémon rounded a particularly sharp turn, he caught a glimpse of Kama atop Yurei's back, calm and collected as the three rounded another couple of corners back to where they started.
"Alright, seems like you have the hang of balance!" Josh praised Makoto for their work so far. "Now, here comes the fun part - I'll show you how to actually control a Pokémon. All of mine are trained in the same way, and this is the most common system trainers use. If you find something that works better for your Pokémon, don't be afraid to do it. Ultimately, it's about finding a way to make sure you're communicating clearly what you want your mount to do."
The racer took Aslan to a wider path farther away from the main concourse, but still where Makoto could easily see. "If you remember two things about riding without tack, remember these: your balance controls your direction, and your legs control your speed. If you want to make a turn, lean or shift your body weight in the direction you want to go. The more you do so, the sharper your mount will turn. It's almost like being on a motorcycle - they're not called 'iron horses' for nothing!" He demonstrated turns of all kinds, ending in a sliding turn that kicked up some dirt and grass. "I wouldn't try that last one with Ixion, though - she's not as nimble as Aslan here."
Once he was confident they understood, Josh guided Aslan back to the main concourse. "Now there are two ways to control speed; you can either apply pressure with your heels or with your knees. Adding pressure is commonly a command to go faster, and releasing pressure is a command to brake. You can also pull back on them to brake if you're not comfortable with easing your hold, but again be careful with it." Josh guided his Pyroar behind Makoto and Ixion. "Alright, lead the way!"
As Josh mentioned the catch that Cork Gym's fights came with, Makoto's eyes would light up in recognition - as if just remembering it. "Ah, that's right..." They'd murmur; tapping their chin a little in thought. "At least you do get to pick which of her pokemon she uses, too - though she picks second, and so has the advantage; which definitely makes things tough..." Though they'd initially sigh a little, Makoto would soon smile over to Josh - mentioning "But still, darling; I'm rooting for you, and I'd love to spectate your battle later."
Then there was the talk of evolving Nitro and Ixion - and as the ponyta in question whinnied, Makoto couldn't help an amused chuckle; stoking the side of Ixion's neck briefly. "I can definitely see why it'd be a problem; she's a big girl already, I can hardly imagine just how big Ixion might get as a Rapidash...!" They'd muse out loud, briefly trying their best to imagine how she might look as a Rapidash. After mulling it over for a second though, Makoto would add "Though, riding around on a giant Rapidash does sound like it'd be rather majestic, to be honest." with a soft chuckle.
As they rode around the concourse though, Makoto would simply let out a pleased hum; feeling the wind rush past as they picked up speed. For the briefest moment, they couldn't help but let their mind wander - recalling claws holding them carefully and gently, yet firm and close as they made their getaways across rooftops in distant cities... Though they've never truly rode or directed a pokemon like Josh does, they could still remember the rush of wind with every leap, the thrill of being so high up, the--
Makoto would be shaken a bit from their thoughts, as Josh called out to them in praise; though being quick to hide that they had been spacing out at all, they'd simply nod and smile in confirmation to Josh. "It's not that bad, once you get used to the inertia," They'd comment; adding "Having glasses probably also helps with keeping my eyes from drying out too badly from all the wind, too." with a brief chuckle.
As Josh moved on to teaching Makoto how to actually control and direct Ixion though, they would listen closely; nodding along in understanding. Though shifting their weight and squeezing with their knees or heels did make sense for nonverbal ways of communication, they likely would figure out their own method when they start riding on Yurei proper. In fact... "... I'll direct you here and there, but I'll trust your judgement in which way works best for you; okay darling?" Makoto murmured to Ixion, as they began leading the way for Josh and Aslan.
With a brief nudge to signal to Ixion to move, they'd let the Ponyta choose the path that they took - the only direction given being to make sure they were remaining near the park as they rode along - and instead focusing on simply getting a feel for how fast the Ponyta could go, and how quickly she could change speeds. As Makoto got used to directing Ixion, though... A playful and cheeky hue came across their expression - likely not quite visible to Josh, though... "... Do you think we could give a little impromptu race a shot, Ixion dear?" They'd whisper to the Ponyta - waiting to see what the equine thought before they tried any antics. If she felt confident about going for a little run around the concourse, well... What harm was a little bit of fun, while getting to learn?
Yurei, meanwhile, would still be plodding along; Kama trying to direct her the same way that Josh was teaching Makoto to, it seemed! The Stantler was cooperating, speeding up and slowing down, as well as swerving, at the playful Sneasel's direction; but otherwise, it seemed that Yurei was keen on keeping up with the group - snorting briefly to Kama when he tried to lead her off the concourse!
"Not just that, but the Leader there gets to see your registration paperwork, too," Josh continued. "Every technique your Pokémon knows, every piece of equipment they bring in...absolutely everything there is to know about your Pokémon, she knows. Yet she gets to leave you almost completely in the dark. It's almost like you'd have to bring...an entire team of psychic or ground Pokémon there to stand a chance of winning."
Ixion couldn't help but let out another affectionate whinny as her rider gently stroked her neck. "Oh, it absolutely would be," Josh agreed, his student picking up speed, Aslan doing the same to keep up. "It would just be a pain - you'd need to get on top of a hill or something just to get on her!" Ponyta were naturally fast runners - as Rapidash, especially with Ixion's great size, could get to thrilling, even dangerous speeds. Her mane grew in length as Makoto allowed her to run faster.
The two worked with each other in impressive sync for a first-time rider, able to stay right in the center of the path the entire time! Even Kama and Yurei were getting in on it, trailing the fire-types; this was mostly due to the Sneasel being more interested in a trick-filled ride, full of sudden swerves and other stunts Josh couldn't bear to see a beginner do.
Right after Makoto had leaned toward Ixion's ear, her flaming mane erupted longer and grew warmer. It wasn't a burning type of warm, though - it was a refreshing type. That was a sign Ixion loved the job they were doing. Once they had moved back to normal balance, the Ponyta shot forward into a strong gallop. Fauna and benches whipped past as her hooves rapidly clacked against the pavement. While she was capable of running far faster, it had to feel like a full run to someone new. "Makoto, watch it! Don't--" Josh yelled forward, but the two were already gone. "Aslan, faster! We gotta make sure nothing happens to them!" With a loud purr, the great cat sped after the student. A fall at this kind of speed would really hurt, and he wanted to make sure that didn't happen!
Post by Makoto Kurumi on Jun 23, 2020 17:53:47 GMT
"Though I imagine that Ixion could also just lay down for a second while you climb on, then get back up once you're secured." Makoto mused. "It'd just be a question of whether she'd be too tall even for that or not." Taking a second to briefly chuckle, they'd add "That, or you could have another pokemon help you up. Imagine something like Aslan picking you up like a kitten, just so that he can put you on Ixion's back," It was an adorable thought, to be honest; and it had them mulling over other ways one could get onto a huge Rapidash's back. Maybe very long ladder-esque stirrups?
In any case, it seemed that Ixion enjoyed going fast, if the blaze of her mane was anything to imply - something that Makoto would allow, as they got a feel for controlling her. In fact, when they had suggested a little impromptu race in Ixion's ear, her mane would blaze even brighter with excitement! This got Makoto gently chuckling, though it was also a clear sign that she was down to make a fun little race out of this; meaning that they had to be prepared. Sitting back normally once more, Makoto's grip on Ixion would tighten just a little; so as to maintain balance, when the Ponyta broke into a sudden gallop...!
The sudden increase in speed did startle Makoto a little, prompting them to maintain that tight grip as the inertia hit them all at once; threatening to upset their balance! Despite this though, they couldn't help but let out an excited whoop; clearly enjoying a little bit of excitement, as they attempted to hang on and sit upright the best they could! Kuro, on the other hand, would yelp - ending up near-plastered to Makoto's torso as he stared on ahead with wide and bewildered eyes. Faintly, Makoto was aware of Josh shouting behind them; yet his voice was drowned out by the wind in their ears, and the sound of Ixion's hooves pounding on the pavement.
Yurei and Kama, meanwhile, would look bewildered as both riders sped off. The Sneasel would chitter a little and gesture with her claw - seemingly telling Yurei that he wanted to try and keep up with them; to which the large Stantler obliged, picking up her pace as well, to follow after the duo! Although, it was unlikely that she'd be able to quite match the two racing pokemons' speed - Yurei had wonderful handling and stamina, though her speed was rather average as far as Stantler go. It was safe to say, that Yurei would have to push herself if she could even hope to keep up with the pack!
As the inertia faded though, Makoto would be able to feel less like they were gripping onto Ixion for dear life; instead being able to properly lean forward just a little, and begin to - ever so gingerly, so as to avoid turning straight into a tree - direct Ixion along the path of the concourse. With the twists and turns of the path, Makoto would have to shift their balance left and right to avoid accidentally falling off; and though they were admittedly a little rusty in the athletics department, it seemed that it was all coming back to the criminal trainer bit by bit..!
Post by Makoto Kurumi on Jun 23, 2020 17:54:02 GMT
With this in mind, Makoto couldn't help but feel the temptation to test themselves a little bit; something that they'd warn Kuro about, with a call down to the Zorua "Things might get a bit twisty-turny, dear - do you want to return to your pokeball?" Kuro, though, seemed to be trying to get used to this excitement; watching the scenery whip past them as they rode along! At the question of returning to his pokeball, Kuro would - though briefly hesitant - shake his head no. He wanted to get used to this, too; he wanted to try and break out of his comfort zone a little...! In seeing this, Makoto blinked in surprise, before smiling fondly - patting Kuro on the head with a hand very briefly. "Alright; just hang on tight then, okay darling?" They'd advise; adjusting their position, so that Kuro could better brace himself against their torso.
Once fox and trainer alike were prepared, came Makoto testing themselves a little - "Alright Ixion darling; I'll be directing you a little more, now!" - and directing Ixion through slightly sharper turns, around the concourse...! With each turn, Makoto was testing just how much they could handle - and seeing if they couldn't push the boundaries just a hair, without falling off completely! Certainly, a couple of turns caught them a little by surprise - forcing Makoto to brace themselves with their legs and grip on Ixion's shoulders to avoid falling off completely - but it seemed that their sense of balance, otherwise, was quite respectable!
Of course, that only meant that Makoto would try their hand at more sharp turns; ones that might put Josh's own sense of balance to the test, if he wanted to try riding on Ixion later! They'd whoop with excitement as they rode about; quickly reaching the lap mark on the concourse by now as they continued their joyride-slash-practice! With how the turns and speed were picking up though, poor Kuro would - soon enough - decide that he had enough of hitching a ride with Makoto's antics; deciding to tap out in the form of returning to his pokeball, much to Makoto's sympathy! They didn't blame the poor darling for wanting to take a break; though they were having fun essentially getting used to their own sense of balance all over again, it was probably too much for the poor Zorua!
Though after being idle for so long, well... Could anyone really blame them, for enjoying themselves practicing as they were? That being said, though... "Let's call it good at the next lap, okay? We'll slow down nice and easy once I let you know it's time to stop, dear." They'd inform Ixion; wanting to make sure that when it was time to stop, that the Ponyta didn't stop all at once or too suddenly - lest they risk being flung right off, or Aslan and Josh crashing into them!
Speaking of the other duo, though... As Makoto continued to practice their balance and turns, there did come the question of whether the duo would be able to keep up with the older trainer's antics, and Ixion's fast speed! Would they be able to get Makoto and Ixion to stop early, or would they have to wait out that second lap, too? Leveling up Agility!
Josh couldn't help but laugh at himself for not considering such a simple suggestion, though Makoto seemed almost a little...too happy. "...Right..." He rolled his eyes, mostly at himself. The second suggestion was impractical at best, plus being grabbed by Aslan didn't sound very comfortable in and of itself. Even climbing down would be more like jumping down from a Rapidash roughly twice the young man's height.
The apparent wind was getting strong enough that Josh had to flip his visor down just to keep his eyes open. While they weren't going full-blown racing speed (yet), it certainly would look like it to passers-by, a couple of younger trainers watching the fire-types and ghost-type circle the park. When Makoto let out a joyous whoop, Josh breathed a sigh of relief; at the very least, they didn't look scared of the high speed.
As Makoto and Ixion started heading toward the front of the park, where the rest of Josh's Pokémon were waiting, he noticed the in-training rider was deviating from the far outside path, taking some sharper turns than Aslan had to slide through! While they weren't as difficult as for Ixion due to the Pyroar's superior grip.
As well-trained as Aslan was, he just didn't have the raw speed the blazing horse did. Josh was far behind Makoto, and even after crossing near where the rest of the team stood, the two showed no sign of slowing down. "I really don't want to do this, but..." Josh mumbled before speaking up again. "Aslan, use your Flame Charge!" The Pyroar's mane grew a bright red, radiating heat all over his trainer. Though not an uncomfortable heat, it was very noticeable, like that of a hot summer's day. Embers scorched the ground beneath as the majestic lion Pokémon dashed after Ixion, who herself seemed competitive enough to try to stay ahead...
The winds were strong, but Makoto didn't mind it - in fact, they loved it! Their glasses, though not perfect protection for this type of riding, helped keep Makoto's eyes from drying out too fast - and feeling the wind rush past was almost nostalgic to them. A good bit of giddy laughter would escape them as they directed Ixion onwards - only sparing a brief glance backwards, to see how Josh and Aslan were faring in keeping up...!
And a good thing they checked - seeing the flames dancing along Aslan's mane was a beautiful sight inofitself; one that had them wishing that they could take a photograph, if they were honest! But, it seemed that they were starting to catch up just a little - ah... That was Flame Charge, right? Given their interest in fire type pokemon, it wasn't too hard for them to identify the move, even if it took a second. Ixion, meanwhile, was trying her best to stay ahead of the pack it seemed - and Makoto couldn't help but share those sentiments, a wry smile crossing their face. Let's see...
"... Think you can give me a Flame Charge, too, dear?" Makoto would request of Ixion - adding "Don't leave em in the dust - that might be too fast for me - but let's at least keep ahead of them, darling!" Honestly, a Flame Charge, on its own, was probably still too much for Makoto - but they were too caught up in the thrill of the impromptu race to care, at least for now. As their speed picked up, Makoto would end up having to be less gutsy with the twists and turns they were taking - easing up a little on said turns, so as to avoid falling off; though even this was still good practice, in their opinion.
Would Josh be able to catch up to the duo before the second lap? Or would they be able to win this impromptu race of theirs?
Meanwhile, it seemed Kama and Yurei had been - understandably - long-since left in the dust; both a mix of Yurei just not being as fast as Aslan or Ixion were, and a mix of Kama having... Taken to just doing wide circles around the assembled group of pokemon, it seemed; squeaking with joy at just how fun it was to ride on another pokemon's back! Pokemon riding on other pokemon - a new world has opened up for him!
Though Yurei could, admittedly, really go for something to eat... She didn't really mind this, either; simply taking it all in stride. She figured that she'd have a chance to have something to eat later. (And she always wanted something to eat, anyways.)
"I didn't mean--" Josh shouted, then stopped when he realized there was no way Makoto could hear him over both the crackling and the wind. Now both Pokémon were enveloped in flames. Though the Pokémon knew how to keep the riders out of the attacks' dangerous wake, it was still making Josh sweat, both physically from the warmth of his Pyroar's mane and mentally from worrying for the safety of his student.
Ixion running full gallop had to sound like a whole stampede of Ponyta to Makoto. They seemed to be handling the speed okay, but there were also none of the safeties out here like there were at race courses. A fall would seriously hurt them! Josh was about to call for a follow-up Flame Charge, but it wasn't going to do any good. Ixion was just too fast for the Pyroar to catch - the Ponyta crossed the "line" near where the rest of Josh's Pokémon stood. If Makoto were to bring Ixion to a stop to relish in her victory, the Ponyta would rear high, land, then lightly buck them once! Not to try to throw them off, of course - just to play.
When Josh and Aslan crossed the line second, the instructor and racer were stunned. He simply dismounted Aslan and gestured toward the rest of his Pokémon team, lost for words.
Post by Makoto Kurumi on Jun 26, 2020 20:13:59 GMT
The thundering of hooves, the crackle of fire, and the rush of the wind were all that filled Makoto's ears now; drowning out Josh's shout, making it sound faint and distant. For as impromptu as this all was, this race was the most excitement that they had gotten in a long, long, time - and Makoto wanted to make the most of it, one way or another. Thus, they'd keep Ixion at a steady pace; being mindful of their sense of balance on the turns.
As the race began to reach its end though, it seemed that Ixion was much too fast for Aslan to close the gap - even as Makoto was trying to not leave them in the dust! Keeping the lead like this thrilled Makoto a bit; and maintaining that lead to finish their second 'lap', well.... It'd certainly prompt an excited whoop from Makoto, briefly and gently laughing as they began to gradually slow Ixion down! "Niiiice and easy, darling; inertia's a cruel mistress to us when riding on a speedy dear like yourself! There we go; good girl..." They'd instruct, as they came down from a gallop, to a canter, to a trot, and then - soon - to a stop.
Almost as soon as Ixion came to a stop though, she'd begin to playfully rear and lightly buck; something that'd prompt a startled yelp from Makoto, but soon dissolved into laughter! "Pftahahaha! Are you feeling good, dear? A run like that must've felt amazing, I imagine!" They'd coo to Ixion; stroking the side of the ponyta's neck, lightly scritching. "You did so good, giving me such a wonderful practice ride; such a lovely darling..."
As Makoto cooed over Ixion and Josh and Aslan were stunned, Kama and Tengu would soon come on over - Kama on Yurei's back, and Tengu flitting over before perching on a nearby branch - to cheer for their trainer! Melodious chirps and happy chittering and squeaks alike, Makoto couldn't help but laugh happily; smiling up to their pokemon. "Thank you, dears; and look at you, Kama! Trying to learn from Josh, too, are we?" Smiling, Makoto reached over to pat the Sneasel's head; adding in a soft and teasing tone "Josh darling better watch out, or he's gonna have a certain ice-type rival on his hands!"
And speaking of Josh... Makoto would glance over in their temporary teacher's direction, only to realize something. Smiling sheepishly, they couldn't help but scratch their cheek - murmuring mostly to themself, but still out loud "I, ah... Must've gotten a little carried away there, huh?"
Josh could not believe how Makoto directed Ixion to a smooth stop - well, as smooth as it could get when they were on a Ponyta running faster than one could legally drive on the highway! He was in further disbelief when Ixion reared like a wild, then kicked her hooves up! While it was probably play, Josh was still overly concerned for Makoto's well-being. "Ixion, that wasn't very nice to them!" he scowled at the fire-type. "They could have been hurt!" Ixion couldn't help but whinny, thinking it was funny. He rolled his eyes before he shifted them toward Makoto more directly. "I don't know if it was you or if it was Ixion that did that, but either way...the way you handled that, you're a natural. When she used her own Flame Charge, I was worried about you."
When all Makoto could say was that they got a little carried away, Josh at first grumbled, "Only a little carried away, hm?" before calming down. "Well, you're at least alright, and that's what matters. Just...try not to scare me so much with the next Pokémon, ooooooo-kaaaaaaaaay?" Kama and Yurei had came across the line as well, Josh overhearing only the phrase "ice-type rival" before turning toward the Stantler and Sneasel. Apparently Kama was practicing as well, having directed the ghost-type independently. "What do you--" he turned to face the ghost-type and ice-type that seemed proud of what they had done. His sour mood quickly left him, the young man unable to stop laughing. "Maybe you're right!" Though it would never happen, due to Federation rules requiring teams to be a human and a single Pokémon, it would be a fun concept for a side league.
As Josh came over to scold Ixion, Makoto would smile a little; patting the Ponyta's neck reassuringly. "The dear should definitely be careful about rearing and bucking while she has a passenger, but I don't think she meant any harm, Josh darling; it's okay." They'd reassure the trainer, offering him a similarly reassuring smile. "I think she's just feeling good, after having had a good run like that; she seemed to enjoy it quite a bit!" Makoto couldn't blame the Ponyta for wanting to express the good mood that she must be feeling right now; and given that Josh mentioned that she's a newer addition, it's possible that Ixion just didn't know any better.
As Josh turned his attention towards themself though, Makoto would smile half-wryly, half-sheepishly. "I admit that the Flame Charge bit was a mix of me guessing, and imitating you." They'd confess, continuing "I was able to recognize that Aslan had used it - with how much I adore fire types and dark types, I'm familiar with a variety of moves - and figured that Ixion might know it as well, given that she's a fellow fire type and is going to be trained to be a racing pokemon, like the rest of your darlings." It was an educated guess, more or less... "... Though I'm still flattered that you think I'm a natural with this, darling," Makoto added with an appreciative smile in Josh's direction. "I don't think that I'd make a career out of racing like you do, but I appreciate your vote of confidence greatly."
The grumble, though, would make Makoto sheepish once more; chuckling shyly. "Ah... Certainly, darling." They'd agree with a nod - an apologetic hue to their expression. "I'm sorry for giving you a scare like that, dear; I'm more than ready to take it easy for the rest of the lesson." They had their fill of excitement for the day anyways, to say the least - they couldn't recall a time that they'd ever gone quite that fast!
As Josh began to laugh at the idea of Kama being his future rival, Makoto couldn't help but chuckle with; patting Kama's head, and scritching the little Sneasel behind the ears. "Gonna have to get you a snazzy little outfit, if you're gonna start making a habit of riding pokemon around, too; maybe see if I can't find a cowboy hat and a pair of lil boots in your size?" Kama, in response, would simply chitter happily; pressing his head into their touch. "My lil cowboy Sneasel~" Makoto would soon coo lovingly.
Once Kama had his fill of attention though, and returned to practicing directing Yurei, Makoto would - in turn - direct their attention back to Josh. "What's next, would you say, darling?" They'd ask; continuing "Are we going to continue practicing like we did - minus the impromptu race, of course - on your other pokemon? Or was there anything else in particular that you wanted to teach me?"
"I'm not angry at you," Josh nearly interrupted Makoto. "I can see it though - Ponyta love to run. That you could keep your balance when she did that makes me a lot more confident. Maybe I'll teach you more advanced stuff if you're interested?" All of Josh's Pokémon perked up, particularly Aslan and Blinky, at his offer to teach more advanced techniques to them. Even Saber was smiling.
Josh tried to get a word in edgewise as Makoto went on about loving fire-types. When they were finally done, he waited a few seconds before saying, "I like fire-types too. Fire, electric, flying, and dragon types here. They're the most common racing types. Don't sell yourself short - most people I teach find the gallop of a Flame Charging Ponyta to be violent. If you can handle that, then I trust you with any of them. Whatever they do, you can handle." He immediately froze, almost completely still until he broke out in laughter with them at the idea of cowboy Sneasel. "Any of them" included Blinky, who was very dangerous for a new rider - even a talented new rider.
"If you're more comfortable with trying out a few advanced things, I can show you some. Flame Charge was one of them." At that mention, Aslan and Blinky became beady-eyed, particularly the Electric-type. The only one of his Pokémon that maintained a neutral expression was Twilight, but she was probably excited too.
As Josh commented on their balance, and the possibility of learning more advanced tricks, Makoto smiled gently and nodded. "That sounds like a wonderful idea; and the day is still young, anyhow." They'd muse out loud - adding with a chuckle "May as well make the most of it, before you have to go take care of that Gym appointment!" If they were honest though, they hadn't expected their balance to be quite that good, anyhow! After having been idle for so long, Makoto would've thought that they've grown rusty; but they supposed that the body still remembered all those stunts that they used to pull, a long time ago.
As Josh mentioned the different types that he liked though, Makoto would nod in understanding; a curious look to their expression. "Speaking of which... Dragons are quite the majestic darlings; though I hear that they're quite rare, here in Arciel. I don't believe I've asked this yet - correct me if I already have - though how did you come to meet Resheph?" They questioned, before adding "And on another note, how has she been handling her evolution? I imagine that it must be a comfortable change for her, given how similar Dratini and Dragonair are in shape and locomotion - though I know some pokemon can get thrown off by even the littlest changes from evolving."
And the talk of a Flame Charging Ponyta's galloping to be too violent... Makoto chuckled sheepishly, mentioning "It was almost too much for me, I do admit; though the excitement of it all was such a breath of fresh air for me. I've spent the past few years living a comfortable, calm, and - dare I say - somewhat dull life; though before that, when I was younger, I used to be a bit of a daredevil." The thrills of staying one step ahead of the law, of a heist gone perfect - though Makoto had grown rusty, they still felt the siren's call of that excitement, it seemed.
And with that being said, was the talk of trying out more advanced things; Makoto nodding in response. "I'd love to give it a shot, darling." Makoto agreed, glancing over the other pokemon. Ah, so many options - Makoto could hardly pick one! "Who would you suggest for me to try out next?" They asked, glancing back to Josh once more.
Josh couldn't believe how eager Makoto was to learn more advanced tricks. Nothing else that he could teach them would be at all beginner friendly. Quick turns that could wrench them from the saddle if caught off guard, strong jumps, and various techniques that helped Josh race better. "I just gotta warn you, some of these might be a bit dangerous for a newer rider. If you're confident, though, I won't tell you no." He genuinely looked worried, particularly after they mentioned the Flame Charge was almost too much. "Ixion's a quick one, that's for sure."
When Makoto went on about Resheph, Josh tried to answer a couple of times, but it seemed like they had rapid-fire questions ready for him. "Heh, that's quite a bit! Alright, it's a bit of a long story. I got Resheph from a breeder. As a racer, it's best to hatch Pokémon bred for racing instead of trying to catch and raise one. That way, you can assure that your mount is conditioned and bred exactly the way you want it. It can get really expensive, though, but if you want to make it into the Platinum League, it's absolutely necessary. That's where the pros race, and where the big money is."
That was enough meandering, though - back on topic. "Anyway, you are right - I did a little bit of research. Wild dragon Pokémon are confined to a cave far south of here called the Dragon's Den. It's rather dangerous, restricted to highly talented trainers, and you need a permit to even go there. I meet all the requirements...just need to fill out the paperwork. Oh, Resheph is a Dragonair now. I can even show you!"
After some fiddling with his mobile device, Josh recalled Ixion and sent her back to storage, swapping her out for the newly-evolved Dragonair, who had yet to have been fitted with gear. That would come after the Gym battle. While she was too big to hang from Josh's shoulders, she still showed all kinds of affection toward him, her head floating near his. "She's really big now - she could probably swim and fly with both of us!"
When asked for a suggestion, Josh frowned for a bit - he didn't want to have to make that decision. Blinky was absolutely out of the question - no amount of beady-eyed expression would get him to change his mind. "Sorry, I don't think it would be safe for them to try to control you. You're just too fast." Considering she could sprint faster than a speeding Bullet Seed, it was for the best. He turned back to Makoto. "How about Aslan?" Upon his name being called, the excited big cat ran toward Makoto at a good clip, stopping right in front of them and nuzzling them with his red fur. It wasn't hot, but it might be uncomfortably warm depending on their heat tolerance. "While he's not as fast as Ixion, he can pull some wicked curves."
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