[Marley Hyde]

Marley's Team
- Alley
- Ironton
- Janus
- Grendal
- Esquire
- Moni

It had been too long since Marley had travelled. He needed to get a move on. Besides, he had heard there were plenty of interesting sites in this area. Ruins, a volcano, Marley wanted to see it all!

Marley strode down the path, his Zorua Alley walking alongside him. Marley had decided to bring some of his more weaker team members this time, get some good training done for them. After all, a good trainer needed a good variety of strong pokemon, and Marley was determined to be the best in Arciel. He took a deep breath, breathing in that sweet, fresh air, as the pair continued their travels.

[Shalin Nariya]

Ah, the backdrop of Grumble Volcano. It had been quite some time since Shalin had gone mountain climbing. This time, though, Shalin had a few flying (or hovering) Pokémon to help with the rougher terrain. As a small puff of smoke rose from the distant mountain, she wondered how the Combusken, Larvesta, and Carkol from her adventure before were doing. She would need to check back in with them in the winter, particularly after training with so many fire Pokémon earlier in the year. Her heat tolerance had to have improved, especially with her episode with the now fully-grown Sol.

Once she was a quarter-mile away from Ash City's north gate, she called on Queen Zing's help again - after all, she was running out of time where it would be warm enough for the bug-type this year. She gently stroked the giant's feelers before climbing aboard, her partner beading back in approval before allowing the crazy girl to climb aboard.

After putting both her earplugs in, she firmly grasped the yellow and black Pokémon's exoskeleton, the Beedrill cleared for takeoff. Her skin started tingling the moment Queen Zing leaped into the air, her wings flapping too fast for the eye to see. The two bobbed up and down, flying north up the mountain at a clip far faster than walking. A couple miles in, she caught sight of a traveler. She pulled back gently on her insect mount, the Beedrill now keeping pace with him as they swooped alongside. The crazy rider waved frantically, trying to get the young man's attention...though it probably wasn't necessary - Queen Zing was probably doing that just fine merely flying by.

---

Marley Hyde

NAME          SPECIES       LV    EP   STATUS
Flit          Yanmega        48     7      Good
Prance        Stantler       38     5      Good
Caprice       Ninetales      49     5      Good
Kiku          Skuntank       45     5      Good
Serena        Persian        40     5      Good
Queen Zing    Beedrill       32     5      Good

{WC: 280}
{PC: 1}

[Marley Hyde]

When you're travelling in this great big world of pokemon, one can expect to run into many unusual things. It was really up to the point that the strange and unusual were almost considered normal. However, there still manage to be times when something catches your attention that still makes you go, 'huh, that's wierd'.

In this case, it was when Marley heard a strange buzzing coming towards them. The eyepatch wearing Galarian paused, looking over just in time to see a huge beedrill of all things suddenly swooped down alongside him. "Holy bloody hell!" he yelped out, jumping back. Alley immediately put herself between the insect and her trainer. Gotta give it to her. She was small, but plucky.

Then they noticed the trainer riding on it's back, waving at them. It took Marley a second or two to recognize her as well. They had met before, during that encounter with the pokemon poacher. "Oh, hey! It's you!" he gave a small smile, "Fancy seein' you up here. How are ye doin'?"

Shalin Nariya

[Shalin Nariya]

Upon seeing the Zorua position herself between Marley and the duo, Queen Zing likewise going on the defensive. The moment Shalin felt her weight shift forward from her ride's rear sting being raised, she let out a loud shout, "STOP!"

At her trainer's request, the Beedrill relaxed, eventually landing and resting her wings. Now that they were visible to the untrained eye, it was evident they were enormous - she could probably uproot some small grasses with them if she tried! Shalin gently pat her Pokémon's head, then took one of her earplugs out before greeting the young man.

"Oh, it's you! I recognize your face, but I can't put my tongue on your name. I'm so bad with names! Was it...Marley?" Whether he would confirm it or not, she continued on, smiling. "Sorry I couldn't hear you - I need to have my ear protection in when flying on Queen Zing here. It's so fun, but...it's a bit hard to hear anything when you're sitting feet away from her wings. If you were saying something, I didn't hear it."

If Marley was kind enough to repeat himself, Shalin would share some of her more recent goings-on, with exception of her adventures in the Sequoia Forest. No one needed to know she was the source of Arciel's Ultra Beast crisis except her and maybe the Rangers' Guild. "I've heard there's a cave on the other side of the mountain that has some strange properties...like it's completely silent in there. I kind of want to check it out! Oh, remember Flit? He's all grown up now if you want to see him!" As if excited to do so regardless of the boy's answer, she reached for her Yanmega's Poké Ball and held it in her right hand. Queen Zing's head bobbed back and forth, the bug-type otherwise completely still.

---

Marley Hyde

NAME          SPECIES       LV    EP   STATUS
Flit          Yanmega        48     7      Good
Prance        Stantler       38     5      Good
Caprice       Ninetales      49     5      Good
Kiku          Skuntank       45     5      Good
Serena        Persian        40     5      Good
Queen Zing    Beedrill       32     5      Good


{WC: 310}
{PC: 2}

[Marley Hyde]

For a second there, Marley was afraid there was going to be a fight on their hands. Thankfully, Shalin managed to stop her beedrill from doing anything, and things calmed down quickly enough. It was good to see she recognized him as well. Now that Marley thought about it, he hadn't really spoken with a lot of other trainers since he started this journey, hadn't he? Kind of lonely really, when Marley thought about it.

When Shalin mentioned a silent cave, that certainly got Msrley's interest. He hadn't heard of that one around here. "I knew about the volcano and the ruins, but nothin' about a silent cave. Sounds like fun." He gave her a friendly smile. "Glad to see yer pokemon's doin' well. I've been 'ard at work 'meself. Even got me first gym badge!" he grinned, pulling out the Bass Gym badge for her to see. Even after all this time, he was still proud of it.

Shalin Nariya

[Shalin Nariya]

Shalin decided to bring Flit out of his Poké Ball anyway, pointing her right index finger straight up afterward. The Yanmega crawled alongside Queen Zing while stretching his long wings that spanned nine feet. Like the Beedrill, this giant bug was also tacked up as lightly as possible to minimize the load of the gear itself. When Marley mentioned he had a Gym Badge, Shalin applauded. "I've heard the Gyms here are really tough...way tougher than the ones back in Johto, for sure." The girl tilted her head various ways to see how sunlight reflected off the Badge from various angles. "And to think you have to get eight to make it to the Arciel League's main event...thankfully they don't make you get all eight in the same year!"

When Marley expressed interest in the cave, Shalin's smile grew. "We can scout it out together if you want!" She pulled out a second set of earplugs and gestured toward him. "Flit and Queen Zing here can get us there in a hurry. Want to go flying?" She conveniently left out the part where her Beedrill couldn't actually fly too high off the ground, unlike Flit, who was more adept at gaining altitude. They were both still fast, though, and a real thrill to fly on!

---

Marley Hyde

NAME          SPECIES       LV    EP   STATUS
Flit          Yanmega        48     7      Good
Prance        Stantler       38     5      Good
Caprice       Ninetales      49     5      Good
Kiku          Skuntank       45     5      Good
Serena        Persian        40     5      Good
Queen Zing    Beedrill       32     5      Good

{WC: 217}
{PC: 3}

[Marley Hyde]

Marley worked an eyebrow in interest. Flying on the back of a beedrill? Well, he had ridden on pokemon before. Dodo, Steelix, Lapras, but not on another that can fly. Certainly something to try out.

"Ya know what? Why the hell not? Ya only live once!" He looked down at Alley, "Climb on up girl, we're goin' for a ride!" Alley seemed a little unsure, but she trusted her trainer. Shy climbed up Marley's arm, securely resting herself on his shoulders. Making sure she couldn't fall off, Marley moved to climb onto the beedrill, keeping care about the stingers of course.

"Alrighty then, let's ride!"

[whimsae]

Marley Hyde

A wild Numel has appeared!

What will you do?

	Numel Lv28
		5 Energy
	Average	Jolly
	Oblivious
MOVES
Earth Power, Lava Plume, Amnesia, Magnitude
NOTES
N/A

Shalin Nariya

A wild Excadrill has appeared!

What will you do?

	Excadrill Lv44
		5 Energy
	Average	Quirky
	Sand Force
MOVES
Swords Dance, Dig, Crush Claw, Rock Slide
NOTES
N/A

[Shalin Nariya]

Shalin's facial expression turned to one of surprise for a few seconds before resuming her smile that grew to a grin. "Now I remember why we worked so well together bringing that poacher to justice," Shalin half-mumbled through her smile. "Though there is one thing," she resumed her normal voice. "Queen Zing is strong, but she's not strong enough to carry both of us. She'd strain her wings trying to do that!" She slid off the yellow, deadly insect, skipping toward Flit and aboard the slightly larger bug.

The crazy female would peer toward the side of Marley's head, making sure he put in the extra pair of earplugs before takeoff - after all, she wouldn't want him going deaf! If not, she would remind him of it. Once she had put her own earplugs back in, Shalin waved forward with her left arm twice before putting both hands on Flit's exoskeleton.

The two big insects stretched their wings for a couple seconds before resonating, low and loud hums filled the air around them building up speed. Queen Zing's wings disappeared from sight when the two leaped into the air, the Beedrill flying a little lower than Flit was. Though it wasn't uprooted completely, the grass directly underneath the flying bug-types was blowing parallel to the ground. The vibration from both the bugs taking off resonated underground, too, attracting the attention of an Excadrill. The wild burrowed completely out of the ground, but by the time it could see the source of the racket, the two were far enough away that it wouldn't be worth the effort of chasing them down.

Her skin already tingling from how much the Yanmega was shaking already, the adrenaline started to pump within. While Queen Zing probably wasn't shaking nearly as much, it would probably take a little getting used to for someone inexperienced. Shalin let out a joyous whoop as Flit and Queen Zing slowly gained altitude on the trail to the volcano. For the most part, she didn't bother holding the green dragonfly's reins, letting him take his own path as long as it was in the general direction of the volcano.

---

Marley Hyde

NAME          SPECIES       LV    EP   STATUS
Flit          Yanmega        48     7      Good
Prance        Stantler       38     5      Good
Caprice       Ninetales      49     5      Good
Kiku          Skuntank       45     5      Good
Serena        Persian        40     5      Good
Queen Zing    Beedrill       32     5      Good

{WC: 359}
{PC: 4}

[Marley Hyde]

Marley could safely say that riding atop of a Beedrill was an interesting experience. When riding Janus or Ironton, you got used to their bodies moving around. But with a Beedrill? Their body was constantly vibrating, and it was a little difficult to hold on without interfering with the buzzing wings in front of him. Good thing they weren't that high off of the ground. That way if Marley fell, it wouldn't hurt as much.

As they flew along, Marley thought he caught sight of something. A Numel? Well, before Marley could say anything, they had already flown post it. Oh well. Marley kept a proper eye out, incase he spotted anything else.

[whimsae]

Shalin Nariya

A wild Hariyama has appeared!

What will you do?

	Hariyama Lv46
		5 Energy
	Average	Timid
	Guts
MOVES
Close Combat, Smelling Salts, Seismic Toss, Wake-Up Slap
NOTES
N/A

A wild Kangaskhan has appeared!

What will you do?

	Kangaskhan Lv48
		5 Energy
	Large	Naughty
	Early Bird
MOVES
Sucker Punch, Double Hit, Endure, Outrage
NOTES
N/A

Marley Hyde

A wild Falinks has appeared!

What will you do?

	Falinks Lv24
		5 Energy
	Large	Serious
	Battle Armor
MOVES
Bulk Up, Headbutt, Focus Energy, Protect
NOTES
N/A

[Shalin Nariya]

The grass beneath the two bug-types gave way to rougher, rockier terrain. Though they no longer left a trail of displaced foliage behind them, the green and yellow Pokémon did fling small rocks off the side of the mountain trail like projectiles discharged from a firearm. The two were moving up the mountain much faster than even most common land Pokémon mounts could travel, zooming past a Hariyama and Kangaskhan that dove for cover when the loudly-buzzing insects passed over them.

Queen Zing sensed Marley was having a bit of a difficult time holding on - unsurprising, given he was sitting between her wings beating too fast for the eye to see. In an attempt to let him get used to the flight, she slowed her wings to the point where they were (barely) visible again, coasting on her momentum while flapping them just fast enough to stay aloft.

Flit and Queen Zing bobbed their riders up and down after passing the wilds, the Yanmega keeping pace with the Beedrill as she slowed down a little bit. No surprise - forest-habitat bug-types weren't as acclimated to the thinner mountain air. Flit didn't seem to be having the same problems, but she kept an eye on the yellow Pokémon. They might have to switch to hardier Pokémon if they gained too much more elevation...

---

Marley Hyde

NAME          SPECIES       LV    EP   STATUS
Flit          Yanmega        48     7      Good
Prance        Stantler       38     5      Good
Caprice       Ninetales      49     5      Good
Kiku          Skuntank       45     5      Good
Serena        Persian        40     5      Good
Queen Zing    Beedrill       32     5      Good

{WC: 225}
{PC: 5}

[Marley Hyde]

Marley kept his eye open, looking around for anything of interest as they went up the mountainous path. Surely there had to be some interesting pokemon here, and being a trainer was all about catching pokemon.

And then he saw something. Something that caused him to gasped loudly. "Stop the beedrill! Stop the beedrill right now!" He didn't wait before leaping off of the large insect.

Five pair of eyes, belonging to the five little bodies of a Falinks looked back at him. Marley grinned. "Ohoho, F&$# the hell yes!" he said, reaching for a pokeball, "I definitely need you! Come on out Janus!"

There was a flash of light, and the dodou appeared. The Falinks, instantly sensing a fight, bulked itself up. Marley chuckled. "Janus! Peck!"

The two headed bird squawked and lunged, pecking two of the five little critters. The other two responded by slamming into the bird, a headbutt. "Come on mate, you can do this!" Marley encouraged. The Doduo drew back and let out the avian equivalent of a roar of fury.

Janus, in his rage, dove at the Falinks. What followed was a dust cloud brawl as five little critters brawled with a raging two headed bird. Suddenly, one of the Falinks, the leader, came flying out.

Marley grinned, pulling out an ultra ball. "Alright ya beauty, get in the ball!" he crowed, throwing the ultra ball.

[Capture attempt with Ultra Ball]

6hZhrOe7

[Jenesis]

Marley Hyde

Go, PokeBall!

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

JCCqHQmDp_


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

[Shalin Nariya]

Thankfully for Marley, the yellow Pokémon was keen on obeying orders - when asked to stop, she slowed to a speed where the guest rider could safely jump off and not be thrown to the ground by momentum alone. She hovered around the combatants, on standby in case Marley and his Pokémon got overwhelmed by the Falinks. Flit and Shalin maintained a good distance from the action, the Yanmega content to exert as little energy as possible to maintain a hover. Being able to see the giant bug's individual wingbeats was so weird to her as the two turned around to see how far they had come.

These insects were predators for a reason - they had covered a lot of ground in such a short time. Their distance up the trail left her with quite the view. Ash City was now just a speck on the horizon, but still visible. She could see for miles and miles down the trail - it looked quite different in the summer and fall months than in the dead of winter!

The loud "pop" of a Poké Ball was Shalin's clue that Marley's battle was over. Flit zigged and zagged next to Queen Zing and Marley before landing and resting his wings. "Nice c-catch!" Shalin said to Marley, taking out one of her earplugs while both the bug-types were resting. Her voice was still a little stutter-y from Flit's nearly constant shaking. "I've never seen that Pokémon before! What are those?"

After getting an answer, both the bugs buzzed their wings for a split second, Shalin flinching from being exposed to the intense sound. "We're getting up there in elevation. Flit and Queen Zing say they can handle a little more, but the air is getting thin enough that we'll have to switch to slower land Pokémon soon."

---

Marley Hyde

NAME          SPECIES       LV    EP   STATUS
Flit          Yanmega        48     7      Good
Prance        Stantler       38     5      Good
Caprice       Ninetales      49     5      Good
Kiku          Skuntank       45     5      Good
Serena        Persian        40     5      Good
Queen Zing    Beedrill       32     5      Good

{WC: 306}
{PC: 6}