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.
The ding of the quick ball echoing in the air had Gabe’s eyes flash wide, menacingly happy. That thing was beautiful! He couldn’t believe he caught it on the first try! That was a lie, those balls were expensive for a reason, but still!! He watched it teleport off to his PC before finally looking back to Clopper who was still panicking.
Clopper stomped and threw her head and cried and stomped again nearly catching Gabe’s feet this time. Gabe was quick seizing her face in both hands and pulling slightly. “Relax,” was the sudden psychically forced order. Clopper froze for a moment, her own eyes fixed on Gabe’s, before slowly she complied, settling again as she would.
Gabe sighed softly as he released Clopper’s face, slowly patting her maw and leaf mane instead. “You’re fine. It’s gone. Calm down….” Gabe went on a little softer, more encouraging now. Clopper sighed just as softly and deflated some. It was only after this that Gabe turned his attention back to Naoki again. Oh, they were making a friend apparently— though with the Kangaskhan popping out again, that seemed a little questionable.
The Kangaskhan seemed to have considered the offer to be captured, as she put the flat of her paw against the pokeball and allowed herself and her little one to be taken in with a flash of white light. The ball twitched twice, but then--
Pop!
Naoki blinked rapidly as the ball split right in two, and another flash of white burst out and left the Kangaskhan sitting right where she'd been moments ago, looking confused. She didn't seem to understand what had happened either. Huh. Was the ball faulty? It was a fairly cheap ball--they didn't have a lot of money to spend on stronger pokeballs when they were saving up for their own plot of land--so maybe it just wasn't working right. Not that they'd ever know for sure, given, well, it had kind of broken. Very badly.
H-A-H H-A-H. Onsei's "voice" cut through Naoki's confusion and they shot a small frown up in his direction. So helpful. But if he was going to be snide about it, then, well...
<<Ask her if she wants to battle.>> Their hands moved quickly, and Onsei stopped his beeping-laughter immediately to stare at his trainer in surprise. Wha--they couldn't be serious! This Kangaskhan was clearly several levels higher than he was! What could he do to her, even if she was up for a battle?? Naoki kept staring at him, hands moving in a quick sort of way that might have been read as a sharper "tone". <<I can have you and Kashi double-team her if she's up for it. Come on, it will be more legitimate!>>
Onsei let out a low string of beeps, the words behind them not appropriate for small, infant Kangaskhan ears. All the same he relayed his trainer's questions to the other Pokemon. She tilted her head, considering, again, before nodding and sliding her little one into the pouch on her stomach. It gave a little cheer of excitement, and Naoki's lips curled into a much brighter smile. This was great! They reached up and plucked the still slightly asleep Appletun from atop their head and set her on the ground in front of them. Kashi grumbled, eyes drawing up to look over her opponent properly...wow, they were, like, six feet taller than her. Whoa. Onsei took a spot above the little pastry-dragon.
I D-O N-O-T A-P-P-R-O-V-E.
<<You'll do fine.>> Naoki snickered softly, and then snapped their left hand four times.
Kashi was first to act. Shaking her little body, a faint, golden-brown mist pooled around her body before blowing towards the Kangaskhan; the sweet scent of it making her ever so slightly groggier, shaking her head. Naoki gave another snap from their right hand, once, and Onsei placed their hands in front of their body. A series of bright lights in rings went flying through the air, striking the Kangaskhan. Already groggy, and now swaying in confusion she stumbled when she tried to move forward, harming her foot in the process. Naoki winced just a little. <<Sorry,>> they bowed their head, then brought their hand up to "pinch" the air besides their cheek. <<We aren't a very fair team.>>
Another three snaps with the left hand, and Kashi took a sudden running leap toward the dizzied Kangaskhan. Although their heights were very different, the larger Pokemon was on her knees, giving Kashi a chance to drive a headbutt right into her chin. Two snaps on the right hand, and Onsei let out a series of small mechanical growling sounds, weakening the Kangaskhan's attack. She hurt herself again in confusion. This felt so very, very unfair--like a death of a thousand cuts--but when one was so much weaker...
Well, you have to make do, right?
After they felt the Kangaskhan was weakened enough, Naoki tossed another ball out.
Gabe watched as Naoki decided to battle the Kangaskhan this time. Seems like they really want it… Not that he could blame them. Kangaskhan knew a lot of powerful moves from what he remembered. As the Pokeball was thrown and this time succeeded in capturing the Pokemon, Gabe smirked a little. Not bad. His attention flicked back to Clopper again. She’d calmed down significantly but still seemed a little shaky. Fishing out her Pokeball, he returned her for now. Maybe once they got further away from this area, he could let her out again without too much worry.
Shifting to make a quick text on the phone, he then held it out to Naoki. [Nice catch.]
Naoki beamed, rushing the few feet over to pick up the ball from its place in the grass, and slid it into his pack alongside Tenma's. Two Pokemon caught on one venture and they hadn't even strayed from the path. This was pretty good luck, wasn't it? Kashi, done with her little battle, pawed her way up to rub her nose against their boot. Naoki chuckled and bent over to pick her up and place her back on his shoulder rather than their hair. She was tiny, but not so tiny that her weight didn't strain their neck after a long while. Onsei floated back up and away from the action--and the approaching Gabe--to return to his disinterested observations of the human psychic and his trainer.
They turned around to read the message. Naoki nodded, smiling, and typed in a reply on their own phone. [ Thanks! I think the first ball was faulty. Shame on me for buying cheaper pokeballs, I guess? ] They shrugged their shoulders. Then, curiosity gleaming in their eyes, they pointed at a spot on the path where scorch marks still smoldered in the soil, then back to Gabe again, brows raised. The silent question didn't need typing.
<<You caught that thing?>> Naoki typed out the follow-up. [ What even was that? o_o ]
Gabe Alim @mods WC: 235 Gabe's growing collection of killer Fire-types. (11/15)
First ball was faulty… Huh, well that was a first, but he supposed Pokeball factories had missteps too. Gabe shrugged back. His gaze flicked with the index point and trailed along the scorched soil and back again. Ah, yeah the…. Massive fire snake thing. Naoki’s thoughts didn’t even need to be typed out then. They were practically pushing up against Gabe’s mind anyways: What was that.
Gabe only grinned and shrugged his shoulders. Flipping up his phon, he quickly typed back. [No idea! It looked awesome though.] And most definitely a Fire type he loved. He’d have to look into it more later. Gabe laughed at that before a particularly endeared look settled on his face.
He looked so happy to have caught that whatever-the-heck-a-mon, Naoki could almost forgive that it had been a giant flaming bug. [ Was that what made your Gogoat panic? I guess a lot of things are coming down from the volcano today. ] If they were a trainer they could have looked at it with a pokedex but, well, that had never been their priority. They would need to look it up later when they weren't using their phone to communicate. [ So... ^-^;; Do you mind if I ask anything about the whole telepathy thing? Onsei has been working on his, but it won't be perfect until he evolves, I think? ] They pointed up at the floating Elgyem above their head. [ At least that's what he's told me. IDK if it's true. ]
W-H-Y W-O-U-L-D I L-I-E ? The images of letters went through Naoki's head--and, on purpose or not, probably Gabe's as well. Naoki smiled wryly up at his Pokemon. [ :P ]
[ If you don't I understand? I 100% understand not wanting to talk about something like that with a total stranger. Which way were you heading? Before the crash. <w<; ]
Gabe Alim @mods WC: 206 So...come here often? Catch weird fire-bugs? (12/15)
A soft sigh escaped from Gabe as he read the text, and a nod was given right after. If he had to guess, that was what caused Clopper to panic as she had. The mention of the volcano, however, had his eyes shining briefly. If just that was coming around now, he could only imagine what other powerful Fire types were around up there. His head turned, and his eyes flicked up the volcano for a moment. Yeah….
Oh, phone in face again. The question had him biting the inside of his mouth again. Yellow eyes flicked to the Elgyem and back again to Naoki. Elgyem were…. weird and kind of creepy, but they were some of the few natural telepaths. A natural extension for someone who didn’t speak… Gabe took in a breath. It’s only going to get easier with practice. Those had been Harriet’s words to him for weeks now.
Taking a moment, Gabe reached for that power again— a smaller amount this time, his focus specifically on Naoki. If he could just keep a little trickle then— Oh fuck me. It broke free again, and suddenly his head was swimming with thoughts. Gabe closed one eye and concentrated on Naoki…. As best he could. ‘… Can you hear me now?’
Instead of getting another typed response, Naoki watched Gabe wince and frowned a little. Was he trying to do the psychic thing again? Was that going to hurt him? They didn't want him to get hurt just because they'd asked about it but...it wasn't like they were forcing him to do anything he didn't want to do, right? Right. Naoki swallowed and waited, and sure enough, the clear "sound" of Gabe's voice came through their mind like their own thoughts--but not quite. It was hard to explain it. It still made their chest ache.
Yeah, loud and clear, Naoki tried to "think" quietly, but they had no real idea what "quiet" sounded like. They weren't even sure they were thinking in the same...language? After all how would they even know what Gabe was saying, having never learned what sounds letters made to piece into words? Urgh, chest ache was becoming a headache just trying to piece that together. Naoki smiled softly. This isn't hurting you, is it...?
And...weird thought--what do I "sound" like to you? I'm not sure if you're "sound" to me.
Gabe Alim @mods WC: 205 It's like you read my mind.
A breath drew in and out of Gabe, and a small, forced laugh escaped right after. He registered the thoughts of Naoki and their numerous Pokemon, but at least Clopper’s fears weren’t drilling through his skull right then. Was it hurting him? ‘No pain no gain….’ He projected back reaching up to rub his temples. ‘It helps when there’s less noise around.’ Noise… being thoughts.
The question thereafter had Gabe pausing. What did he sound like? Er— what did they sound like? A low hum escaped from Gabe, and he shrugged his shoulders. ‘Medium pitch….. kind of like a little kid.’ He smirked just a little at that teasingly.
Onsei from above tilted his head, listening to the projected thoughts with a critical ear. Curious. It sounded different than Naoki's--though that was a given--but not just in "sound". There was a push to it. He didn't need to seek out the thoughts, they came to him instead. How interesting. He hadn't had another to communicate with like this since he'd become part of Naoki's team. But given the pain Gabe was feeling...maybe that was a good thing. He didn't need headaches--not with his head being most of his body.
Y-O-U H-A-V-E A W-E-I-R-D I-D-E-A O-F- "G-A-I-N", H-U-M-A-N.
Naoki frowned at Onsei again, but also at the admittance that this was causing Gabe some pain. How much they didn't know but...they still didn't like it. Don't strain yourself, please. I don't think I'm worth it. Naoki blinked at the next string of thought to come to them. Blinked, then blushed a deep scarlet color. What--but I'm not--I'm twenty-six! Why would I sound like a child?? They raised a hand to try to hide their face, but the pale skin of their hands only made their red cheeks stand out more. Onsei just let out a peal of beep-laughs from above them. H-A-H H-A-H. Urgh, he was the worst today...!
That's so embarrassing...I could have gone my whole life without knowing that... Their thoughts were weakened by the laughter they felt bubbling in their chest. Little anxious, awkward chuckles that they couldn't hear either. Did their voice sound like that, too? Or did it sound different? No, nope, they didn't need to know that either. Not right now.
The Elgyem’s thoughts had Gabe glancing sideways at him, and a small smirkish smile pulled at the corners of his mouth. ‘Says the one who uses waiting for evolution as an excuse to project thoughts like that’he answered, focusing his power solely on the psychic then. Did he really need to be sassing someone else’s Pokemon? Especially with that headache in the back of his mind balling up and ready burst? Heh, ah well.
Naoki’s thoughts cut in, though, and Gabe’s eyes flicked forward to them again. His lips quirked a little at the insistence that it wasn’t worth it. Tell that to Harriet… He kept those thoughts to himself, though. Instead, he only chuckled at Naoki’s sudden onslaught of thoughts regarding his comment. ‘You’re the one who asked….’ he reminded them.
Somehow despite not having a mouth, Onsei managed to make a extended beep that might have been a "scoff"? Or Gabe might have been reading it as a scoff. Either or.
I S-P-E-A-K I-N T-E-X-T. I-T-S E-A-S-I-E-R T-H-A-N P-R-O-J-E-C-T-I-N-G S-I-G-N-S.
Completely unaware of the short exchange between the two natural psychics, Naoki had their hands still up over their face, still trying to smother their blush and their laughter. Darn it. He was right. But why did he have to be? Alas, I'm betrayed by my own curiosity...is this why they say it kills cats? Extreme embarrassment? Another small noise of amusement-slash-awkwardness before lowering their hands to hold onto the straps of their pack, slight but still bright smile on their face. Under the red cheeks. Bah. It's weird, because when I think, I'm thinking in, like, you know...signs? Kind of? Or at least the general action or words behind the signs. You're the first time I think I've heard a voice, if this is what this is? I don't even know how I'd explain it, it's too abstract.
It's still utterly amazing, don't get me wrong. Even if I'm mortified over my brain-voice.
A small rustling of bushes--not nearly so hectic as before--passed by Naoki unnoticed, but the pair of Pokemon scuttling by were spotted in their peripheral vision. The Nidoran was quite large, but the Paras...hmm, the mushrooms that grew on the back of a Paras--and its evolutionary form Parasect--had so many uses, both for medicine and potion making. Naoki was curious to see what they might be able to make with them. Tapping their shoulder they got Kashi's attention again, who gnawed gently on their finger in faint protest before hopping down onto the ground below. Naoki gave a quick three snaps with their hand, and forward she charged, headbutting into the completely unsuspecting Paras. It made a confused "raaaaaa??" noise and turned on Kashi to land a pincer into her sweet, pastry-shaped "flesh", but all that did was make her madder. Another four snaps and she headbutted once more, knocking the Paras onto its back and leaving it wriggling with its legs in the air. Naoki tossed out a pokeball.
The Nidoran who had been watching the whole time apparently took offense to her friend being caught, and rushed to scratch at Kashi as well. Her hit was a bit stronger than the Paras and set Kashi back a few paces, growling in pain. Naoki frowned a little. They didn't need a Nidoran, but they didn't want to leave her angry if the Paras had been a friend, so was it only right to catch her as well? Onsei, they glanced up at the Elgyem, Try to confuse her, and I'll get her as well. Onsei shrugged his little shoulders and shot a ball of light in the direction of the Nidoran. The damage was hard and sudden, and the poor Nidoran almost went down from it. Oh. Right. Psychic was strong against Poison.
Oops. Naoki winced, tossing a second ball at the Nidoran, Didn't mean to hit it so hard...
Gabe Alim @mods WC: 540 I actually forgot, too, about Psychic v. Poison. (15/15) Cleared!
Gabe snickered. As much fun as he was having antagonizing the psychic alien, he knew better than to keep going. They shared some traits, but that didn’t mean one wasn’t significantly more powerful— that not being Gabe in this case.
Instead, he found himself listening into Naoki’s embarrassment which was significantly funnier and with less risk in this case. At the more philosophical questions, Gabe shrugged his shoulders. ‘I find I can learn languages faster by reading someone’s mind than hearing them speak…’ he noted thinking of one such Kalosian right then. ‘Might be something like that.’
‘Is that so, human?’Gabe went rigid as a different mind spoke clearly, succinctly, sharply, into his own. His eyes flashed backwards and upwards to find a Delphox sitting cross legged in a tree. Had she been there before? Surely not. His eyes pulled back to Naoki again, but the latter seemed to be dealing with or potentially catching a few smaller Pokemon. Yellow eyes flickered back to the Delphox again.
‘Attracted to my natural psychic prowess?’he asked. The Delphox rolled her eyes even if yes the sheer density of psychic energy in the area had drawn her there in the first place. Gabe, however, couldn’t help but be interested in yet another psychic fire type. ‘I have one of your type already…’he commented.
‘My Type?’The Delphox tilted her head to one side even as Gabe reached up and released a Pokeball showing Merli the Delphox almost immediately after. On seeing her, though, Merli almost immediately blushed— immediately causing the other Delphox to blush as well. ‘Ah… well… hi….’
That was.... not exactly what Gabe was expecting, but hell he'd roll with it, he guessed. ‘Gabeeeeee what are you doing?’Merli whipped around to look him in the eyes and frown. Gabe just grinned a little harder tan he had before. ‘I swear to Lord Arceus you need to stop trying to set me up I know I’m…’
She couldn’t say it, so Gabe did. ‘Sorry I forgot you were a useless lesbian?’Merli glared at him, and Gabe snickered.
‘GABE!'
‘Hey how about you two battle and see where it goes, hm?'Merli looked back at Gabe with utter protest until:
‘I wouldn’t mind a battle…’the wild Delphox answered, and Merli blushed.
‘Heh…. Good… Merli… Shadow Ball…’Merli was not pleased with this order, but thinking about things in terms of a battle did help… kind of….The Ghostly energy ball went shooting out of her wand and towards the other Delphox, but the latter flipped back and dropped down from the branch avoiding the maneuver. The battle was on. Psychic for Psychic, they were equals, but Merli knew Shadow Ball, and that was enough to do some much needed damage. When the Delphox had been hit a couple of times, Gabe threw a Ultra Ball.
Using an Ultra Ball.
Shiny Charm: 1/50 shiny chance Lucky Egg is to whoever is battling EXP Share is on Meowth Party: Charmeleon (Lizbeth, 50, Huge!), Gogoat (Clopper, 44, Average), Delphox (Merli, 43 - > 45, Large), Fletchinder (Fireflight, 20, Huge!), Meowth (Nails, Alolan, 17 -> 18), Jolteon (Pokey, 37, Large)
Naoki quickly moved to gather up the pair of pokeballs with their new friends inside, giving a small nod of apology to the Nidoran's in particular. They had to be more careful with type advantages in the future--sometimes they just forgot how strong Onsei really was, and how many Pokemon were weak to psychic powers. Speaking of psychics...
Oh, wow! A pair of Delphox! Er--Delphi? They slid the pokeballs into their pack and came to stand sort of behind Gabe and watched the action. What was the plural of "Delphox"? Whatever it was, it was amazing the luck that Gabe had when finding new Pokemon. Did he like Fire-types? He'd been so fast to grab that whatever-the-fuck fire-bug that had scared them all (sans Gabe) to bits, and now despite already clearly having a Delphox he was catching another. Maybe he planned on breeding them? Did Delphox have any tell-tale signs of gender dimorphism? None that Naoki knew about.
Once the wild Delphox was caught Naoki waved at the other one, attention returning to Gabe. Onsei, however, floated over the head of the far stronger psychic, once again very curious about her. H-E-L-L-O. He waved a stubby little arm at her. Naoki smiled. That was amazing--is your whole team made up of pretty high-level Pokemon? And, uh, I'm going to guess that you have a type? The Gogoat was the obvious discrepancy, but three out of four Pokemon being Fire-types was still a good guess. What are you going to name them? And...oh! Aren't Delphox natural psychics, too? Hello there if you are.
As the Pokeball dinged in capture, Gabe smirked a little to himself. Too bad he didn’t have enough room in his party and that Pokeball immediately went off to his PC. He would have liked to have seen how Merli dealt with this new Delphox further.
Instead, his attention went to Naoki as their thoughts came to his mind again. A small smirk turned into a toothy, cheesy grin thereafter. ‘Fire Types are my specialty,’ he replied. ‘And I do quite a bit of training and traveling.’ For various reasons now, but none of which he wanted to necessarily explain to Naoki right then. The questions continued, though, and his eyes flicked to Merli thereafter.
The Delphox was looking at the Elgyem with a curious but guarded look. She’d never seen anything quite like Onsei, and while she registered him as a Psychic…. There was something off about him??? He felt foreign in a way that she couldn’t put her finger on. ‘Hello…’ she finally answered. At least it was easier to focus now that the other Delphox was captured….
‘I’ll have to think of a name later. I don’t have one for her on the spot,’ Gabe answered looking back at Naoki again. ‘Delphox are natural Psychics and natural Fire types… kind of the best of both aesthetics.’ Gabe chuckled a little and shrugged his shoulders. ‘But …. Lizbeth, my Charmeleon, is my starter Pokemon. I’ve always been drawn to Fire Types after getting her.’ Not technically a lie but not technically the truth either right then. ‘Do you have a favorite Type?’ Was it him, or was this actually getting easier … communication wise? Huh.
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