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 sky was a beautiful blue, hidden only occasionally by the white puffiness that was a cloud. The grass trying to be green, though the occasional bit of snow that had refused to melt thus far formed small piles here and there. The trees held no snow however, adding to the sparse bits of green that scattered Route 2.
All in all, it looked like a pretty nice day out. And Levy had no regrets about her day trip to Cedar as it had provided her with a bunch of relatively cheap fabric. That's what happened when one kept their eye out for sales. Now that fabric was folded and then neatly placed into her bag. So with a custom s'mores frappe in her hand, made with cream and extra chocolate. She had waited, letting it melt partially before taking that first, very chocolatey sip. Levy squealed in delight, an extra bounce in her step as she wandered down the path.
Her Nickit wasn't sticking too close, but also wasn't going too far either. The little guy was easily half the size one would expect of his species. Maybe even smaller than that, but it didn't stop him from enjoying being outside and the freedom it provided. Quite easily he scampered about, sometimes even darting around and in between Levy's legs as she walked like it was a well practiced dance. Levy would look down each time, making sure their timing was just right before Zei was hurrying ahead or falling a little behind. His extra large ears twitching as he caught a sound before sticking close to his human.
But there was a point where he didn't, and while Levy usually wasn't worried she paused when the fox took longer than usual. "What's up Zei?" Levy asked, his blue tipped ears twitching quite rapidly as he listened to something.
Post by Elliot Sunderland on Mar 27, 2020 3:27:36 GMT
What the Nickit may have heard was a high, excited giggle coming from a little bit further down the route. Was it coming from up the nearby hill? In either case, it was warm, youthful, and full of life, as if someone was enjoying the recent snowfall for the first time.
And that's because this was Echo's first time enjoying the snowfall! Elliot had made sure not to leave too soon after the snow had fallen. As much as he loved fresh snowfall, it would've made traveling far more difficult than it needed to be. If he left now, his Pokemon would at least be able to enjoy the last bits of fresh snow before the morning sun finished melting them.
Echo was laying in a small pile of snow, wearing what was left of Elliot's hoodie, which the boy had tailored to better fit her the previous night. She was all smiles and laughs as she made snow angels in the pile, flailing a little bit too fast for them to properly take shape. Murex sat next to another pile, reaching out cautiously with her tongue to poke at the snow. As soon as she felt it she shrank back, recoiling from brain freeze. Joule approached her, gently patting the Shellder's outer shell to try and calm her. She tried to work up a few sparks to help her warm up, but sadly to no avail yet. Oh well.
Elliot just watched as all of this unfolded, a soft smile on his face. "You guys are just too adorable," he said, sighing fondly. "Snow days are pretty rare this time of year, but, hey. All the more reason to enjoy them, right?"
Active Party Echo - Lv 6 Ralts - 5/5 Energy Joule - Lv 9 Dedenne - 5/5 Energy Murex - Lv 6 Shellder - 5/5 Energy
It was indeed what Zei's ears were hearing, the oversized ears swiveling this way and that like satellite dishes. He knew those sounds. Chuckles, giggles and laughter of joy. While it wasn't something that was completely lacking from Levy's life, it was something that Zei knew she could use more of. It never hurt to meet new people, to try and make new friends.
"Zei?" Levy asked, a bit more concerned now until the Nickit looked up at her. "There's my boy. What's got your attention?" Levy asked, lips taking the straw back into her mouth for another sip of the chocolatey, marshmallowy drink.
Zei looked back to the direction of the sounds, yipping softly before he was taking a couple steps forward. Then his head was turning back to Levy and tapping his feet in the direction of the noise. His body language telling Levy everything she needed to know.
"Sure bed, let's go. We still have time to get back home. Let's go for a little detour." There was another sip of her overpriced drink before she was stepping forward. Once again Zei was bounding forwards again. Pausing to get a better listen before adjusting their course. And then they came into view.
A dressed Ralts trying to make a snow angel in the bit of powder that remained. And there was a Dedenne that seemed to be comforting a Shellder? They were all pretty cute. Levy still paused as they came into view, blushing a little and needing to take a deep breath before she was strolling forward. Zei bounded forward much quickly, yipping loudly to announce their arrival and grab the attention of the boy. Finally Zei pounced to a stop, rear end lifted into the air and front end close to the ground as he tail wagged playfully. He oh so wanted to play!
"Zei! That's not very nice!" Levy scolded lightly, hurrying over herself now and frowning a bit at her fox. Then she noticed the trainer. "I'm sorry, I try to bring him outside often but it doesn't quite replace being social with other Pokemon." Levy pouted a little before finally looking up at the boy and waving. "Anyway, hi. I'm Levy, and this is Zei." She offered with a smile.
Post by Elliot Sunderland on Mar 28, 2020 1:12:13 GMT
A bunch of loud yips snapped Elliot out of his reverie. He jumped a little in surprise, looking around for the source. But how could he ever say startled when his eyes fell on the little cutie that caught his attention? He tried not to audibly squeal over the shining grey fox, but he only mostly succeeded. As it jittered impatiently he laughed, leaning over to give the fox a good pit. "Heh, you're an excited little guy, huh?" he asked. "Don't worry, don't worry, I'll play with you. And I bet my team'd love to meet you, too!" The fox was just too energetic, and way too cute! Although something was nagging at the back of his head. Was it just him, or did it look familiar?
The fox's trainer hurried over, and everything made sense.
"No, no, don't worry. He-" Elliot said, only to trail off when he realized just who he was looking at. His eyes widened in shock, and despite opening his mouth a few times no words came out of his mouth. He even gave himself a brief pinch on the hip to confirm he wasn't daydreaming! Upon realizing that no, he wasn't dreaming, Elliot sprung to his feet to properly greet the Nikit's trainer.
Or, at least, he tried! Between the bad leg, the bits of snow still on the ground, and the slight incline he was on, Elliot didn't exactly stick the landing there. As soon as he had seemingly gained his footing, Elliot went tumbling right down the hill. Fortunately, he seemed somewhat prepared for it. After a bit of graceless flailing, he managed to twist himself into a relatively painless configuration. The wind was still getting knocked out of him on each tumble, but it'd be a miracle if he came out of it with anything worse than a few bruises.
Echo, watching as he trainer went tumbling away, decided that this looked incredibly fun. She took a few steps, let out a high pitched war cry, and promptly pounced on poor Murex. The Shellder's eyes widened in shock as her Ralts companion leaped right onto her shell, leaving the two just off balance enough to start sliding down the hill. Echo giggled in delight, holding tight onto Murex's shell as if she were a makeshift sled. The poor thing could only spin in place in response, flicking out its tongue to hold onto Echo tight and prevent her from falling. Upon seeing these shenanigans, Joule let out an alarmed squeak and ran down the hill after them. Occasionally she jumped at the duo, trying to catch them and bring them to a halt, but Murex's aerodynamic body was just too fast for the Dedenne.
Finally, the duo came to a stop next to a very dazed Elliot. Murex's tongue lolled to its side as its eyes swirled from dizziness, while Echo cheered and clapped in her delight. It wasn't long before Joule caught up to them, chattering a lecture that Echo was maybe half paying attention to.
All the while, Elliot just looked up at the sky, groaning lightly as he started to pick himself back up.
Active Party Echo - Lv 6 Ralts - 5/5 Energy Joule - Lv 9 Dedenne - 5/5 Energy Murex - Lv 6 Shellder - 5/5 Energy
He was getting attention, this was a good thing! Only good people petted him first rather than throwing a pokeball at him. Silly humans thought it would work, ha to them! He already had a good trainer! A hum escaped from the little fox, eyes closing halfway as he pressed into the affection. Oh yeah, that was the stuff.
And then Levy was there, and the pets stopped which was a little disappointing. Though the look on the boy's face was worth it, Zei snickering slightly before looking to his very confused trainer.
Was he okay? He sort of just stopped, like game that stuttered and crashed for some unknown reason. His mouth even moving as if to say something though there was an issue with the actual audio of it. Levy kept smiling though, waiting patiently for some sort of action. He definitely seemed shocked, though Levy wasn't totally sure why. Yes she was an idol and a streamer, but the Pixie Nightmare Girl's didn't have the biggest fanbase as of yet. And her reach as a streamer was limited with also a smaller fanbase. It hadn't occurred to her that maybe someone actually recognized her. It would certainly be a first in person.
And of course, disaster struck. Perhaps it was because he jerked too quickly to his feet, or it was the snow. Or maybe something else, but Levy had a feeling it was all of the above. Especially once she saw the result. She gasped, stepping forward in an attempt to grab his arm before he fell. But there was no helping the poor boy as he tumbled down the hill. Levy winced quite visibly, a hand running through the locks of her ponytail. Yeah, this was a disaster...
And Zei was still snickering, the mischievous little fox unable to do anything but laugh at the boy's misfortune. His attention was dragged away though by the Ralts, eyes widening with interest as the Shellder was used as an improvised sled. That actually looked like fun, who cared if the Dedenne didn't think so and ran after them instead of letting them have fun. Amber eyes rolled before he was hopping himself about, trying to find the best place to slide down himself. Grinning once he found a good spot, he leapt. Of course Levy cried out in worry as as the fox belly flopped onto an icy patch, legs splayed as he slid down the hill while spinning. Less noticeably than the Shellder, but still enough. Zei barked out in glee while Levy groaned.
This wasn't going to be the easiest, or most graceful way down. But she still had a drink to consider. The bluenette sighed, tucking some loose hair back behind her ear before more carefully making her way down in little steps. Sometimes her feet began to slide, and she would squeal before her shoes got grip again. Her teeth worried her lip as she made much slower (and much less fun) progress down the hill. Though she let out a very heavy and relieved sigh once she finally reached the bottom.
Zei was chuckling brokenly, almost like he had the hiccups as he found himself a little dizzy and his feet not exactly working with him. The fox ended up flopping onto his back, paws lifted to the air and he continued to giggle.
Levy let out another sigh, this one a bit more exasperated as she waved off the fox's antics. "Are you okay?" She asked, still concerned as she held out her free hand to the boy.
Active Party Zei, Nickit, Lvl 5, 5/5
Last Edit: Mar 28, 2020 4:41:45 GMT by Levy Santos
Post by Elliot Sunderland on Mar 28, 2020 5:00:47 GMT
Elliot's attempts at steadying himself weren't the most fruitful. Full falls could be a little tricky thanks to his bad leg, after all, though with something to grab a hand onto he could usually right himself with no problems. This time that something came from a slender, pale hand being offered to him. Elliot's shock returned as he looked at it, a reminder that the past minute or so hadn't been him tumbling out of a daydream.
"You're EmpressLuci," he said, tone hushed as he looked at her hand. Was he supposed to just take it? The hand of someone cool and popular like that? Considering his alternative was lying on the floor, that seemed to be the case. However, he blushed faintly as he did so, almost as if in disbelief. "Wow. This is just. Okay, wow. Arceus, sorry. It's just . . . you know? I mean. It's like." The poor kid couldn't even finish his sentence. Where words failed him, he instead trailed off into a shy giggle.
The sheer levels of emotional confusion coming from Elliot got Echo audibly groaning. She rolled over on Murex's shell as she did so, the sound at least getting Elliot to snap out of his daze somewhat. He drummed his fingers on the handle of his walking stick, trying to get his head back into the game. "Okay. Okay, yeah, I'm good," he said, half to snap himself out of it and half so Levy would know he wasn't broken. "Sorry, just, didn't expect to just bump into you like that, you know? I . . . I've seen a lot of your streams. Honestly, they're some of my favorites. Could even say I'm part of the Empir- no, no, that's probably lame. But, yeah. The cosplay ones gave me a lot of tips for changing up how I make my own, and the games are really relaxing, too." He smiled shyly, feeling a bit more comfortable now that he remembered how to make words. Even if he got himself cringing over there in the middle.
"My name's Elliot, by the way. It's really nice to meet you." Joule was quick to scamper up Elliot's shoulder, offering a warm smile to the girl. "And this right here's Joule. Echo and Murex are over there, but they can be kinda shy around new people. They'll come around soon, though. I'm sure of it." Sure enough, Murex had closed her shell to hide herself off, and Echo was perched atop of her to watch the newcomers carefully. If she noticed any sudden movements, she'd be hiding right behind Murex for sure!
Active Party Echo - Lv 6 Ralts - 5/5 Energy Joule - Lv 9 Dedenne - 5/5 Energy Murex - Lv 6 Shellder - 5/5 Energy
Just why did the boy look so incredibly shocked? It was almost worrying and Levy was pondering the possibility that he had somehow hit his head on the way down and she needed to call for some help. Though he had also seemed shocked before the fall so she wasn't totally sure what was going on. Then he whispered something, like speaking any louder would break the reality of the situation and it became clear. He knew her streaming alias. So he was either a fan, or someone who just liked her streams and was totally surprised to see her in person. Levy smiled, though she was blushing a little too. She hadn't met a fan before, wasn't someone she thought of really deserving the level of attention that she was currently getting. Nonetheless when the boy finally took her hand she helped get him upright again.
And now they both had something in common, neither really seeming to know what to say and in similar levels of disbelief. Levy couldn't help it, she chuckled a little at the absurdity of it all, though she hid it behind her hand. Levy didn't want to accidentally offend him or anything, but this was just as odd for her as it was for him. Plus, he was giggling too.
"How about you take a second to breath and get your thoughts straight?" Levy offered the advice softly, though he was already doing that. She would still check on his head, that was quite a tumble and so far he had avoided answering her question.
There we go, proper sentences that had Levy smiling. Her original goal with streaming had been exposure therapy of a sorts, to get used to being in the spotlight even if it was only a small amount of people. But just having the camera there helped, as she became very conscious that she was still being watched. It was still like being up on stage. She hadn't expected to make such an impact, even if it was just one person.
"If it helps, I never expected to bump into a fan either. It's a first for me too." She admitted before smiling a little. "It's nice to meet you too Elliot. I'm happy that the streams have been such a help to you. I enjoy doing them myself, even if they are not quite everyone's style. I'm a little surprised still that the 'Empire' has grown as much as it has." Levy smiled again, turning to the Pokemon and giving them a little wave. Though Zei was a little less happy at this new information, pouting a little with his ears drooping.
"Aww, it's okay bud. They just need some time. You are too energetic for some Pokemon you know?" She teased the fox lightly while scooping him up. "So Elliot, which way were you heading? And are you sure you're okay? That was a bit of a tumble you took?" And now that she actually noticed the walking stick she was quite worried about something else. Poor boy, she hoped he wasn't too seriously injured. Or had aggravated some other injury because of her.
Post by Elliot Sunderland on Mar 28, 2020 17:51:10 GMT
Elliot blinked, tilting his head a little in confusion at Levy's statement. "Wait, really?" he asked. "With how active your chat is, I'm surprised I'm the first person you bumped into. I mean, loads of people love tuning in to see you!" Despite being the first fan to actually bump into Levy in person, Elliot didn't seem overly giddy or entitled about the fact. In fact, he sounded more genuinely confused if anything. Despite his earlier nerves, it seemed like Elliot wasn't going to be one of Those fans.
At mention of the streams being helpful, Elliot's smile widened. "Oh, trust me, it's been a big help," he admitted. "I only just got to start my journey a few days ago. So that meant once people my age started leaving for their own, it got pretty quiet around home. I was still able to focus on stuff like gaming, cooking, and cosplay. But that's all kind of solo stuff, you know? So the stream's a nice way of making things feel less quiet around here. And tons of useful tips, too!" The smile on his face was warm just thinking about it.
Sure, he could mention his own streams, too. But, no. Just, no.
He was snapped out of his thoughts by Levy deciding to check in on him. His eyes widened in surprise, and the mix of lingering starstruck awe and embarrassment got the blush back on his face, but he quickly waved it off with a well meaning laugh. "I'm fine, don't worry. It wasn't too steep of a hill," Elliot said. Murex let out a groan of clear protest at that one. "Besides, it wasn't the worst fall I've taken. I just needed a second to catch my breath." He dusted himself off a little, trying to shake off any snow, dust, or dirt from his clothes to look more presentable. His hair was a bit messed up, and his shirt was probably covering up some bruises, but it did seem like all of his bones were in the right place.
"I was going to be heading north, up to Ivy Town. Apparently there's a lot to learn about Pokemon over there, and I'm going to need all the learning I can get if I'm going to be ready for this journey," he continued. "Though I'm not really in a rush. Getting to just walk around and explore like this for the first time is seriously freeing. Even if it means camping out on the routes some days, I just want to savor all this for as long as I can.
How about you? Where are you heading?"
Active Party Echo - Lv 6 Ralts - 5/5 Energy Joule - Lv 9 Dedenne - 5/5 Energy Murex - Lv 6 Shellder - 5/5 Energy
Her expression remained neutral, lips pursed slightly as she gave a helpless shrug. "Maybe you aren't, it's hard to say. I've gotten messages and the like, but from what I can remember no one has actually gone 'Aren't you that streamer girl EmpressLuci?'. The best I think I've noticed is one person who thought they saw me, but it was just someone who looked similar." Levy's shoulders fell at the confession. People usually passed over her, and she was okay with that. It meant less confrontation. "And there might be some people who just don't care? It's really hard to say why. Maybe I've just been lucky or way to busy to actually run into the few people who'd care to know me." Another shrug, though she didn't feel upset over the lack of attention. She was already feeling a little flushed at how she was getting so much attention from this one individual alone.
"I'm actually very glad to hear that. I know how hard it can be to be alone so much, even if it's not very often that I'm alone anymore." Levy gave a soft smile, lifting the still pouting fox kit into her arms. Hard to feel lonely with such a needy partner, though she nuzzled her nose into his ear all the same. She wouldn't have asked for a different partner. "I actually started them to help me with one of my problems too. I like to think it's been helping me too." She gave a little nervous chuckle.
And he was good. That was very good. Though still concerning that it sounded like it was quite often he got himself hurt. Though that wasn't her place to pry. She just might have to keep an eye out for him if they were to travel together. Which it sounded like they might for awhile, or at least might as well.
"I was just heading back to Bass City for now. Spent some time in Cedar as there was a sale at my favorite fabric shop and I was going to bring some home for one of my friends. Also found some really dark blue fabric that I thought I'd see about making into a scarf for Zei here. Was actually debating of making it part of the next stream to focus on some embroidery. But like you, I'm not in a rush. Figured it was about time I take some time to myself and maybe train up Zei some." Levy took a large sip of her drink, pouting a little as she realized it was half gone now.
Post by Elliot Sunderland on Apr 1, 2020 3:22:24 GMT
Elliot's smile turned a little bit guilty as Levy talked about the attention (or lack thereof) she usually received. "Yeah, I know being recognized can be a bit of a pain," he said sheepishly. "But, hey. If it helps any, you're actually really easy to feel chill around. Like, I know I was a little surprised at first-" Understatement right there, kid. "-but I think that's all out of my system now, thank goodness."
Echo mimicked Zei's facial expressions as Levy spoiled him, from pouting to exuberant joy. Was she picking up on the fox's own changing moods? Or was she just practicing its facial expressions? The answer didn't seem very clear. Nevertheless, Elliot gave her a gentle pet on the head. "Really? What problem did they help you with?" Elliot asked. "And I'm glad you're not feeling that loneliness anymore. Feels like it was just a few days ago that I learned just how big of a deal that is." Joule crawled up to his shoulder, resting a small paw on his shoulder. Even Murex turned towards him and flashed . . . well, okay, she couldn't really flash a grin. But she closed her eyes in the approximation of a grateful smile.
They all learned a lot from each other, didn't they?
At mention of fabric, Elliot perked up a little. "Oh wow, I could I see?" he asked. "It's been a while since I've worked with, like, any cosplays. Closest I've done is work my hoodie down enough for Echo to take it." Echo timidly hid behind Elliot as she was thrust into the spotlight, but he turned to her with a gentle smile on his face. "Hey, don't worry. It's okay. I know you're really proud of that hoodie. It's okay, I know everyone'd be happy to see." Echo nodded shyly, taking a step out to show off her hoodie. She took a few turns, letting Levy see all of the angles, but stopped as she saw something moving in the bushes. It was long, wriggling, and pink, almost like a fishing lure or cat toy. And, as compelled by this as she'd be by anything similar, Echo walked over to bat at it.
Immediately, the unidentified object wrapped around Echo's waist, pulling her into the air. As she let out a worried shout, what looked like a pink cat's head came poking out of the bushes. Elliot fumbled with his Pokedex app, Joule leaping off of his shoulder and sparking in defense of her charge. It seemed that this was an Espeon; a brilliant yet rare psychic type. Usually they weren't so gutsy . . . and yet this one was right there in plain sight.
"H-hey, let go of her!" he shouted, but it fell on deaf ears. It ignored Joule as she sparked, not even registering her display as a threat. Instead, it looked the Ralts in its clutches up and down. As the poor thing trembled in fear, it shook its head, then set her back down on the ground. It turned away from Echo and focused on a nearby tree. Its eyes, deep and soulful, narrowed until they were little more than slits. Then they opened wide, flashing a bright white. A branch on the tree flashed white as well, shaking before being sliced cleanly off. The Espeon gracefully leaped from the bushes, bringing the tree branch in front of Echo and motioning for her to continue.
Echo tilted her head, uncomprehending. In response, the Espeon pointed at her, then pointed at the branch. When she tried to toddle over to pick it back up he wrapped his tail around her again, holding her back. When she stopped trying to walk, he set her back down, motioning to the branch again. Echo stared at it, one hand on her temple and the other reaching out. She squeezed her eyes, squared her shoulders, and squatted down, letting out a high-pitched keening sound all the while. Nothing happened at first, but as Echo stared intently at the branch it started to shake an shiver. Soon, in a snap, she released all tension in her body, and with it released all tension stored within the branch. It snapped cleanly in half.
The Espeon nodded in approval, then turned on its back paw to walk away.
Echo sighed in relief and Joule let her guard drop, but Elliot continued watching as the Espeon sashayed away. Something about its body language convinced him that this wasn't over yet. For this reason, he was completely unsurprised when the Espeon turned back around. It hunkered down, short hairs standing on end, ears perked, and tails cycling around each other idly. With how its back stretched out and its hackles raised, Elliot found himself swallowing nervously.
This Espeon was looking for a fight.
Active Party Echo - Lv 6 Ralts - 5/5 Energy Joule - Lv 9 Dedenne - 5/5 Energy Murex - Lv 6 Shellder - 5/5 Energy
"It's... it's not a pain. I'm just, a little uncomfortable with it? It's a little hard to explain." Levy sighed heavily, fingers tapping at her arm as she tried to find the right words. "It's more that, I don't know what people expect of me, therefore I don't know what to expect of them? That's the best way I can think of it. And expectations vary from person to person." Another sigh, another intake of breath. "But, that does help. Thank you. It's nice to not have to pretend for people you know?" Though she hated how serious it sounded and winced a little. She couldn't take that back now, and she wasn't totally sure she would have if she could.
Zei was still a little pouty, but he tilted his head curiously before cuddling back against Levy, tail wagging slightly with his feelings of contentment.
"Oh, well." And here she began to blush a little. "I did it, still sort of do, to work on my all around confidence. Especially my confidence while performing." She frowned, suddenly feeling guilty for mentioning this to someone who seemed so much younger. Someone who was currently only an acquaintance at best, it wasn't fair to lay that bit of guilt onto another person. Though Elliot did have a point. Loneliness was a very large issue that could only truly be solved with the help of others.
"Oh, sure! It's some very nice material." Levy felt her excitement grow, always happy to share in her passions with others. But then Elliot was saying he redid the hoodie that the Ralts was wearing? The bluenette crouched down to be closer on the Ralts's outfit. "It's pretty good all things considered. Even with a human like form, it couldn't have been easy to make it so it fit her as well as it currently does." She tilted her head at the overall fit, which wasn't the greatest but there was some definite effort put in.
"How did you do it? Did you rip out the seams and cut it down to a better size before sewing it back together?" Levy asked, but her voice dropped steadily lower as some sort of pink purple thing through the bushes. It was definitely a Pokemon of some sort but she couldn't tell just what it was by this little view.
Zei was put down while Levy gathered her phone from her pocket. However, there was a shape that zoomed by and suddenly her hand was empty. Not the hand that held her phone, but her drink. She stared at where it had been before frowning and looking for the stolen beverage. And she found a Dedenne, holding the cup that was almost the same size as it.
The little rodent took a sip from the green straw. Either it was because the drink was too sweet, or too cold. Either way the result was the same and the drink was tossed where it now began to roll down the hill as well.
"Hey!" Levy cried, still crouched down. Zei growled once beside her. However that didn't stop the rodent who leap forward towards the shiny object dangling from the phone. And then the phone was gone and in the rodent's paws, eyes wide and sparkling in wonder.
And of course neither Levy nor Zei were happy with this. Zei even more angry than Levy, the fox growling and back arched as he was ready to pounce. "Not cool little mouse, not cool. Be nice and give me back my phone." But the phone and charm stayed with the mouse who began glaring back at Zei.
"Alright Zei, showtime." Levy spoke up, looking over her shoulder quick to Elliot. Looked like he had a battle too.
Post by Elliot Sunderland on Apr 1, 2020 17:39:01 GMT
Elliot would've loved to answer Levy's earlier points and questions. But unfortunately, both of them had been caught off guard by some rather important business. Levy just had her phone stolen away, not that Elliot was able to notice at the moment. He was instead staring down the deep-eyed glare of an Espeon, the gem on its forehead beginning to glow an ominous red.
Echo clung to one of Elliot's legs. Murex clung to the other. Neither seemed very willing to step up to the plate. And frankly, neither was Elliot. He held up his hands in a placating gesture. "H-hey, it's okay. If we did anything to get you ma-" Elliot started, only to be cut off as the ground next to him erupted in psychic energy. Elliot quickly scuffled back, nearly tripping over Murex's hard shell in the process. It was clear that the Espeon was not in the mood for talking things through.
Before Elliot could make another move, Joule stepped forward. She held an arm out, as if blocking him and her other teammates from approaching. Her cord-like tail swished back and forth, and her kind, patient eyes hard turned ice cold. The Espeon's eyes, too, changed, showing life for the first time today. It chuckled mirthfully, and then vanished into a blur.
Joule looked around, raising her guard, but she was too slow. The Espeon had practically zipped behind her, using the superior speed of its Quick Attack to move faster than she could see. It lifted a large, purple paw, then batted her away, sending the Dedenne bouncing into the distance. It calmly strode after her, its leisurely pace a complete departure from how quickly it could move when it wanted to. Joule had remained motionless the entire time, leaving Elliot's breath stuck in his throat. Had this Espeon knocked her out in a single blow?
They got their answer when the Espeon was in point blank range. Joule cracked an eye open, sparks flying from her cheeks, and launched a burst of static electricity from a tiny finger. The Thunder Shock hit the Espeon point blank, leaving it recoiling slightly from shock. By the time it opened its eyes Joule had leaped into the air, swiping its tail right in front of the Espeon's eyes. The Tail Whip left it flinching, giving Joule time to land on the ground and Tackle it right in its side. This finally got the Espeon to react some, digging its paws in the ground to slow its momentum as it slid to a halt. Joule landed, chest puffing from exertion but in one piece. How much time had she brought herself playing possum?
The Espeon sank back into its fighting stance, haunches raised, eyes narrowed, and gem glowing. Elliot remembered what this meant all too well. "Joule! Keep an eye out! You can't see this one!" he warned, making his first call of the battle. Naturally, it was a defensive one; he could swear that the Espeon's eyes narrowed further in disdain. The air shimmered and distorted much like it did around the ground and tree branch earlier, except this time the Confusion was focused right on Joule's position. She scampered out of the attack's radius before the tension in the air snapped, a small sonic boom sounding through the air as a result. Another shimmering pulse came from Joule's side. Aimed low, and in the direction she was already running, she had no choice but to jump over this one.
Wrong answer.
As that Confusion passed, a third one rippled around her in the air. Without any wings, Joule had no choice but to brace herself for taking this blow. The psychic attack slammed her down towards the ground . . . and right in the path of the Espeon, who blurred forward for another quick attack. The two opposing forces hit Joule almost in sync, and the Dedenne was launched across the battlefield. She righted herself in the air, sparking as brightly as a Christmas tree, and launched another spark of thunder right down at the Espeon. This one it leaned out of the way of, fur frizzing on one side from how close of a miss it was. It shook its head, smoothing itself back down with psionic force, and calmly strode towards its adversary.
Joule's tail and ears were starting to droop, and she clutched her ribs as she tried to match the Espeon's pace. However, just as she made her way to the center of the battlefield, her legs gave way and she squeezed her eyes shut. A single, weary "Den" echoed through the air as she fell into the soft grass.
Joule had fainted.
Elliot quickly ran over to the fallen hamster, Espeon watching passively. "I'm so sorry . . . I didn't know he was setting up a trap like that . . ." he murmured, holding the exhausted Pokemon close. Her breathing was steady, thank goodness, but it was rapid and fatigued. She had obviously had enough fighting for one day. "Get some rest. You deserve it," he said, returning her to her Premier Ball and keeping it close.
He followed the Espeon's gaze, which wandered back over to Murex and Ralts. Clearly, the Espeon hadn't been satisfied yet. Elliot grit his teeth, clutching his walking stick until his knuckled turned white, but he still prepared himself for what he'd have to do next.
Active Party Echo - Lv 6 Ralts - 5/5 Energy Joule - Lv 9 Dedenne - Fainted! Murex - Lv 6 Shellder - 5/5 Energy
Levy could definitely hear that something was going on with Elliot, but a quick glance didn't give her much information other than the pink Pokemon seemed to want to fight. And now she'd have to fight this Dedenne to get her phone back. Blue eyes carried a fierceness that rivaled the waves that they were colored after. And Zei's golden irises shone dangerously as he shifted low into a battle stance.
"Zei, Quick attack!" Levy's voice rose out of her, carrying with it a confidence that she didn't usually felt. Maybe it was because her phone was on the line, or because she was angry. It was hard to tell. All she knew, was this Dedenne wouldn't get to keep her phone nor her charm! Zei's shifted downward more, legs bending before he was snapping forward. His Quick Attack wasn't as impressively fast as the Espeon's, but it was still quick enough as he bounced from one side to another before slamming his shoulder into the rodent. There was a startled squeak as the Dedenne was thrown off balance, phone slipping from it's grasp.
Levy's body was gripped with panic, already darting forward as if she could grab the phone before it fell or slipped away from her again. But as per usual Zei had her back, the fox snapping the phone up before it could fall and trotting it back to her. With minimal spit might he add! Once the phone was in her grasp, her heartbeat began to slow and she breathed a heavy sigh of relief. "Thank you Zei. You're the best." The fox was pet, from oversized ears all the way down to his rump.
Just enough time for the Dedenne to return and chatter angrily at them, gesturing to the phone before he was charging for them again. Levy's eyes narrowed, holding her phone to her chest like the most precious thing in the world. "Zei, Tail Whip!" Came the command. Once again surprised, the Dedenne shifted, turning around to meet the fox's tail with it's own. However, the longer tail was much thinner, giving Zei the advantage in bulk to push the other tail away.
"Give it another Quick Attack." And Zei did, speeding forward with his bounding leaps to tackle the opponent again. There was another squeak, causing Levy to flinch. Still the Dedenne stood back up, panting softly and glaring at Zei, though the fox was too busy looking to Levy. Levy blinked at the fox, silent communication passing between them with looks and body language.
It was the trainer's way to capture Pokemon, and this Dedenne, with a bit of work, would make a good member for PNG. And her team of course. Sure it didn't seem to have a desirable nature, but that was just at first glance. So biting her lip Levy grabbed one of the empty pokeballs in her possession to give it an elegant toss. The orb flying through the air gracefully before hitting the Dedenne and taking it in with a beam of red light.
Post by Elliot Sunderland on Apr 2, 2020 4:54:54 GMT
As the Espeon set its sights on Echo, the Ralts dashed away to hide behind Elliot. Expected, but understandable. That left the stronger of the two on the battlefield, and Shellder were fairly versatile Pokemon. The Espeon stalked towards the abandoned shellfish, but Elliot flashed her a calming smile. "Come on, Murex, lets see what you can do," he started, popping open his Pokedex app. He scanned Murex, but dropped his phone in shock as soon as he saw what was written on his screen.
"Moves . . . none?"
The Espeon stopped in its tracks, blinking in surprise. It then turned to Murex, its tail swishing back and forth impatiently. Murex sat there and did absolutely nothing. The Espeon took one step forward, then the next. Still nothing. Even when the Espeon walked right up to her, poking her shell with a paw, Murex seemed incapable of reacting. Finally, the Espeon sighed, the clam's shell gently shaking. Rather than the explosive Confusions before, this was more of a gentle push, slowly yet surely sliding Murex back off of the battlefield.
Finally, the Espeon turned back to Echo. Elliot protectively stood in front of her, chest pounding and hands shaking. "She just hatched! You ca-"" Elliot shouted, only to be cut off by a glare of pure disgust from the Espeon. Elliot's walking stick started to shake and shiver as the Espeon's eyes glowed, then exploded into a mass of wooden shards. Elliot was sent stumbling back from the attack, and it was clear he couldn't quite stand stably anymore. He sank to a knee to alleviate the strain, and in his recoil had left Echo out in the open. Just how the Espeon had planned.
Once more, the cat blurred forward, lifting a paw as it appeared behind Echo. However, Echo didn't move a muscle. In fact, she didn't even turn around, even as the cat's paw flew right towards her head. "Echo, please, look out!" Elliot begged, but it was too late. The Espeon's swipe collided right with her head.
And promptly passed through, leaving her unharmed.
The image of Echo shimmered, then faded, revealing Echo herself had crumpled right at Espeon's feet. Of course! Double Team! She clung to her knees, frightened, but her instinctive move usage and panicked reaction had spared her the damage. Elliot sighed in relief, and then inspiration shone in his eyes. "Now do what it showed you, Echo! Get it away from you!" he called. Echo nodded, then stuck a hand out at the Espeon. Its fur started to ripple, then poofed as a point-blank Confusion knocked it back.
While a direct hit, it was a weak one. The Espeon recovered in midair and landed gracefully on its feet. It chuckled mirthfully, then its eyes began to glow again. The air around Echo started to ripple, but this time Elliot wasn't about to let her repeat Joule's mistake. "Don't watch them, feel them. If you move too much you'll fall right into its trap," Elliot advised. Echo nodded, closing her eyes and letting her psychic presence attune with Espeon's. She sensed each Confusion coming her way seconds before it landed, doing her best to avoid the pulses with small, subtle movements. However, while Elliot's strategies were sound, Echo was still a newborn. On her third dodge she tripped over her feet, allowing a Confusion from above to pound her into the dirt.
Had she not been a psychic type, that could've been a KO. Instead she just lay there in the dirt, stunned from the sensation of the first hit she'd ever taken in battle. Espeon was quick to capitalize, blurring over and lifting a paw to deliver the finishing blow. "Echo, please, get up!" Elliot called. "Don't quit on me, and I won't quit on you! I've got an idea!" Echo nodded, rolling away from the Espeon's paw just before he let it drop. Was Quick Attack always so slow? Or had Espeon given them that dodge?
"Let's make this happen, Echo! Start running, and Double Team, as much as you can," Elliot called. He didn't need to tell Echo twice. She had already started running before he made the call! All the while, she left afterimages in her wake. "Now circle him, so he doesn't know if you're coming or going!" Echo nodded in response, banking a right to curve in front of Espeon. It watched, tail swishing with intrigue as Echo completed the loop. Now she had him surrounded in a chain of mirages. Yet while a cute trick, it solved nothing. The Espeon stretched, eyes glowing as it kept an eye on the lead Ralts. All it would take was one hit.
"Almost there! Please, do that thing with your voice. Like when we were ambushed by the Surskit," Elliot added. The Ralts opened her mouth and let out a loud cry, aimed right by the Espeon's sensitive ears. It flinched away, both its focus and the glow around its eye fizzling out. Echo continued to let out these loud cries, her Disarming Voice peppering the Espeon from every angle. Where it once had a sense of where Echo was located, this annoyance had caused it to lose track. It blurred forward in a variety of pouncing strikes, but each time felt only air between its paws. The sureness started to slip from its stance, and its movements started to slow. Was it starting to tire?
Apparently, enough for it to decide to end this game. It raised its head up into the air, eyes glowing brightly as it let out an angered cry. It repeatedly pounded the area directly on front of it with Confusion, over and over again. Echo, who had been focusing entirely on the plan, didn't notice this repetitive attack pattern in time. She tried to skid to a halt, but it was too late. A shimmering pulse of air and energy hit her in the side, sending her sprawling to the ground. Like a cat cornering its prey the Espeon stalked forward, its shadow looming over Echo as she tried to find the strength to push herself up. Its body started to blur again as it prepared one last Quick Attack, ready to end it all.
It didn't even see the Ultra Ball coming until it was hit right in the side. Its eyes widened in shock, and it let out a baffled cry, but it turned into red energy all the same. The ball fell to the ground, and Elliot watched with bated breath.
Active Party Echo - Lv 6 Ralts - 5/5 Energy Joule - Lv 9 Dedenne - Fainted! Murex - Lv 6 Shellder - 5/5 Energy
There wasn't even any time for Levy to look back towards Elliot to make sure he was okay. There was definitely a battle though, and perhaps one of his Pokemon had fainted? Poor Joule. Levy frowned, but that was all the attention she could spare as there was a pop and the pokeball burst open. The Dedenne reforming from the light that was released.
There was some more chattering from the rodent, and a very definite glare towards the pokeball. Before it could be retrieved, and possibly used again, the electric type jumped upwards and rolled forwards. The cord like tail coming down on the hinge of the ball, snapping the weakened mechanism in half.
As much as Levy tried to keep her cool, frustration grew and bubbled up. First her drink, then her phone even though it was returned safely, and now one of her pokeballs? Briefly her own hand clenched into a fist, eyes flashing almost dangerously as they narrowed. But she was very quickly shocked out of it as she began to worry about Zei. What was that coming off of him? Puffs of transparent clouds seemed to be coming off him, mimicking his colors before they darkened considerably then faded away like smoke. And shooting her gaze proved something similar for Elliot. Green blue dripping down his back into a puddle at his feet.
But a quick blink and shake of her head and it was gone. Hints of confusion remained in her expression but she turned as much of her attention back to Zei and the Dedenne that she could, still blinking frequently. Zei whimpered, still looking towards Levy which left him susceptible to getting tackled to the ground by the other Pokemon.
"Zei, Tail Whip!" Levy called, getting her head back into the battle. Zei shook his head, quickly getting back onto his feet. Planting his front paws firmly on the ground, he twisted his rear end forward. Delivering a firm slap of his tail to the Dedenne. "Follow it up with another Quick Attack." Came the next command. Zei had figured that was what was coming next, so with his feet still firmly planted, he shifted all his weight to his back legs once they touched the ground he was kicking off to bound forward. With a victorious yip he was dashing forward into the Dedenne again. There was another squeak as the Dedenne stagger backwards.
Once again Levy lifted a new pokeball, taking a proper pitcher's stance before throwing it.
Post by Elliot Sunderland on Apr 2, 2020 23:38:19 GMT
Time stood still as the Espeon's Ultra Ball hit the ground. Elliot's hand rested on his knee so hard that his fingers were starting to leave marks on his skin. His chest pounded hard enough that it felt like he was being punched by an unseen force. Goosebumps stood on end, covering every limb.
The ball wiggled once.
A bead of sweat rolled down Elliot's forehead.
The ball wiggled twice.
Elliot felt a strangled gasp slither out of his throat.
The ball wiggled a third time.
For a second, Elliot could feel his heart stop.
And so, too, did the ball.
The click of the Ultra Ball rang through the air like a gunshot, and the world around Elliot started to move again. He could see the grass gently sway in the breeze, feel the breath he had been holding push its way out of his chest, and smell the fresh hillside air as it settled back around him. Immediately, Elliot went to run towards Echo, leaving the fallen Ultra Ball in the dust. However, his leg had other ideas. Unable to make a proper stance for running, he instead staggered forward, each step a little bit more challenging than the last. It was worth the pain, worth the exertion. He needed to check on Echo, no matter what it took. By the end, he had practically flopped onto the floor next to her, sighing in relief as his leg sat at rest.
Echo looked towards him. She was covered in scuff marks from where the Confusions had impacted her body, and her green hair was in a state of disarray. Most strikingly, her hoodie had torn along its chest, a flash of white now showing through the dark garment. She didn't seem keen on getting up, either, the ground currently serving as her pillow. Yet she still put on a soft, gentle smile, which Elliot tearfully returned. He shuffled a little closer to her, hugging the exhausted Pokemon close. "You see that, Echo? We did it," he said, nearly breathless. "We're okay."
Yet the sound of nearby battle drew Elliot's attention. He turned to the source, noticing Levy and Zei in the middle of a pitched battle with a Dedenne. It seemed like they were having a long one, too. One Pokeball already lay to the side, shattered cleanly in half, the Dedenne had gotten quite the hard looking tackle on Zei. Were they all going to be okay over there?
Slowly but surely, Elliot forced himself back to one knee. Then he forced himself to stand up entirely, masking his wince of pain with a warm smile. "Come on, Levy! You can do it!" he cheered, continuing to hold Echo closely all the while. She pumped a fist in the air, letting out a weary cheer of her own. It didn't matter how worn they were. They'd be here to support their friend!
They watched carefully as another Poke Ball sailed towards the Dedenne. Would this one meet its mark?
Active Party Echo - Lv 6->Lv 8 Ralts - 1/5 Energy Joule - Lv 9 Dedenne - Fainted! Murex - Lv 6 Shellder - 5/5 Energy Lord Beerus - Lv 13 Espeon - 1/5 Energy
There was a cheer behind her, and Levy glanced over her shoulder to see that it was in fact Elliot. She gave a soft, hopeful smile. Then the ball was tossed and it was out of her control.
One shake. Two shakes.
It seemed to be ready to shake once more, the last shake so that the Dedenne would be contained. But it wasn't to be. The ball split apart with such force that the mechanism actually broke and the Pokemon was released. There was a brief moment where the Dedenne looked just as shocked as everyone else. Then it took a second to clean it's ear, swiping a paw over the limb. There was a split second of peace before Zei was charging forward, body blurring with the speed of a quick attack.
"Zei, no." Levy spoke out, and as authoritative as it was, it was still soft. Zei responded, he stopped his progress slowly, ears flattening before he was making his way back to Levy. He whimpered, the small fox looking up to his trainer sadly. Levy knelt down to scoop him up into her arms, even she was pouting slightly. "It just wasn't meant to be, and that's okay." She sighed, eyeing the broken pokeballs and picking then up so that they could be dealt with properly. She shrugged before standing by Elliot.
"You okay? That was pretty intense." Levy chuckled, trying to lighten the mood before gesturing for him to sit down as she did the same. "Your walking stick is broken right? Then let's take a break. Still want to see the fabric?" She asked after a brief pause, pulling her bag forward to have better access to the bag. Then she pulled out the neatly folded square offabric. It was a dark blue in color, almost but not quite matching the dark blue points on Zei.
"I was thinking it would match him. Add some stitching but keeping it white or even silver." Levy spoke softly, going to dig in her bag again before she was shocked by something. The fabric she had falling to the ground as she stared in her bag. She tilted the bag to Elliot where he could also see the mostly white egg in the bag.
"Am I having a brain fart, or is that totally a Pokemon egg that I didn't know was in there and most certainly don't remember buying?" Blue eyes widened considerably as she looked down between the egg, Zei, Elliot and Echo.
Active Party Zei, Nickit, Lvl 6, 4/5
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