[Shalin Nariya]

Early Spring was the perfect time to cross the savannah - this part of Arciel had to be absolutely brutal during the summer. Even in the late morning when Shalin left the Ranger outpost she was able to rest her team at. Though it was technically a village, there were no gates - it was completely exposed to the elements, and to nearby wild Pokémon. Good thing there were a substantial number of retired Rangers among the village's population!

Having parted ways with Atticus the night before, Shalin would be on her own the rest of the way to Hickory Town. He seemed calm and mellow despite the high pressure situations the two had gotten in, plus he was the first person that didn't immediately back away from Kiku the moment he was sent out. She wouldn't mind running into him again - perhaps in Hictory Town or Maple City.

Shalin's green attire stood out more than normal in the dry wastes that covered the trail to Hickory Town. She released Serena, who sounded an excited purr as her trainer strapped the Persian's gaudy-looking saddle into place. The long-haired blonde struggled a bit to get the tension exactly where her mount liked it, and even then it was a bit more loose than she would prefer. She expected it to need adjusting somewhere in the middle of her trip.

"Alright, Serena, ready to run?" Shalin asked, leaning low with her hands just below her Pokémon's neck. Without so much as a purr, the white cat flexed her legs and lunged forward into a speedy gallop. "Yee-ha!" she cried, Serena's arching back bouncing the wild rider far more than even Caprice did.

---


//------------||------------||---||---||---\\
||NAME        ||SPECIES     ||LV ||HP ||EP ||
||Flit        ||Yanmega     || 35|| 10||  5||
||Kiku        ||Skuntank    || 36|| 10||  5||
||Prower      ||Floatzel    || 34|| 10||  5||
||Serena      ||Persian     || 31|| 10||  5||
||Sol         ||Larvesta    || 21|| 10||  5||
||EMPTY       ||            ||   ||   ||   ||
\\------------||------------||---||---||---//

{WC: 280}
{PC: 1}

[Jenesis]

A wild Raticate has appeared!

What will you do?

	Raticate Lv39
		5 Energy
	Average	Docile
	Run Away
MOVES
Hyper Fang, Sucker Punch, Super Fang, Double-Edge
NOTES
N/A

[Shalin Nariya]

Serena kicked up a large dust cloud behind her, Shalin's arms shaking as the Persian swerved around a large shrub. The toes of her shoes came dangerously close to touching the ground from time to time as she bounced around in the saddle. No wonder its arch was so high! She raised her legs off the ground a little farther, leaning lower on the Normal-type. The Persian accelerated, continuing in a straight line southeast, into slightly taller dry grasses. Using gentle leaning motions, Shalin helped Serena navigate the lazy turns of the desolate road, not a trainer or Pokémon in sight.

A few miles down the road, Serena took a sudden turn into taller grasses, slowing down substantially and running with her body even lower to the ground. She gave Shalin no choice but to raise her feet further off the ground, the green trainer afraid she was going to dig into her fur by mistake. "What's up, Serena?" Shalin asked, getting only a menacing purr in response, her partner trotting deeper into the tall grass.

A tense minute later, Shalin heard the sound of rustling grass. With a loud growl as the girl's only warning, Serena bolted out of the grass, chasing down a fleeing Raticate. Shalin instinctively dug her heels into her mount, which only spurred the feline to dash toward her prey faster.

The rider's knuckles turned white from holding onto Serena with most of the strength she had, feeling like she could be sent flying any moment. Flung from one side of her Pokémon to the other as the Persian matched her quarry's fancy footwork, Shalin felt a mild burning sensation inside her arms. She let out a scream as the feline lunged for the fleeing Raticate, pinning it down underneath one of her paws while relentlessly slashing at it with her other front paw. The wounded Raticate at first tried to flee, but wasn't going anywhere while pinned down.

OQu5pE0pp_

As Serena raised her other claw to come down on top of the Raticate with extra force, she wound up a little too much - enough for the wild to escape the pin and dash south with every bit of energy it had. Growling, Shalin's Pokémon flung herself into a sprint after the fleeing normal-type. Not ready for a sudden dash at all, she was thrown from her perch and rolled along the road for quite a distance before coming to a stop in front of some tall, dry grass on the east side of the road. Unable to muster the strength to move, she watched Serena dash after the Raticate. The swift hunter turned around and ran back toward the fallen Shalin, a little sad she had come up empty-handed. At least her trainer wasn't critically wounded from the fall at first glance. Shalin sat up, a bit shaken up and with a couple bruises but otherwise okay. "We need to work on this some, I see," Shalin groaned, content to sit alongside her impulsive cat for at least long enough to get her bearings again.

---

Serena's level is now 33!

{WC: 513}
{PC: 2}

[Jae]

A wild Dedenne has appeared!

What will you do?

	Dedenne Lv30
		5 Energy
	Average	Gentle
	Pickup
MOVES
Rest, Volt Switch, Parabolic Charge, Charge
NOTES
N/A

A wild Flareon has appeared!

What will you do?

	Flareon Lv39
		5 Energy
	Average	Bashful
	Flash Fire
MOVES
Fire Fang, Fire Spin, Smog, Bite
NOTES
N/A

[Shalin Nariya]

The wind picked up, the tall savannah grasses swaying far enough to reach Shalin and tickle the back of her neck occasionally, prompting her to turn her body to face down the road instead of across it. Yawning, the blonde undid the straps on her backpack and rest her head on it. She watched several Rufflet circling overhead before yawning a second time and closing her eyes. Serena stood up and gently pushed against her arm with a paw - no response.

Almost an hour later, the dirt road to Hickory Town was covered in Serena's pawprints out to a radius of almost a hundred feet. A pair of wild Pokémon, a Dedenne and a Flareon, approached the sleeping girl while the Persian wasn't looking, the small Electric-type crawling onto her legs. The more cautious Fire-type circled her once before sniffing around her bruised side.

Serena turned around, seeing the two wild Pokémon around her trainer. All it took was one threatening purr and a raised paw to send the two wilds scampering off, the Flareon accidentally kicking Shalin's leg in the process. "Ow!" she yelped, waking up and catching a glimpse of the two fleeing wilds.

The next thing she saw was a concerned Persian's face at point-blank range. The girl yawned once more and stretched. "I'm okay, Serena," she answered her partner before standing back up without trouble. "That...felt pretty good, the quick nap. Let's keep going." Strapping her supply bag on and climbing back aboard her Persian again, the two continued southeast, some patches of grass growing taller than even she stood on her own.

{WC: 270}
{PC: 3}

[Jenesis]

A wild Wigglytuff has appeared!

What will you do?

	Wigglytuff Lv34
		5 Energy
	Average	Bold
	Cute Charm
MOVES
Wake-Up Slap, Double-Edge, Rest, Body Slam
NOTES
N/A

A wild Dubwool has appeared!

What will you do?

	Dubwool Lv33
		5 Energy
	Average	Bashful
	Fluffy
MOVES
Double Kick, Headbutt, Take Down, Guard Swap
NOTES
N/A

[Shalin Nariya]

As Shalin rode southeast, the terrain shifted from a savannah to a dry prairie, its grasses growing taller than she could see even mounted. She reached for Kiku's Poké Ball in case Serena wandered into the grass, but thought better of it for the moment - perhaps the Normal-type realized hunting with Shalin aboard wasn't the greatest idea unless she was ready for it. The sun was getting warm, too - she pulled her phone out to check the forecast high, but could not get a signal. Grumbling, Shalin stowed the device, mumbling about "useless" technology.

There was not a tree in sight for miles - just a seemingly endless, winding road carved out of the huge grass. Rounding a gentle curve, Serena and Shalin sighted a grazing Dubwool and a Wigglytuff bouncing in place in the center of the road. "Hold on," Shalin said to Serena, the running cat slowing to a brisk walk. The two wilds didn't seem to notice a thing. She cupped her hands around her mouth, facing the Pokémon and calling out to them, "We're just trying to pass!" She stopped within 50 feet of the two and purred menacingly, raising a paw. The Dubwool immediately got the picture and turned around, content to graze on the other side of the road.

The Wigglytuff, on the other hand, did not yield; he instead inflated to the same height as the prairie grasses, obstructing the entire road. "Guess we're not getting out of this without a fight." She briefly pondered her best bet for taking on a stubborn Wigglytuff. "I haven't seen Flit battle since he evolved..." she mumbled before choosing to send the Yanmega after the fairy-type.

The trainer's eyes opened when she saw Flit emerge from the Ball - he was huge! The giant insect crawled toward Wigglytuff before taking flight, blowing up dust everywhere and uprooting a few blades of grass. Shalin and Serena both turned their heads away, unable to see what was going on. While still tolerable, Flit's buzzing was much louder than before his evolution, drowning out the wind and any other ambiance.

Flit could see just fine, though - his compound eyes were shielded from the dust and debris his takeoff sent flying. When the dust had cleared, she could barely see her Pokémon on top of the defiant Wigglytuff, making a piercing bite with his jaws and mandibles. They slid off the fairy-type's fur, the Wigglytuff quick to retaliate by inflating further and body-slamming over such an area that the Yanmega couldn't possibly get his large body out of the way in time.

His tail and abdomen pinned to the ground, Flit retorted in the only way he could. His wings became nearly invisible streaks of red, which Shalin was able to see for a brief moment before kicking up an even wider dust cloud. She instinctively covered her ears, but they were already ringing from the bug-type vibrating his wings as fast as he could to get the Wigglytuff off him.

It took quite some time for the dust to settle, but when it did, Flit was at rest, a big bruise covering his tail. The Wigglytuff was long gone, as well as a roughly circular section of prairie grass surrounding the enormous bug. Still unable to hear, Shalin's mouth was wide open after seeing the battle's aftermath.

---

Apply experience from EXP. Share to Sol.

Flit's level is now 36!
Sol's level is now 22!
{WC: 558}
{PC: 4}

[Jae]

What's this? You've found...

Aspear Berry x2!

Thaws frozen Pokemon

[Shalin Nariya]

"Did you really...do that?" Shalin slowly asked, still unable to hear her own voice. Flit nodded after quite a delay, his tail various shades of green. blue, and black. His hard exoskeleton had repelled the Wigglytuff's Body Slam enough to avoid serious harm, but it was still badly bruised and required. As she reached for her medical supplies, a splitting headache overcame her, the girl squinting and holding her head in her hands.

Once her headache had subsided enough for her to focus on treating Flit's bruises, she procured a Super Potion from her supplies and sat down next to her Yanmega, spraying his injured tail. He buzzed for a split second when the medicine first touched the bruises, Shalin flinching and dropping the bottle into her lap. "Don't do that!" Shalin cried, but couldn't hear her own words. Flit remained calm afterward, allowing Shalin to apply the rest of the Super Potion. The affected area was so large that she also had to go through a normal Potion, as well, to make sure everything was treated.

She had carefully raised Flit to be her aerial mount, but could she ride a Pokémon that could do that? She would need to invest in some top-grade earplugs at the very least - whatever brand cancelled the most noise. She had a feeling that wouldn't be the only problem, but that could be addressed when she reached the nearest Training Grounds facility.

Dizzily making her way back to her feet, she noticed two Aspear Berries, half-flattened, had been unearthed from Flit's sonic blast. Though they were deformed, their skins hadn't been cracked yet! She scooped them up and recalled her powerful Yanmega, heading southeast alongside Serena.

---

Potion and Super Potion used to fully recover Flit.

{WC: 285}
{PC: 5}

[Jae]

A wild Fletchinder has appeared!

What will you do?

	Fletchinder Lv32
		5 Energy
	Small	Lax
	Flame Body
MOVES
Razor Wind, Roost, Ember, Agility
NOTES
N/A

[Shalin Nariya]

Even after Shalin were to pick up an ample supply of earplugs, that would only be half the battle. If Flit's wings could uproot prairie grass, then...she wouldn't be flight training Flit at all. Flit would be flight training her. Even from as far away as she and Serena were from the battle, she could feel Flit's wings pounding the air around her. It had to be far more intense when she would be sitting mere feet from either side of them - something she would certainly have to adjust to. Was her lithe body capable of even withstanding that? And one of the reasons she chose Yanmega as her flying mount was the thrill of hovering above his wing. That wasn't happening without extensive training, and even then, would be so dangerous.

Thoughts rushed through her head as to whether she wanted to raise a new Pokémon for flying - she would need one to access the most remote locations in Arciel, but would this be too much for even her? She came to her senses as a small fireball razed the skies above her, catching her attention. When she squinted to see what it was, it was a Fletchinder with ignited wings, divebombing a tree from which some bug-types were nesting. An easy meal for the aerial hunter. She would have time to think about whether to replace Flit during her pit stop in Hickory Town. Feeling a bit less woozy, she climbed back into Serena's saddle and pushed her forward into a swift canter.

---

NAME          SPECIES       LV    EP
Flit          Yanmega        35     6
Kiku          Skuntank       36     4
Prower        Floatzel       34     5
Serena        Persian        33     4
Sol           Larvesta       21     5
EMPTY

{WC: 257}
{PC: 6}

[Jenesis]

A wild Sunkern has appeared!

What will you do?

	Sunkern Lv37
		5 Energy
	Average	Bashful
	Chlorophyll
MOVES
Double-Edge, Synthesis, Natural Gift, Solar Beam
NOTES
N/A

[Shalin Nariya]

Green was slowly starting to pop up among the wastes as she rode southeast toward Hickory Town. Nothing too large, though - mostly grasses with the occasional bush. There were plenty of bushes and small trees along the dry plains, but most of them were dead - the few live ones had adapted to life in an arid environment. Many towns in these areas were centered on some kind of water source - with healthy plants starting to pop up, she had to be close.

As she regained her awareness fully, Shalin noticed a Sunkern hanging from a bush, its leaves half-shriveled. "Hold up, Serena!" Shalin cried, the feline sliding to a stop and kicking up some dead grass in the process. She reached for Prower's Poké Ball, calling on the tall Floatzel. "That Sunkern needs your help - can you use your Aqua Jet to soak the bush?"

The girl didn't think about her environment much - Aqua Jet was best used when in the water. The Floatzel circled the bush on foot, his fins outstretched. The circling Aqua Jet created a lens-shaped sheet of water. Once he had collected enough, Prower turned around and flung the sheet skyward with a powerful burst of wind generated by his whirling tails. It fell as a heavy but brief rain, providing the grass-type with fresh water. A good deed done, she recalled her water-type and continued toward the town.

---

NAME          SPECIES       LV    EP
Flit          Yanmega        35     6
Kiku          Skuntank       36     4
Prower        Floatzel       34     5
Serena        Persian        33     4
Sol           Larvesta       21     5
EMPTY

{WC: 233}
{PC: 7}

[Jae]

It's a Horde!

What will you do?

Kricketune Lv36 5 Energy Small Brave Swarm MOVES Fell Stinger, Screech, X-Scissor, Slash NOTES N/A		Kricketune Lv31 5 Energy Small Timid Swarm MOVES Sing, Focus Energy, Slash, X-Scissor  NOTES N/A
Kricketune Lv34 5 Energy Average Lax Swarm MOVES Focus Energy, Slash, X-Scissor, Screech NOTES N/A		Kricketune Lv33 5 Energy Huge! Naive Swarm MOVES Bide, Sing, Focus Energy, Slash  NOTES N/A
Kricketune Lv38 5 Energy Small Calm Swarm MOVES Taunt, Fell Stinger, X-Scissor, Slash  NOTES N/A

[Shalin Nariya]

Hickory's west entrance was in sight, but there appeared to be a small crowd around it. The town was supposed to be small - too small to have a proper gate, even. Why would there be a big gathering there? Serena gradually sped up into a brisk run, the two seeing both humans and Pokémon. Perhaps there was an organized battle tournament going on?

When she was within a few hundred feet, Shalin frowned - it was far more serious. Kricketune were swarming the town's west entrance, overwhelming what few Rangers there were on duty. There had to be a couple dozen of the bugs! She wasn't getting in the town without getting past them anyway - why not help out! She sent out Kiku and Prower before sliding off Serena's back. "On three, okay?" Shalin removed Serena's riding gear - it was expensive and she didn't want it damaged in battle. "One...two...three! Charge!"

Serena led the charge with a great burst of speed, the lead Kricketune turning around just in time to brace itself for impact. With tremendous agility, she weaved to the other side, Faking Out its natural defense and flicking her sharp claws across its unprotected side. Four more of its companions broke rank and joined the battle against Shalin's team, Kiku arriving second followed by Prower, a distant third.

The Skuntank built pressure in his tail, shaking his body and planting his legs as deep in the ground as he could before shooting a sphere of musk that ignited the moment it touched the air. The girl plugged her nose...but all that wafted in was a burning smell typical of Fire-type attacks. It landed right on top of the Kricketune in the back, singing its wings and grounding the wild for quite some time. Keeping his distance, Prower turned away from the horde, his tails whirring so rapidly they turned nearly invisible.

While it was tempting to try to catch the enormous one in the back, the priority was aiding the Rangers and keeping the town safe. It looked like one Ranger was seriously hurt and another was injured as well, albeit with less serious wounds. The two in the middle row drew their arms across their chests, creating a soft, violin-like noise that put Serena and Kiku to sleep.

Oh Arceus.

"Release the Razor Wind now, Prower!" Shalin cried as the water-type found himself surrounded by the tall insects. His tails weren't quite up to speed yet, so the slashing gusts wouldn't be nearly as powerful as they should be. Still, it might give him a chance to get away. The compressed whirlwind cut across the entire unit Shalin was battling, sending them reeling, but not enough for Prower to escape. Skewered by the horde's knife-arms, the Floatzel collapsed, unable to withstand the coordinated assault.

She recalled Prower and started shaking. With her other two Pokémon asleep, she had no choice but to use Flit. Replacing her fallen Pokémon with the deadly insect, she had little choice but to go all-out...even if Flit hurt her a little in the process. As Flit raced toward the horde, Shalin backed up. "Flit, use your Bug Buzz!" She turned around, covered her ears, and ran backwards, still keeping an eye on the battle.

The compound-eyed hunter landed on the largest of the Kricketune and wrestled it to the ground. Flit's wings disappeared from view, vibrating so fast only a faint, red streak could be seen around him. Even though she was over a hundred feet away and had her ears covered, Shalin could hear the buzzing loud and clear, as though a Beedrill was hovering right next to her. The five Kricketune fell to the ground, the rest of the horde fleeing after hearing that horrible noise. Once the racket was over, she recalled all of her Pokémon and ran over to the Rangers to make sure they were okay before entering the town.

---

Thread end.

Flit's level is now 38!
Kiku's level is now 37!
Prower's level is now 35!
Serena's level is now 34!

Sol's level is now 26!

{WC: 660}
{PC: 8}

[Jae]

Congratulations!

Your thread is complete and now locked.

Shalin Nariya

Because your thread was 1 page, you receive: 100 pen, 2 rare candy, and a Nest Ball.