Caffeine Rush

[Goni]

The city of Cherrygrove offered some much needed rest and relaxation to Sara. Over the past few days, she had set up shop in a small inn, quickly getting to work on her project of creating a type of tea from the leaves of treeko, the teeth filings of rattata, and some mud from her mudbray. The results had been less than stellar, but there is no progress without failure, and while it wasn’t a pleasant taste, this combination of various contributions from these pokemon, combined with water from her overly enthusiastic squirtle, wasn’t the most unpalatable thing in the world either. It was strange drinking this combination, but hey, it was free. When she would set up a tea-stand outside the inn, some curious strangers would come and buy a small amount, but so far there had been no repeat customers. Since Sara had spent almost everything just getting to New Bark Town, she was looking for any way to reduce her spending. She evaluated her budget.

300$ on lodging,
100$ on food,
3000$ on coffee,
250$ on poke chow.

There was just no way to save money. She had already been saving on clothing purchases by dumpster diving. She brushed her grey hair out of her face as she sat in the room at the lodge staring at her budget. She was getting comfortable living in this inn, but maybe it was time to get going. Simply put, the pokémon which she had right now were simply not capable of producing the flavors which she was looking for… Or at least not in their current state. From the research she had been doing, all of the pokémon which she had were known to evolve at some point. Even if the tea that she was capable of producing right now was low quality, maybe with stronger pokémon, she could extract stronger flavors! Sara quickly scratched out her budget, it wasn’t all that important, and she quickly started writing out ideas for naming the tea. “Squirtle Slime”, “Mudbray Slime”, “Teecko Butt-Leaf” she quickly scribbled down. She looked at the list. Hmm… Not one appealing sounding thing. This was going to need some more thought.

She sighed and looked around the room. Kellen and Avery were both playing in the corner with Tartarus, they were chewing on something, and Momo had been sleeping faithfully behind Sara’s chair, as if guarding her from danger. Over the past few days, the room had gradually been becoming more and more of a disaster zone. It started out with Tartarus chewing on the legs of the bed frame, and then Kellen had been spraying water all over the hardwood floors, gradually causing structural water damage. Momo gradually leaked mud out as it would step around, if they went outside for even a moment, it was almost as if their ankles would just suck up dirt from the ground. The only one who seemed to have any true understanding of how to not cause a giant mess was Avery, though every once and a while Tartarus would start a fight and Avery would carefully and measuredly redirect the rat pokémon as if they were a master at judo.

It had been hard to find work, but Sara wasn’t one to give up. She had been working every day outside of the pokemon center, trying to sell her ‘tea’, but as more and more people started to avoid eye-contact as she called out their names and tried to wave them over, Sara thought it might be time to change venues, plus if she stayed much longer, the innkeeper might come and check the inside of the room, which was pretty thoroughly ‘lived-in’ at this point.

Tartarus started chittering furiously as Treeko pushed the small rat down to the ground, and held them down vindictively. “Ra-ta-ta!!!” The rattata chittered desperately. “Avery, stop!” Sara yelled at the treeko. Avery rolled her eyes, letting the rattata go. Tartarus scrambled over to a defensive position near Sara. “Alright… Everyone back in their ball!” Sara said, rushing over to her bag to pull the pokéballs out. She quickly grabbed the ones she found “Alright, return!” She shouted, pressing the button, the pokéball popped open, the beam firing at Kellen. Kellen let out a soft “Squirt!” in protest, but was quickly sucked into the ball. The other three pokémon quickly ran around the room, doing their best to hide. “Return!” Sara said, pressing the button on another ball. It quickly sent out a beam, absorbing Momo. Sara quickly dug through her bag. “Where are the other balls?” Sara said, shooting a look at Avery.

Avery sighed, shrugging indignantly, and Tartarus chittered nervously from behind Sara, before charging at Avery, tackling into the pokémon. “Hey! Stop both of you!” Sara said, jumping forward between the two. “You were just getting along, stop bickering!” Sara desperately yelled at the two. Avery was quick to retaliate, placing a hand on the rattata’s head, draining back the health which had been lost in the scuffle. Sara noticed a pokéball under the bed, and quickly grabbed for it pressing the button on it. It popped open, sucking up Avery. The treeko sighed, defeatedly, then was sucked into the ball leaving Sara and Tartarus in the empty room. Tartarus quickly ran to the other side of the room, chittering angrily. “It’s okay, Tartarus! All the others are back in their balls. I think you guys could do with some more walks or something, you sure have a lot of energy to burn!”

Tartarus chittered, then slowly calmed down, circling Sara as she started to pack up her belongings into her backpack. The rattata jumped up to Sara’s backpack, rustling through it. Sara quickly worked to cleanse the room of any trace of herself. It took her most of the rest of the day to clean up, Tartarus helping as best they could, though mostly getting in Sara’s way as she broomed the floor, mopped up the mud, and tried to cover up all the gnawing damage from Tartarus. It was night by the time she had finished, so she decided to spend one last night at the inn. When morning came, and she tried to check out, the owner cited noise problems to force Sara to walk through the room she had rented with the owner. After an unpleasant scolding, she was then given her final bill, and Sara found herself once again in red, putting the damages to the room on a line of credit that she had.

———

“Ratataaaar!” Tartarus shouted, excitedly nibbling on a stick as Sara made her way to route 30. It was finally time to say goodbye to Cherrygrove. She had almost even managed to pay off her tab at the café (a debt which she would be sure to come back to pay at a later date). She was sure Tartarus’ ball was somewhere in her bag, but throughout the cleaning process, she hadn’t been able to find it. The sun was high in the sky, the day fresh, carrying with it the smell of flowers, and Sara was feeling good with a large, quadruple shot espresso mixed into a black coffee. “Lets get going Tartarus!” Sara said, “There are flavors yet to be found!”

~~

Sara and Tartarus strike out on Rt. 30 during the day, headed for Violet City
with the hopes of strengthening her pokémon, and finding new flavors for tea!

LAIKA OF GANGNAM STYLE

[Kataya]

What Sara didn't know was that today was going to shape up to be quite the irregular kind of day. Just how irregular you ask? well..

"This is your fault Heike! This wouldn't have happened if you had just kept your big mouth shut!" The voice was quick and raspy, and angry at that. It was clearly a male but the octave in his voice had risen in a pitch or two as he shouted at her. If Sara turned the corner, she would spot the two. One was a woman who looked absolutely regal in a silken blue gown, a large crown atop her head and ribbons that flowed from the dress. Clearly dressed in a costume, but a beautiful and expensive one at that. The other was a stocky young man, though handsome with darker skin, dressed in an equally expensive looking get up, adorned in yellow though the pieces didn't flow like the opposite's. Though in no way did he look any less impressive.

"I don't know what you're talking about Torad. If you would just stop yelling so loudly every single time then they would stop running off like this."

"What?! You're the one who's always complaining about everything! I'm too hot, I'm too cold, of this food isn't warm enough, Torad bring me my jacket! You--" He paused as he noticed that Heike seemed to be staring at someone. He turned his head only to spot a girl and her Rattata. "Huh? Who the heck are you?" his tone was curt, and he snuffed in annoyance when Heike held her hand out in front of him, a silent bid that told him he needed to shut up for a moment, but his wrinkled nose would tell anyone he was less than pleased with being told what to do.

"You listen here Heike, I don't--"


"I'm sorry about my associate here, young lady,"


"'Associate', she says like I ain't her husband, what a buncho' Snubbullshi--"

"Torad! That's quite enough. I'm sorry miss...?" she seemed to wait for a name, giving Sara a chance to speak before her husband began to butt in again. "I'm sorry you were introduced to us in such a strange manner I am Heike, and this is my associate--" there was a snort from Torad,earning an eyeroll from Heike. "And husband, Torad." Torad nodded at her. "Nice Rattata you've got there youngin'." he said, before he seemed to have an idea. "Hey... maybe you can help us out. Our wagon broke down an' me and Heike started arguin' about it. If she had just avoided the pothole we woulda been fine--" Heike cleared her throat.

"Our Nidoran took off, but we're not sure why. They do this often, but this time they took our spare nuts and bolts. Without them we can't repair the wagon. I'm sorry to ask someone we've just met, but you're a trainer, maybe you can help us find them." Torad sighed.

"We ain't really trainers, these Ponyta here are just for pullin' the wagon around. Those Nidoran are our only Pokemon. We're...performers, y'know if you couldn't tell." He said, gesturing to his costume. "We wouldn't normally bother someone like this, but if we don't find our Pokemon or our parts we're not gonna' be able to get to violet city in time for our big show!" Heike finished, hoping her plea wasn't being wasted. 

Two Theater performers have asked you for your help in locating their Nidoran, who had run off with important parts to fix their wagon following a fight between the trainers. Will you help them out?

(Sprites are the work of Pixie-Rings. Thread Reserved by me if you decide to help them!)

[Goni]

Sara patiently waited as the couple in front of her bickered. Sara took in their strange costumes curiously. They looked regal and mythical, though Sara had never heard of any stories that would have characters as garish as this. The closest thing would have been the Trial Captains, individuals who were highly respected in Alola, they all would dress up in their own thematic colors as they spun tales of their great accomplishments in her tea shop. They were interesting tales, though at times a bit over the top, but as long as they kept drinking tea, Sara would listen with a smile and pour them another cup.

As the couple turned to her for help, even going as far as calling Sara a 'trainer', Sara nervously looked at them giving them a small smile. "My name's Sara, and calling myself a trainer might be going a bit far..." Sara said, then, with dollar signs flashing in her eyes she continued, "But perhaps I could offer my assistance. See, like you two, I'm looking for something, and I have something." Gesturing to the wagon she continued. "Imagine if you will, that I am this wagon, and I've stalled out on the side of the road. Despite having all the wonderful qualifications that I need to give the people what they want, I'm stuck." Sara said, doing her best to act dramatically, almost doing an interpretive dance as she spoke. "I of course would help those in need, collaborating and working together with those I meet to find them their spare parts and missing pokemon, but I, a humble tea-maker have no venue at which to sell my wares. Perhaps if I were to help you find your pokemon, you could help me by allowing me to sell tea at your next venue?" Sara said, wrapping up her dramatic monologue with a flourish, spinning once and revealing her terrifying 'tea' concoction in her hands.

"If you find this agreeable, I'd be glad to help you out!" Sara said, smiling happily, satisfied that she had made her case. "Me and Tartarus here haven't been travelling together long, though I think you'll find that we are quite a capable pair!" Sara said, smiling. Tartarus had been bored by this long interaction, just talking back and forth and had wandered off a bit from Sara, before laying down in a nice sunny spot, rolling over onto its back and closing its eyes, happily sunbathing. "Tartarus!" Sara yell-whispered over to the Rattata, Tartarus didn't move much, its ear twitching slightly, as Sara said its name, tail flicking annoyedly. "Tartarus, come here!" Sara said, in a slightly more scolding tone. Tartarus flipped over and slowly meandered over to Sara, then sat down next to her, glaring at Heike and Torad. "I think you'll find we're up to the task." Sara said, slightly less confidently, as Tartarus' ears flicked.

~~

Sara and Tartarus agree to help Heike and Torad, with the stipulation that Sara be given permission to sell her wares at their next performance!

LAIKA OF GANGNAM STYLE

[Kataya]

Heike and Torad listened as the girl introduced herself as Sara. Heike shook her head when she said that she wasn't much of a trainer. "Maybe not yet, but that Rattata of yours has some raw potential, I can just tell." As Sara prattled on about being the very same broken wagon that stood behind them, Torad and Heike exchanged confused glances. Cherrygrove held some strange people, although they could hardly call themselves normal when they were standing in the middle of the road dressed as Raikou and Suicune. Strange maybe, but she could be helpful yet. "Oh Lugia honey look what you've gone and done, she wants something..." Torad muttered to Heike, who hushed him as Sara continued to speak. Heike seemed impressed. "Tea-Making? A fine art, although the Kimono Girls further out in the region are far more knowledgeable about Tea than I am. Perhaps you should make that a stop on your Journey? I don't think they make Tea, but they might certainly appreciate your talent."

"Look kid, you find us those Pokemon and parts and you can sell Tea at our shows all you want, Lugia knows we need all the crowd drawing we can get." Heike softly nudged Torad. "What he means to say is that we would be glad to agree to your terms." it sounded a lot less brass than her husbands way of saying it, Torad ruined enough deals by being his usual self anyway. Torad nodded in response, though he didn't exactly appreciate Heike's way of saying it. "We better get looking if we want to get this Wagon fixed by sundown." Torad said as he pushed ahead of the two women, making his way down the path. Heike sighed in exasperation. "Torad, you already went that way!" she called as she made her way after him, with a slight difficulty due to her dress. Well made, but sometimes a pain.

There was a soft whinny behind Sara as the Ponyta at the reins made itself known. It shifted nervously on his hooves, as if it wanted to tell Sara something, but was hesitating with itself. Did it want to tell her? Should it try and convey what should have been said? Slowly, it turned its head towards Sara. But it just didn't look...Normal. Beady and small black eyes unlike that of a normal Ponyta and yet somehow they still looked soft and filled with concern, and a squiggly mouth that would usually be upturned in a smile sporting a frown. This er... 'Ponyta' may have looked odd, but also could have been worth talking to, if Sara gave it the time.

You can follow Heike and Torad, even if Heike seems convinced Torad is going the wrong way. However...


There's something a little bit...strange about Torad and Heike's Ponyta. But it seems to know something about where its friends have gone off to, so if you'd like, you can take the time to stop and see what it knows.

*Note: It's kind of like a choose your own adventure, either way will bring the story to the same conclusion, just differently, so feel free to choose whichever looks the most interesting!

[Goni]

Sara smiled, satisfied that she was getting the better end of this deal. “Alright, then lets get looking!” Sara said, happily. The ponyta pulling the carriage caught Sara’s eye for a second, and as its beady eye stared back at Sara, she shifted uncomfortably. Something about the beast didn’t look right… Though, with these two performers, Sara was starting to understand it was probably better to not ask many questions. Sara slowly circled around the side of the wagon to try to get a better look. The flaming mane, the stoic stance, and the.... weird face... Actually, getting a closer look at it, the whole ponyta looked a little cheesy to Sara. She wasn't sure what she was expecting from the stories, but this thing sure didn't live up to the tales of brave knights riding these flaming beasts into battle. The flames didn't even look like they were moving on this ponyta. Sara backed away slowly. This thing was weird, that's for sure, and as Torad and Heike started off down the path, Sara decided it was probably better to go with them then get stuck looking after this strange looking pokémon.

Sara quickly jogged to catch up to the performers. Tartarus lagged behind, lazily waddling along at less than half the pace that Sara was walking at, and Sara found herself constantly turning around and picking him up, carrying him for a little bit until he wiggled free, and then putting him back down, where Tartarus would once again start following, then get bored or distracted and start sniffing at nearby sticks . “Um, I hate to be -that person-, but is there any particular reason you decided to go this way?” Sara said, smiling uncomfortably as if she had just commited a faux pas.

~~

Sara and Tartarus follow after Heike and Torad, unsure of whether or not this is the right way to go!

LAIKA OF GANGNAM STYLE

[Tarlar]

The ponyta's small beady eyes burned into Sara as it continued to try express something to her, but it failed as the young woman decided to follow its owners. It's head hung in defeat as it stayed back with the wagon it was still strapped to, it stomped the ground impatiently as it watched the humans disappear among the trees.

It was easy for Sara to hear where Torad and Heike had been as they continued to bicker.
"I'm telling you, if you just stop yelling you wouldn't.." Heiko began and got interrupted.
"Don't tell me to lower my voice!" Torad snapped and Heike sighed.
"Oh, there you are, don't mind him, he is just worried about his nidoran," Heike apologized to Sara and Torad mumbled something they couldn't hear.
"He just don't want to listen, but if he just learned and was more diplomatic we wouldn't be in this situation," Heike continued and Torad stopped abruptly to turn to face his wife.
"You are the one who make demands all the time and wants to be treated like a princess," Torad half-yelled then a laughter from further in the forest reached them and Torad spun in that direction.
He paused to glance at Sara when she asked her question, "I just know," he answered and then took off running. Heike sighed again and shrugged before she tripped after him as fast as she could for her long complicated dress.

"Hey! Let them go, or are you looking for trouble?!" Torad shouted and as Sara arrived she would see a pair dressed in black with their backs turned to them. they were holding a net in between them where two nidoran were struggling.

"Prepare for trouble..." The golden haired one said, clearly female.
"...and make it double!" The green haired one added with a male voice.
"Here's our mission, so you better listen!" Both then stated loudly.
"To infect the world with devastation!"
"To blight all people in every nation!"
"To denounce the goodness of truth and love!"
"To extend our wrath to the stars above!"
"Cassidy!" The golden haired turned around and revealed the big R in front of her shirt.
"And Butch, of course!" The green haired turned around, he too was a member of Team Rocket.
"We're Team Rocket, circling Earth all day and night!"
"Surrender to us now or you will surely lose the fight"

"Surrender?! Listen Hutch, if you think we surrender to you clowns.." Torad protested and got interrupted by Butch shouting: "it's Butch!"
"Clowns? You shouldn't be talking," Cassidy answered with a mocking snicker as she eyed Torad and Heike when she arrived too.
"I don't care if you are called Bob, Chuck or Patch! Give back our pokemon!" Torad raged.
"BUTCH!" Butch shouted once more furiously.
"Torad, I think it is time for a tail chase!" Heike said urgently.
"What?!" He exclaimed but flinched by the burning stare she sent him, the his eyes widened in understanding, "Rino! Get her!"
"Rina, you too," Heike shouted and the two nidoran looked at them like they were crazy.
Butch and Cassidy laughed.
"Please, trust us," Heike said and the two nidraon gave it a go. They ran in a circle trying to catch the other, their many spikes pulled the net with them in the spinning motion and it in turn pulled it out of the hands of the two Team Rockets. The moment the nidoran could feel the net was free they raced back to Torad and Heike, losing the net in the process.

"You are going to regret that!" Cassidy sneered and sent out a drowzee, Butch was quick to follow and a shuckle appeared beside the psychic type.
"The one who is going to regret anything today are you two! Come on Sara, you said you wanted to help get our nidoran, and I need your help now!" Torad called.

Butch and Cassidy butts in and attempts to claim the nidoran!
He sends out a shuckle [lvl 6] and she a drowzee [lvl 5] (OBS knows Metronome)


Torad wants revenge and his Rino [lvl 6] is ready.

Torad and Heike wants you to help with the double battle, choose a pokemon!

(ooc: notes to other mods: please avoid letting shuckle have rollout and it is a running gag in the series that everybody gets Butch name wrong)

[Goni]

These two people certainly were very strange, and they didn’t look like they were trying to capture the pokemon in any official capacity. "A net? Seriously?” Sara thought to herself. As the small nidoran ran in a circle, tangling the nets up and pulling away, Sara couldn’t help but smile. These pokemon trainers seemed like amateurs, and worse, they even had their own theme song which simply sounded ridiculous especially considering neither Butch or Cassidy could keep in tune as they chimed out with their little introduction.

Tartarus the ratata had been following after lazily, but after hearing the commotion ahead, burst through the bushes and onto the scene. As Sara scrambled to take her backpack off in order to search for a pokéball after being told it was time to fight by Torad, she noticed that Tartarus was already charging towards the battle with what looked like a fierce tackle. “Uh, alright looks like you’re up Tartarus!” Sara said, completely not confident in this choice. Tartarus leapt into the air dramatically flying over the enemy pokémon, then landed with a thud next to a hearty looking stick which it immediately started chewing on. Sara’s face dropped.

“Now’s not really the time for that Tartarus! Read the room! Use Quick Attack on that Drowzee now!” Tartarus looked back to Sara then at the two pokémon in front of it. Tartarus smirked, it had been looking to pick a fight all day, and finally it was time for it to strut its stuff.

~~

Sara is completely unimpressed by these criminals, and is sending out Tartarus the Ratata with a quick attack to start the fight! - 252 Words -

LAIKA OF GANGNAM STYLE

[Tarlar]

"What? A rattata?" Cassidy said and laughed, which Butch quickly followed.
"Pound it into the ground Drowzee," she ordered and the hypnotizing pokemon lifted its head and swung at Tartarus as he leaped past, and missed greatly.
The rattata finally understood he was getting a battle, or perhaps he had just been teasing Team Rocket or Sara, but now he was ready and slammed into the belly of the surprised Drowzee.
"Rino! It's time to save the world!" Torad declared as he struck a pose, his Rino followed and looked like a tiny upcoming hero.
"Leer! And let them shiver in the knowledge of what is in store for them!" He added and the nidoran glared mightily at his two opponents.
"That's going to save the world? You aren't doing anything!" Butch laughed and Torad crossed his hands over his chest.
"Well Buck," Torad began and got interrupted by Butch shouting: "It's Butch!"
"You'll see and learn, when Rino encounters a wrong in the world he will make it right!" Torad continued unaffected and Butch glared at him.
"I'll set you right! Shuckle, catch that thing!" Butch ordered and his shuckle began to crawl slowly over the ground.

"What are you waiting for Drowzee! Pound it!" Cassidy spat and the drowzee finally maanged to get a hit in at Tartarus, who wasn't that bothered by it.
"Hey girl, what's in this for you?" Cassidy called out to Sara, "are they paying you tons for doing this?"

Shuckle finally made it all the way over the nidoran and it wrapped its rubber looking arms around the nidoran and squeezed.
"Ha! Got you!" Butch declared and Torad pointed at him.
"No, I got you!"


Wild Encounter

---

Weather: Clear

[attr="class","qkt-bkgd"]

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn"]
Drowzee LV 5
HP 72% [16/22]

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn2"]
Shuckle LV 6
HP 100% [20/20]

[attr="class","qkt-wild-imgbox"]

[attr="class","qkt-pkmn-img"]

[attr="class","qkt-wild-imgbox"]

[attr="class","qkt-pkmn-img"]

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn2-1"]
Rino LV 6
HP 83% [20/24]

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn2-2"]
Tartarus LV 4
HP 76% [13/17]

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-imgbox"]

[attr="class","qkt-pkmn-img"]

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-imgbox"]

[attr="class","qkt-pkmn-img"]

Shuckle [Sturdy]: -1DEF
Drowzee [Insomnia]: -1DEF
Tartarus [Runaway]: Normal
Rino [Poison Point]: Wrapped (1/4 turns, -3 HP)

SP12+ Tartarus used Quick Attack!
SP12 Rino used Leer!
SP10 Drowzee used Pound!
SP7 Shuckle used Wrap!

(ooc: 252 words added to the egg. RESERVING THIS, to the battle/encounter is over.)

[Goni]

Sara couldn’t help but note the theatrical performance from the trainers on both sides. Everything Cassidy and Butch did was so over the top, and Torad just played along. Maybe theatrics were just part of being a trainer though, and it was something Sara would have to get used to. Back in Alola all those kids on their adventures would always pose with their pokémon as the pokémon did attacks, but she always figured that was just for show. Maybe their excitement actually helped the pokémon in battle.

“Hey girl, what’s in this for you? Are they paying you tons for doing this?” Cassidy called out to Sara.“We worked out a deal for something even better than cash payment. They’re paying me in exposure” Sara said with a proud smile growing on her face. “They told me if I help them get their nidoran back, that they would provide a venue for me to sell tea at!” She added with a grin. For some reason Cassidy’s question caused Sara to consider the fact that Torad and Heike were tricking her in order to get her help. “That is still the deal, right?” Sara said, somewhat less confidently to Torad.

“Are Nidoran even that rare?” Sara said to Cassidy. “What exactly are you getting out of this? There are tons of wild pokémon around, what’s so special about these ones? To be honest your pokemon seem even more rare…” Sara put her finger up, motioning for the trainers to wait. and quickly took off her backpack and started rifling through it. A few seconds was all it took for Sara to essentially dump out all of her clothes on the ground. She finally found what she was looking for, the Pokédex she had received from Professor Elm. “A pokémon professor gave me this. It shows the general geographical habitat of pokémon.” Sara held the device up to the Nidoran. “It looks like you could just travel to Azalea town, there should be a route near there where Nidoran run wild!” Sara said, as she walked over to Cassidy, trying to show her the screen.

Tartarus couldn’t care less about the conversation that was going on. It snorted, pawing at the ground and eyed the fleshy soft belly of the Drowzee, as if raring to go. As Sara droned on with actually engaging in conversation, the small ratata was convinced they were losing the edge in battle. It looked over to the Nidoran as well, sizing it up. “I could take em…” Tartarus thought to itself, smirking confidently. “But I gotta finish off this yellow and brown clown first.” It sneered. Not receiving any direct combat orders from Sara herself, Tartarus grinned and started wagging its tail playfully and turning its head to stick their tongue out at the pair of opposing pokémon, taunting them.

~~

Sara was completely derailed by her own chain of thoughts! She whips her pokédex out and is now attempting to quell the criminals through sharing information. Rattata couldn't care. Rattata wants to fight. It uses tail whip tauntingly.
- 474 Words-

LAIKA OF GANGNAM STYLE

[Tarlar]

"Exposure?! Girl they got you good!" Cassidy laughed out loud, "you know what? WE'll actually be doing her a favor by taking those pokemon from them," Butch said with a grin and Cassidy instantly turned sour.
"We're not doing this to help her you fool! The boss wants all the pokemon he can get and that's what we're doing!" Cassidy spat and Butch withdrew quickly.
"Yes! I know! Of course! It was just a fun coincidence.." he tried to defend himself and Cassidy just raised a hand to signal for him to be quiet, which he did.
"Don't ever think we're here to help you, even your weak rattata can be useful for Team Rocket, if nothing else then as cannon fodder," Cassidy said with an evil smile.

"Oh? Yes of course! You are free to sell all you want at our venues as soon as we have won this," Torad said a bit absentminded as his focus was on the battle.

Cassidy glared at Sara when she began to ask her a lot of questions, "No they are not, but The Boss needs a lot of strong pokemon, which these two can be, unlike your rattata, and we're not going to miss out on an easy catch when they run straight into us," Cassidy said with a huff.
"See? Your friends can just go and get some new nidorans now they are just around the corner, no need to battle us for these two," Cassidy said with a dismissive wave of her hand.
"And then we can come and steal those as well!" Butch declared and laughed of his own joke, Cassidy rolled her eyes.
"Rino is irreplaceable! And Rina too! You are not going to get any of them Bart!" Torad fumed.
"It's Butch!"

"Metronome Drowzee, and catch them with their pants down!" Cassidy ordered loudly which got the others to give their orders quickly as well.
"Hold it tight!" Butch shouted.
"Peck yourself free Rino!" It came from Torad.

Drowzee narrowed its eyes and followed the tauntingly tail waving with its eyes, it seemed a little dull but started to wag its fingers around. Rino slammed its horn into the side of the shuckle but it hang on and wrapped its arms tighter around the nidoran.
Drowzee finished its called and lifted a single finger into the air, a little cloud gathered above Tartarus and then a bolt of lightening slammed down into the young rattata leaving him rather winded.


Wild Encounter

---

Weather: Clear

[attr="class","qkt-bkgd"]

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn"]
Drowzee LV 5
HP 72% [16/22]

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn2"]
Shuckle LV 6
HP 80% [16/20]

[attr="class","qkt-wild-imgbox"]

[attr="class","qkt-pkmn-img"]

[attr="class","qkt-wild-imgbox"]

[attr="class","qkt-pkmn-img"]

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn2-1"]
Rino LV 6
HP 62% [15/24]

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn2-2"]
Tartarus LV 4
HP 11% [2/17]

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-imgbox"]

[attr="class","qkt-pkmn-img"]

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-imgbox"]

[attr="class","qkt-pkmn-img"]

Shuckle [Sturdy]: -2DEF
Drowzee [Insomnia]: -2DEF
Tartarus [Runaway]: Normal
Rino [Poison Point]: Wrapped (2/4 turns, -3 HP)

SP12 Tartarus used Tail whip!
SP12 Rino used Peck!
SP10 Drowzee used Metronome! It turned into Thunder!
SP7 Shuckle used Wrap!


Thunder hitting: 2Yd6qPTf1-100
(ooc: 400 words added to the egg. RESERVED)1-100

[Goni]

Sara watched, slightly terrified as the drowzee waggled its fingers and a small cloud formed over Tartarus, and the an literal lightning bolt struck down at him. “Literal monster” She thought to herself. She had seen pokémon do incredibly things before, but controlling weather was something she had only seen on TV. “Alright Sara, this is serious.” She thought to herself. She thought she had laid out a perfectly rational solution that would leave both sides happy, but they were still insisting on causing harm to her pokémon. Sara ran over to her pokémon and scooped it up, then ran over to her bag, pulling a potion out. “Jeez Tartarus, they sure hit you with a cheap shot, huh?” Sara said, cradling the small rat in her arms. “This will make you feel better, supposedly, according to the Pokémart Guy at least…”

“You know, both of you are being really irrational. Your ‘Team Rocket’ could probably benefit from some basic new member training. Stealing pokémon has got to be one of the hardest, dumbest, and most illegal way to get pokémon, strong or not.” Sara eyed the enemy team. She eyed the drowzee, who, despite just producing one of the most terrifying looking attacks Sara had ever seen, looked a little battered from Tartarus’ first attack. Sara concluded her thinking with a pout. “Alright, enough with the logic, you two want to fight yourselves silly till your pokémon both get knocked out? Fine.” Tartarus seemed to be feeling a little bit better after the potion, and quickly leapt back onto the battlefield while chittering aggressively at the opposing pokémon. “Lets get back into this fight with a Quick Attack, on the Drowzee!”

Tartarus’ wounds healed quickly, the potion getting to work even faster than Sara had thought it would, though it seemed like the drowzee wasn’t all that worried… yet. Tartarus pawed at the ground again, before quickly getting down into a running position and nearly disappearing from view, launching a quick attack.

~~

Sara is done talking to these goofballs, well, as done as she can be. She uses a potion on Tartarus to heal him, and then launches a quick attack at the Drowzee.
Note: Using Running Shoes.
333 words.

LAIKA OF GANGNAM STYLE

[Tarlar]

Torad looked rather worried at Sara who hurried rather close to the drowzee and he glanced back at his rather hindered nidoran.
"Rino, Poison Sting in the drowzee, keep it off their backs!" He shouted and his poisonous rabbit paused its struggling against the shuckle's hold to look around to find the others. It tried to take a few steps towards the psychic type but shuckle was too heavy and it gave up after a few steps. It narrowed its eyes and the shot several needles out of its mouth, Drowzee winced when they hit and scratched its sore shoulder where it had hit.

"See? You don't have a chance, just give up and give in," Cassidy said with a laugh after Drowzee had used Thunder, "and there is more where it comes from!"
"But Cassidy, she's healing.." Butch began and got interrupted, "shut up!"
Cassidy made a exasperated sigh and crossed her arms over her chest as she looked at Sara, "you know how much work that is? Taming a wild pokemon and making it even remotely usable?" Cassidy asked tiredly.
"Yeah! It's good Dr. Namba is working on that headgear to control them! It will make it so much easier!" Butch chimed in and Cassidy nodded, "but until then we have to let other trainers do the hard work and then return the useful one for Team Rocket."
"Wait," Torad said slowly and looked at Sara, "are they talking about brain washing pokemon?"
Cassidy clapped slowly, "how clever you are. Drowzee! Don't just stand there! Metronome and finish that rat!"

The drowzee began to wiggle its fingers as Tartarus raced at it. A black wave pulsed from it and sent Tartarus staggering back, but it couldn't keep it up and the rattata slammed into the psychic type and toppled it over.
"Get up! You aren't finished yet!" Cassidy snapped at her drowzee, but it stayed down. It hadn't been visble but the poison which had entered its blood, had had plenty of time to work while the humans chatted away, and it didn't have much energy left when Tartarus attacked.
"Drowzee! No!" Cassidy exclaimed furious and stomped over to it to confirm it really had fainted. She recalled it and pointed at Sara, "you are going to regret that!"
"I'll handle this Cassidy, don't you worry about it!" Butch said eagerly, "Shuckle, get that nidoran over here," he said and picked up the net from before again. Rino fought all he could, poking its horn in everywhere it could find a soft spot but the shuckle didn't care and just slowly dragged it with it over the grass.
"Rino! Get out of there!" Torad called worriedly and looked back at Sara and Heike, "I'm going to need some help!"


Wild Encounter

---

Weather: Clear

[attr="class","qkt-bkgd"]

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn"]
Drowzee LV 5
HP 0% [0/22]

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn2"]
Shuckle LV 6
HP 35% [7/20]

[attr="class","qkt-wild-imgbox"]

[attr="class","qkt-pkmn-img"]

[attr="class","qkt-wild-imgbox"]

[attr="class","qkt-pkmn-img"]

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn2-1"]
Rino LV 6
HP 25% [6/24]

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn2-2"]
Tartarus LV 4
HP 47% [8/17]

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-imgbox"]

[attr="class","qkt-pkmn-img"]

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-imgbox"]

[attr="class","qkt-pkmn-img"]

Shuckle [Sturdy]: -2DEF, Poisoned (-3 HP)
Drowzee [Insomnia]: Fainted.
Tartarus [Runaway]: Normal
Rino [Poison Point]: Wrapped (4/4 turns, -3 HP)

SP12++ Tartarus was healed!
SP12 Rino used Poison Sting!
SP10 Drowzee used Metronome! It turned into Dark Pulse!
SP7 Shuckle used Wrap!

SP12 Tartarus used Quick Attack! Drowzee fainted
SP12 Rino used Peck!
SP7 Shuckle used Wrap!


(ooc: You don't need the running shoes to use an item and do a move, so it's not exhausted ^^ It's for using two moves in a row. 1 potion deducted, 333 words added to the egg. RESERVED)

[Goni]

Sara watched nervously as the Drowzee wiggled its finger once more, producing yet another powerful looking spell. She couldn’t help but wince. Tartarus had only been traveling with Sara for a little bit, and definitely wasn’t the strongest pokémon on the route. Their bark was definitely worse than their bite, since, despite the gigantic front teeth, Tartarus was hesitant to actually use them on another pokémon. Maybe with more battle knowledge and fighting experience it would realize it had a huge weapon right in front of its eyes, instead of constantly insisting on ramming into things.

Sara listened with hesitation as the two talked about headgear which would allow them to control pokémon. It seemed a rather unconventional way to get around working together with your pokémon. As terrifying as pokémon were in the wild, they always seemed like they would be willing to work with a trainer, especially after being captured by a pokéball. She wasn’t sure, but she thought that pokéballs had their own mechanisms lying within that would make pokémon more receptive to training and commands anyways. Why, just a few weeks ago when she had first met Tartarus, they had been a wild pokémon. I mean sure they took a little time to get used to Sara, but for a skilled trainer, she imagined that they could command a pokémon a moment after using a pokéball on them.

“Hey!” Sara shouted, as Butch once again tried to make themselves relevant, “Going back to a tried and failed strategy with that net, Bert?” Sara couldn’t help but roll her eyes. "Tartarus, use quick attack on that Shuckle! Don’t let it pull Rino closer to that net!” Sara said, pointing commandingly toward the Shuckle. Tartarus chittered its teeth excitedly. It had already felled one foe in battle, and it was definitely ready to land the finishing blow on the other. It prepared itself again, dipping its head down close to the ground, before launching towards the shuckle at a speed which was hard to even track with the naked eye. “I gotta say, you two and this Dr. Namba sound like a purely incompetent lot. I had never heard of Team Rocket before, and now I know I surely shouldn’t take anyone who calls themselves a member seriously!”

As the battlefield shifted slightly, Sara made sure to follow after the fight by stepping forward towards both Cassidy and Butch, as intimidatingly as possible. These two didn’t seem so tough without their pokémon backing them, and now that they were recognizing their loss, they were falling back on their first instinct which had failed them before. “Seems to me your mission failed. I’m sure this ‘Dr. Nando’ and your ‘Boss’ will be happy to hear you deliver the report of your failing to them.” Sara said, her tone darkening. “Or maybe, just maybe you would rather that me and Torad take you down and deliver you to the IPF.” she added, cracking her knuckles. “I’m a tea maker, but I’ve been known to serve up some mean Knuckle Sandwiches sometimes too."

~~

Having taken down one foe, Tartarus moves to take down the other, working together with Rino by unleashing a quick attack! Sara isn’t well versed in proper battle etiquette, and seems like they are ready to keep battling with Cassidy and Butch, even if they run out of pokémon!
~509 words~

LAIKA OF GANGNAM STYLE

[Tarlar]

"It's BUTCH!" The male grunt shouted at the top of his lungs, spitting every word. Torad grinned to Sara.
"It worked the first time, and with only one weakened pokemon it will work again," Cassidy said while tapping her foot, Shuckle was just so slow!
"What do you mean with it working?! They got free, and in a clever way that is too!" Torad called confidently, they would do fine now it was two against one. Rino still struggled.
"We caught them no trouble in the first place, and now its all alone, what will you do now?" Butch said and smirked, "Come on Shuckle! Hurry up!"

Shuckle was very slow though and Tartarus was racing at the top speed, and bounced off the shell like he tripped over it. The shuckle continued like nothing had happened and even looked like it ignored the the pecking Rino frantically attacked it with to get free.
In the corner of her eye, Sara would see Heike step forward with Rina at her side.
"You don't want to get Team Rocket as your enemy, You don't know what Dr. Namba is capable off, nor Team Rocket. You will learn to fear the name and all your pokemon will belong to us!" Cassidy said as she striked a pose.
"Just you wait and see!" Butch added.

And then, a great shake took hold of Shuckle and froth gathered in its mouth as the poison drained it of its last energy. Rino paused as the grip around it loosened and it staggered back, then it spun around and raced stumbling back to Torad.
"Success!"
"What? What happened? It went so well," Butch said confused and just stared at the fainted shuckle. Cassidy looked Sara up and down, she looked rather fit and a bit intimidating when she threatened to beat them up. She pulled Butch closer and hissed something in his ear.
"You don't scare us! We'll let you have this one but don't think you have seen the last of us!" Cassidy called out loudly as Butch recalled his Shuckle. The spun around and raced away.
"We'll be back!" Butch promised with a shout over his shoulder and then they disappeared into the forest.

"That's how you do it!" Torad exclaimed and fist pumped the air, then turned to Sara, "dear one, I can't thank you enough for your help! That metronome was scary!"
"And that shuckle could take a beating!" Heike added and rubbed her arm as if to get rid of a uncomfortable feeling.
"Heike! No! Don't do that! You'll dirty your dress!" Torad exclaimed and Heike rolled her eyes. "I don't want to redo all that stiching! Beside, you were ready and could easily have taken over and handled them, Rina is much better at fighting than Rino," Torad declared and added as he turned to his nidoran, "that's why we want the training, right?"

"I know those two was a pair of fools, but Team Rocket is a gang who can't be dangerous. Don't take them lightly should you run into some later on," Heike warned and then pointed at something waving in the wind, "looks like they dropped something."
When Sara looked at at Heike again, either after having just looked at the dropped money, or returned from having picked it up, Heike had mysteriously produced a bottle of water and a little pouch. Her dress certainly didn't look like it had any pockets, nor was she carrying a bag.
"A little gift as thank you for you help, perhaps you can use it for your tea making?" She asked as she handed it to Sara.
"Our agreement still stands of course!" Torad shouted from where he was kneeling with his nidoran, giving it something to eat to help it regain its energy.

Cassidy and Butch runs off and drops £100.


Tartarus endured and proved he is a fierce fighter! He grows (3/2+3/2=1,5+1,5)=3 levels to [LV 7]!
He learns Focus Energy!


Torad and Heike gives Sara water and herbs believing she can use it for tea making.

(ooc: just enough damage to knock it out, but only due to it being poisoned XD )
Unreserved ^^

[Goni]

Tartarus chittered happily, its foes now defeated. Seeing the two team rocket members run away, Sara relaxed her arms a little. “Maybe you’re right about this Team Rocket, but one thing is for sure, I won’t be forgetting about this Birch and Cassidy.” Sara said, contemplatively. “And this Dr. Namba… sounds kind of outside my area of expertise but is that really a name they should be kicking around like that? Sounds like it could be a big lead for some IPF officer… Ah, but the fight is over for now. I just hope my paths don’t cross with those two again, next time it’ll probably be knuckle sandwiches first, then a pokémon battle!” Tartarus chittered happily hearing Sara talking about being quick to violence.

As Torad cared for his pokémon, Sara quickly started shoving her things back into her bag, cleaning up the mess of clothing piles she had made on the battlefield, making sure to put her pokédex on top of her bag this time, rather than at the bottom. “Oh, thanks for the bottle and powder. I’ll sure give it a shot! This will probably go perfect with Rattata whiskers!” Sara said, eyeing Tartarus. Tartarus pretended not to hear and started pawing at the dirt. “Perfect! I look forward to seeing your show at Violet City! I will be sure to be prepared and ready with my teas!” Sara said to the performers, as she watched her rattata carefully, lest it run away with its precious whiskers. “if I have some time though, I actually-“ Sara started as she shoved her arm back into her newly organized backpack like a child grabbing a fistful of cookies from a cookie jar, forcing out a fishing rod which had been jammed in, and as it was ripped from the opening of her orange backpack, it sprung back into its original shape, “wanted to try out some fishing! If I want to make a profit, I should probably start catching my own food!” She said, smiling.

If the two performers are satisfied with Sara’s answer, she heads out on her own, and off of the beaten path, trying to understand how a fishing rod even works. She maneuvers herself past a fallen log, and squeezes her way through a thicket, before finding herself in front of a small pond. “Alright, lets do this.” Sara says to herself, casting her fishing rod into the water.

~~

Having defeated Cassidy and Butch and after helping Torad and Heike, Sara strikes out on her own to try out her fishing rod!
~402 words~

LAIKA OF GANGNAM STYLE