Quality Time (Aglaia/mod solo) [D]

[arkayne]

The noise ahead of them as they went sneaking through the trees became more and more curious as they went. Something was obviously in distress but as they got closer they could also hear another voice. This one was more high pitched, more of a chittering noise....and it wasn't in distress. It was clearly mad about something.

After several minutes the two of them realized they were approaching a stream that carried water away from the pool beneath the waterfall. They also saw several small figures in the trees. Pausing to study this a moment Aglaia saw they were at the edge of a small clearing beside the stream. The trees were full of Caterpie and Weedles. There must have been dozens of them!

Even more odd though was the scene by the waters edge. A rather stout looking Bidoof was jumping up and down and fussing at something in a hole at it's feet. From here they could see that it was maybe five feet wide but of an unknown depth. Whatever the distressed noise might be it was coming from the hole. As they watched a puff of smoke also wafted out.

"Did you come to watch?" a rather large looking Weedle asked Wystan, studying the larger bug pokemon intently. "These two are making so much noise we all came to see what the fuss was about."

(Ooc:  You can talk to the Weedle first if you like. If you approach the Bidoof it will probably try to gnaw on your face. You've never seen one quite this irritated before.   If you want to use your multiplier here that is fine but as I understand the rule it might be more efficient to use on another route with higher level pokemon. At most Wystan would now go up one level plus modifier based on the average level of encounters here.  Just let me know.)

[Tarlar]

Wystan made sure to keep an eye on Aglaia who clearly looked nervous to be ready to defend her if it should be necessary. He was proud that she dared continue forward with him and wasn't trying to get them to go back.
The beedrill got excited as they got closer to the stream, he remembered this place! This was close to home.

As they reached the clearing Wystan paused to take in the situation, Aglaia carefully sneaked up beside him and peeked around a tree where the view made her frown. She understood less of what was going on than Wystan did.
If they should interfere and try solve the situation it would need them to focus and be alert but Wystan was too happy to be back home and see several of his old friend and family around in the nearby trees to care much about what the bidoof had of troubles.

The beedrill's face lightened up when he recognized the weedle that talked to him, only one could be of that size.
"Hi! Well, I wanted to see what was going on and be sure there was no threat for my human," Wystan greeted and looked closer at the weedle, looking for signs to see if it recognized him too. The chances was slim though, as he had changed quite a bit.
"Do you recognize me?" He then couldn't keep himself from asking while looking expectantly at it, "I live in the old broken oak and left a few months ago," he added to help the other guess whom he was.

Aglaia ducked her head as the bidoof moved around and she feared it would see her and get aggressive. Wystan looked at her worried and then addressed the big weedle again.
"Do you know what is going on here?"

Wordcount: 303
(ooc: I think I'll withdraw the lvl gain from the Multiplier until I'm actually in a battle with Wystan, and then use it else where. I am certain it gives more if the pokemon are higher leveled, but as long as it is for a pokemon that gets lvl's instead of exp, I can only use it when I have filled it, and only to get +1 lvl from a battle )

[arkayne]

The large Weedle studied Wystan for a long moment. It was clear that he hadn't recognized the much larger bug on sight but the clues he had given were enough to stir its memory. Happiness was reflected in the other's eyes as it then sized up the Beedrill.

"So that is where you went!" it exclaimed. "We had all feared the Chatot had taken you. But you went and found a human of your own? And look how big you have grown."

They were momentarily distracted by another string of angry mutterings from the Bidoof, followed by another rumbling and puff of smoke from the hole. At that point the Weedle remembered the question it had been asked and continued.

"A herd of fire pokemon wandered by. We hid because fire is not kind to our sort. Anyway, one got separated from it's herd. It was lost and upset, stomping around trying to make noise and draw them back. When it did it collapsed part of the Bidoof's underground den. Now it is stuck in the hole."

Now that it was explained things made a bit more sense. Wystan could pick out some words from the Bidoof demanding the fire pokemon to get out of his den. Unfortunately the Numel had such short legs it couldn't quite climb the steep walls of the hole it had accidentally made. Now it seemed the two were so angry that they would come to blows soon....or attack anything that got in their way.

"Bidoof is a cranky old soul. And it has worked on that den for weeks now. Your human looks nervous. Are you sure she wants to be around when this all gets violent?"

Then, after another moments thought Weedle continued.

"I imagine you would want to stay awhile though. Your family is in the crowd somewhere. They just can't recognize you yet in your new form."

[Tarlar]

Wystan beamed when he was recognized, he had been really stubborn about finding a trainer back when he lived here, and most around had thought it to be a fruitless attempt and a dumb idea. Everyone knew that trainers always chose the fire lizard and used it to burn up every bug they came across, Wystan had always disagreed and he was thrilled to be back and show them that there was hope for those who wanted to get a trainer and learn to fight, and that a lot of their ideas were prejudices.

The beedrill looked surprised when the weedle told him about the fire type swarm, what was it with fire types and his friends?
"That doesn't sound good at all," Wystan said worried and wondered if it had managed to call its flock and if there were other on the way, if they got upset they could do a lot of damage, and he feared for Aglaia and all his bug friends.

Wystan looked back at Aglaia, who dutifully stayed hidden and nodded, "yeah, but she is also a scaredy cat," he chuckled good-natured. "Besides I'm here to keep her safe."
He nodded to the last the weedle said, "I'd love to and if this can be solved without the rest of the fire types coming back there might be a chance."
Wystan turned to Aglaia and excitedly pointed to the big weedle and his family that was gathered closeby. Aglaia watched him with a frown for a few moments.
"I guess you are trying to say that all the weedles are alright?" She asked hesitantly and Wystan nodded eagerly, "no surprised when you are from the same species."
Algaia thought for a bit and then narrowed her eyes a bit at Wystan.
"Do you know them?" She asked and he nodded and she looked curiously at the big weedle closest to her. "I wish I could get to know them, now they are friends, or even perhaps family of you," she said thoughtfully and Wystan looked expectantly at the big weedle to see its reaction to this awesome trainer.

The beedrill gestured for Aglaia to stay where she was and then buzzed out into the open.
"Hello, is there anything I can help you with?" Wystan asked the bidoof kindly although a bit distracted as he couldn't keep himself from glancing at where the others of his friends and family was sitting.
He also stayed out of reach of the old soul as he knew from experience some would lash out before thinking, but he still attempted to get a look into the hole to see what it was that was captured down there. If he succeeded it wouldn't help him much as he had no experience with numels.

Wordcounts: 463

[arkayne]

The Weedles watched as Aglaia and Wystan talked. They begin to inch a little closer then, feeling more at ease with the human and curious as well. There was also an undercurrent of them wishing to look out for her once he had spoken up on her behalf. They could well understand being afraid, especially with marauding fire types around! How that might appear to her they didn't know but their intentions were pure.

When Wystan flew out the Bidoof turned its attention towards him. It was clear that it would attack, if it had any way to do so at range, but the Beedrill remained out of its reach. From this vantage point he could see the upper half of the Numel who was trapped in the hole. It was clearly distressed and close to panic but without help wasn't going to get out of the current predicament. Smoke issued from the hump on its back as if it was trying to send signals to other Numel. Distressingly there were other puffs of smoke far in the distance drifting above the tree tops. Maybe others had heard the sounds or seen the smoke rings? And might be here soon if this wasn't sorted out?

So, Wystan and Aglaia could help the Numel, perhaps capturing it if that is their wish, but first will have to deal with Bidoof who is angry beyond reason and cursing the Beedrill using words no pokemon should know. Otherwise a whole herd of upset Numel could stumble into the clearing spitting fire every which way in an effort to rescue their friend. Whatever they wish to do will need to be decided soon.

(Ooc:  Bidoof would have attacked this round but can't reach Wystan who is flying out of arms reach. )

[Tarlar]

Aglaia watched as Wystan buzzed around and tried to calm the bidoof down which clearly didn't work, it leaped after him and looked like it tried to attack while smoke billowed up from the whole. That was weird, from what Aglaia knew there should be no fire types living on this route.
The smoke she could see above the trees in the distance worried her even more, a whole flock of fire types would not be good news for all the weedles and it would be hard for Wystan to protect her as well.
She would need to lay a plan but it was hard when she didn't know what she had to work with.

Aglaia exhaled slowly to calm herself, she glanced at the weedles, they were wild and unknown and therefore she felt exposed around them, she didn't know what to expect from them, but Wystan had said good for them and she did trust him.
She stepped out from her hiding place and hesitated as she wondered how she could get to the hole and get the knowledge she needed. She looked at the bidoof with frown and then sighed regrettedly, she hated to do this but if Wystan couldn't talk it down they would have to battle. There was no way she was going to go closer without the bidoof being occupied somehow.

"Wystan, we cannot wait for this, I fear other fire types are coming. You will need to battle it if it doesn't want to listen to you, then we'll do what we can to make up for it afterwards," Aglaia called to her beedrill who looked surprised at her.
"Drill!" He declared his agreement confidently and then started building up strength with the help of Sword Dance.
"You want to fight?, I'll give you a fight but I hope you will let us help you afterwards," Wystan challenged the bidoof as he would do his best to block attacks with his stingers, then he would move in with a Fury Attack of his own.

Aglaia waited until the battle was well undergoing before sneaking to the hole and peeking down. She frowned, what on earth was that?
"Numel, the numb pokemon. A fire and ground type. Numel's hot magma inside its body cools when it rains on it and it becomes even more sluggish, it.." The pokedex told Aglaia before she closed it down.
Aglaia frowned as she thought, the numel clearly was scared and couldn't get up on its own, but as a ground and fire type that was no surprised when being trapped in a hole this close to water! The question was how to get it up?
It looked too heavy for Wystan to push up and she wasn't happy about the thought of sending her beloved beedrill into a hole with a scared fire type, that could only end badly. She could of course try to capture it, but then she'd need to battle it first, right? And the pokeball would then be trapped in the hole and they didn't really have a shape that was easy for Wystan to pick up.
Perhaps he could use his string shot?
Aglaia blinked, perhaps all the many weedles around could use their string shot on the numel and then pull it up? They weren't strong on their own but everybody knew there was strength in numbers.

First thing first, she would need to try calm the numel first.
"Hello," she said hesitantly and waited to see if the numel reacted on her or not.
"I'm here to help you, I will get you up of that hole as soon as you calm down, relax," she said tryingly not having a clue what would be good to say to a panicking pokemon. Heck it might not even understand her at all.

Wordcount: 639
(Wystan uses Sword Dance and attempts Fury Attack)

[arkayne]

Wild Encounter

---

Weather: Clear

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

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

[attr="class","qkt-clip"]Bidoof

LV 10
HP 56% [19/34]

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

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

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

[attr="class","qkt-clip"]Wystan

LV 15
HP 92% [45/49]

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

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

Wild Pkmn Status: Too angry to listen to reason!
Trainer Pkmn Status: Swooping in to save the day!

 

By way of reply the Bidoof merely said "Bring it!" as it prepared for battle. It used it's Defense Curl to prepare for Wystan's first attack but it wasn't nearly enough. The bug types Fury attack struck true and nearly took the elder pokemon out of the fight in the first round! Odds are that this wasn't going to take very long at all. To its credit though Bidoof retaliated with a Rollout attack but it was very inadequate given their level difference and how much slower it was than Wystan.

While they battled Aglaia made her way to the edge of the hole and peered down at Numel. The trapped pokemon looked up at the sound of her voice and its eyes grew a bit wider. It seemed to understand her, or at least understood that she wasn't a threat. The longer she talked the more calm it grew.

"Nume?" It seemed to ask though she couldn't tell what it was saying and her own pokemon was too far away and rather busy to be hearing what they said. She could though that she had its attention and once the Bidoof was dealt with it shouldn't be too hard to get its cooperation.

[Tarlar]

Wystan was exhilarated when he felt his power and how little the opponent did to him, was this how all the trainer pokemon felt when they had beaten him in the past? He had respect for the rollout and was quite surprised how little pain he felt from it, that move Aglaia had just taught him had really made a difference! Training with her had really made a difference and he was proud he finally had a chance to show she could trust him and that he could protect her.
He buzzed forward stingers ready to give the bidoof another furious stab with them, he was going to end this quickly and impress all his friends and family whom he hadn't had time to greet properly yet.

To Aglaia's relief the numel quickly relaxed when she talked to it so she just kept chatting about nothing to keep it calm. She studied the hole and realized that it had to be a den to the bidoof of some sort which had crashed under the weight of the numel. No wonder that the bidoof was angry.
She feared it also made it unstable, perhaps it would collapse around the numel if she tried to pull it up?
She decided the best way of action would be to attempt to capture it in a pokeball and then let Wystan pull it up with his string shot. Then she could always release it afterwards if it wanted, or to calm the rest of the herd if they came stampeding in.
She glanced over her shoulder to see how Wystan was faring and when she could expect to be able to get his help.

"I'd like to try capture you, do you understand? That will be the easiest way to get your up. I can release you afterwards if you prefer," Aglaia told the numel and studiet it closely to see its reaction and if it understood her or not.
She was surprised how much it reminded of herself, scared when in a new situation and calm when it had someone else to help it.

Wordcount: 351
(Wystan uses another Fury Attack. If the battle ends and I have a full multiplier bar I'd like to use it on Wystan as well)

[arkayne]

Wild Encounter

---

Weather: Clear

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

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

[attr="class","qkt-clip"]Bidoof

LV 10
HP 0% [0/34]

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

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

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

[attr="class","qkt-clip"]Wystan

LV 15
HP 94% [45/49]

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

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

Wild Pkmn [Ability]: Out for the count!
Trainer Pkmn [Ability]: Fast and furious!

 Speed was the deciding factor her. Speed and Wystan's greater experience in battling. The Bidoof stood it's ground bravely but was no match for the more experienced bug type. Zipping in quickly Wystan managed to sting his opponent four times before the wild pokemon could react. Before he even knew it the other was toppling to the ground, all of the fight taken out of him. For a moment he paused, his previous thoughts of how much his training had helped and how much more powerful he was still ringing in his head. If he had needed an example to prove the truth of those thoughts he had it now.

As the Bidoof toppled over there was a sudden hush that came over the clearing. Then came a cheer, followed by another. Surprised Wystan turned to see the assembled Weedles in the area cheering for him and his victory. They were more than happy to celebrate one of their own who had made good and were clearly proud of how strong he was now.

Meanwhile Aglaia was still regarding the trapped Numel as quiet descended on the clearing. When the sound of battle faded the trapped pokemon's eyes widened a bit and it seemed to relax. Already having calmed considerably from the state it had been in when they arrived she could almost swear that the fire type was smiling at her. The time was right if she wanted to go ahead and attempt the capture now.

(Wystan defeats the Bidoof in decisive fashion! He gains one level for their level difference and then another for the multiplier bar for a total of two. That will make him seventeenth level which gives him the option of learning Pursuit. Would you like to forget a move and replace it?)

[Tarlar]

Wystan stayed ready and watched the bidoof intently to be sure it was over and it stayed down, it was first when the cheering began that he realized that he had won.
He looked surprised at first as he had temporarily forgotten about his audience but then he looked up and grinned proudly to all the weedles around him. It meant more to him than he had realized, that his family and old friends saw how much he had grown and was proud of him.
He turned to look at Aglaia, who smiled to him but then turned her attention back to the numel caught in the hole. Wystan smiled and hesitated a moment, but as he expected she could handle herself and that there was little he could do to help get the numel out of the hole, he gave in and went to the group of weedles to say hello.
"Hello, thanks! It means a lot to me, do you remember who I am?" He would say to the weedles around him and searched the group for his parents and especially two of his many siblings. He would ask for their whereabouts if he did not see them and would expect for a lot of them to have been captured, he hoped that instead of being eaten which was a risk as well.

Aglaia looked down at numel.
"It's over now so you can relax," Aglaia said to the fire and ground type and wondered how it got down there in the first place. She saw no reason to ask it as it would have no way to tell her.
"I can see two ways to get your out there, either I try get the weedles to pull you up with their stringshots, or I capture you in a pokeball which is easily pulled up," Aglaia explained and watched the numel closely to see its reactions. If it seemed fine with her last suggestion she would pull out a regular pokeball to offer it by her outstretched arms.
"You are more than welcome to join us if you want, but that is up to you. If you prefer to find your flock again I will release you right after getting the pokeball up," she promised but could give it nothing else to trust than her word.
If the numel did nok look thrilled by the idea of the pokeball, Aglaia would call Wystan over and explain the situation and ask if he and the weedles could pull it up.

wordcount: 421

[arkayne]

Wystan did find his parents among the throng of Weedle and they were indeed quite proud. None of his siblings seemed to be in the crowd though. This was explained by his parents as they enjoyed their reunion.

"They wanted to follow your example and find a trainer," his father said with obvious pride and just a hint of sadness. "We haven't seen them for quite awhile now but seeing how strong you have grown gives me hope that they will do the same!"

Such was the way of things for pokemon. To find a trainer and grow strong often meant leaving their old life behind, sometimes forever. It made this particular reunion all the more sweet that the ones left behind could see their lost son again and have renewed hope that the other children would do as well.

Meanwhile, over at the hole in the ground Aglaia continued to address the Numel. It was clear both from its expression and the fact that it had somehow managed to get itself in this situation that it wasn't the smartest pokemon out there. But her words did seem to soothe its distress and the fire type regarded her with obvious trust.

When she took out the pokeball and stretched out her arms it seemed to nod in understanding and stretched out its neck as far as it could till the tip of its nose touched the ball. Then, in a flash of light, the pokemon was sucked inside. The ball only shook once as the Numel allowed itself to be captured.

With that another cheer went out from the assembled Weedle. Without Numel's cries of distress the sounds of the herd drawing closer drew to a close. They no longer sensed one of their own in trouble and would soon forget what they had been gathering for. It would seem Aglaia and Wystan had saved the day!

(Ooc:  You have captured Numel and defeated Bidoof. Your new pokemon would be perfectly content to stay as part of your party or to be released but she got the impression that he was now bonded to her after a fashion and she has earned a friend in the fire type. If you choose to keep it I will post to have him added to your party. Also, did Wystan want to replace one of his old moves with Pursuit? )

Numel

Name: [choose]
Gender: [Choose]
Level: 10
OT: Aglaia Lund
Attacks: Growl, Tackle, Ember, Focus Energy
Ability: Oblivious or Simple
Nature/Personality: [Choose]
 

[Tarlar]

Wystan was thrilled to meet his parents and that they were alright. He was both happy to hear his siblings goals and sad he didn't get to meet them, but then again, he hadn't expected to see any of them since he joined Aglaia.
He couldn't help but worry a bit what kind of trainer the pokemon had ended up with, they could be mean or just have captured them for a collection to never be taken out again. He reminded himself that what a lot of pokemon feared was to be left forgotten in some kind of storage facility wasn't that bad from his experience, he had been left behind by Aglaia as well but the place at something called a "lab" had been nice. If that was how it was for everyone they probably preferred it to the stressful life as a wild pokemon where you feared for your life every other moment. It would only be a problem if you wanted to battle and grow stronger.
He continued to chat with his family and learn what new gossip had been around, while he himself told about his adventures with Aglaia, both good and bad. He was not going to paint it all pink and sound like it had been a piece of cake, there had been hard work and trying times as well.

Meanwhile Aglaia waited while holding her breath as the numel made up his mind. He blinked slowly to her and then stretched his neck as much as he could to touch the pokeball and disappeared in a flash. She gaped when it confirmed the capture almost immediately, had he been so weak or could a pokemon be caught easily if they chose to?
She crawled back and got startled by the cheer that sounded around her, she grinned bashfully and Wystan gave her a wink.

As things called down again Aglaia settled up against a tree, in a safe distance to the bidoof's dam and let Wystan spent some time with his old friends. That was the least she could do, what a friend and trainer would she be if she demanded that they left already?

Aglaia called out the numel to be sure he was alright and figure out if he wanted to stay with her or find his herd, but he just blinked slowly with a blissful smile when she asked and then settled down beside her. It soon became a bit too hot for Aglaia and she thought he would be really useful in cold weather.
While Wystan enjoyed his time with his family, Aglaia looked up the numel to learn a bit about the pokemon. She vaguely remembered that she had thought about getting a ground type as it could do some sort of teamwork with one of Dorthea's pokemon, but she couldn't quite remember what it was. The pokedex wasn't of much help either.

After a few hours Aglaia grew hungry and she had to interrupt Wystan to tell him they needed to get going if she would have any chance of getting back to a city before it became dark. Wystan agreed and said goodbye to his family before they headed home.
After a bit the numel got recalled as his slow and steady speed was way too slow.

Wordcounts: 551
(ooc: doh! Thanks for the reminder, I had made a decision and clearly just forgotten to write it: I'd like for Wystan to forget String Shot to learn Pursuit
~Thanks for the stories Arkayne, I really enjoyed it ^^ I'm going to end the thread here as there is little Wystan can learn now.)

[div][img src="https://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/bw/numel.png" alt=""][/div]
[b]Numel[/b]
Name: Miltos
Gender: Male
Level: 10
OT: Aglaia Lund
Attacks: Growl, Tackle, Ember, Focus Energy
Ability: Simple
Nature/Personality: Relaxed. Miltos is a bit simple pokemon that is very laid back. He likes everyone who is nice to him and if someone isn't he isn't bothered, it is uncertain if it is because he doesn't understand or if he just doesn't care.

Got dis!
and -1 pokéball for capture
~L