Far from the tropical breeze [Alolan Quest]

[Jenesis]

Trixie liked shorts. They were comfy and easy to wear. But it was wintertime in Johto, and she had to bundle up.

She walked out past the city proper into the outskirts of New Bark, her Squirtle tagging along beside her. April was not enjoying the cold at all, and she had been awkwardly stuffed into a coat and festive cap. These streets were at least familiar to her by now from all her past walking, and Trixie felt comfortable enough letting her walk beside her without fearing that she would run off - or worse, freeze in place - from startling at every little thing. "How are you feeling, April?" she said. A shake of the head and a brrr was her response. "We'll need to find some way to toughen you up, then!" Trixie was smiling, and April did not like it one bit.

Trixie's two other Pokemon seemed to be handling the cold quite a bit better. Shade was currently flopped on top of her head, twitching his head this way and that to take in the sights. Being a ghost, it probably wasn't even possible for him to feel the cold. And Cotillion was perfectly in her element, bundled up in her cottony wings on Trixie's shoulder. She let out a chirp to draw Trixie's attention. The trainer looked over to her right and saw a pair of elderly people in... oh dear, was that a short-sleeved collared shirt and a sundress? They appeared to be tourists, not from the area at all, and certainly didn't seem dressed for the weather.

Cotillion chirped again, and Trixie could catch the worried tone in her voice. "Should we, uh... go over and make sure they're okay?" she asked the bird, who bobbed forward in a nod. The girl let out a sigh but hustled over nevertheless. Silly tourists.

[words=308] to Incubator
New Party: April, Shade, Cotillion, Kung Pao, Robin, and Hook.

[Tarlar]

The elderly couple certainly didn't look like they were dressed for the occasion, and especially the woman stomped around and flapped her arms to keep them moving and warm. Her male companion looked amused at his wife's antics.
"Alola!" She greeted when Trixie and her pokemon stepped closer, and he turned to them with a smile, "alola!"

"What are you doing out this fine... Oi! Kaui! Look, that one looks like a plushie!" The woman exclaimed excitedly as she pointed at Cotillion. He laughed and agreed that she was right.
"Such a cutie you are! All fluffy and even with a hat!" The woman cooed and Kaui shook his head.
"I do apologize for my wife, she really likes cute things," Kaui apologized and then noticed Trixie's worried look and gestured to his summer clothing.
"I guess you wonders about our choice of clothes for this day," Kaui said while his wife held up her hand questioningly to Cotillion to see if she would allow her to pet her.
"I am doing just fine, we're here since my doctor ordered me to move to a better climate for my illnesses, the warm and humidity on Alola was not doing me any good, and since we moved here, I haven't been better!" Kaui said and threw out his arms, he also did look healthy.
"My silly wife just thinks she needs to dress like me to support me fully," he said directed at his wife, who stuck her tongue out at him.
"Johto is a wonderful Region, but we do miss Alola, especially the culture," the woman said and Kaui nodded.
"That is true Maui, and so much we have tried to bring some of it here."

The two went quiet and watched Trixie mischievously for a bit.
"Tell me young lady, what would you say to try out the only Trial outside of Alola?" Maui then asked innocently.
"A trial is a little test where you have to find and get the Amulet which is protected by a Totem," Kaui quickly explained, "in Alola trainers challenges Trials as we don't have any gyms."
"You can only bring three pokemon though, so if you have any others with you beside these three, you'll have to leave them with us," Maui said and gestured to the ones present.

If Trixie accepted the old couple would look like children in a toyshop as they lead her to a couple of carved pillars, guarding a path which lead into the forest.
"These are replicas of the ones marking the trial entrances on Alola, have you decide which pokemon to bring along?" Maui asked and Kaui waited until she had made her choice before speaking up. She looked like she was going to deliver a very important messages.
"The pokemon you are going to look for doesn't like the cold much and is rather timid when not with other of its kind." She said secretly and gestured to Trixie to go up the path. The couple would wait for her return.

Maui and Kaui is offering Trixie to try out the only Trial outside of Alolan.
You'll have to pick which three of your pokemon to participate with and leave the rest with them.

[Jenesis]

"Hello... la?" Trixie was about to ask what the woman was doing when the latter suddenly approached -- not her, but Cotillion specifically. She joined Kaui in nervous laughter as Maui cooed over the plushie Pokemon. The older woman reached her hand out for a pet, and Cotillion and Trixie exchanged a look. "Sure," Trixie said, removing the bird from her shoulder and holding out her arm so that the Swablu could get a proper nuzzle in exchange for the head pat.

She was relieved to hear that the colder weather was actually good for Kaui's health condition, though the man appeared to be nostalgic for his home. "Alolan culture? That does sound interesting," she said, when offered the chance to take up a Trial. Instead of a straight Pokemon battle, it seemed she would have to go on a little treasure hunt, giving her the opportunity to stretch her legs alongside her Pokemon. "How do I sign up?"

She would follow the old couple along to the elaborately carved twin pillars and the forest path that lay beyond, all the while considering which Pokemon she ought to bring with her. April was a given, of course - she wasn't going to let her weasel her way out of this one, even as scared as she may have acted. Shade wanted to come along, too. And Cotillion... Trixie turned back to see the bird Pokemon cheerily warming up to Maui, enjoying the attention for all it was worth. "Would you like to stay back and get to know your new friend better?" she asked. Cotillion let out some urgent cheeps in protest, to which Trixie extended a hand to fluff her wings reassuringly. "Don't worry, we'll be back before you know it. Come on out, Kung Pao!"

A flash of light heralded the arrival of a Torchic, who looked fiercely up at Trixie as she explained the trial ahead. The fire chick shot a look back at Cotillion - would the two friends be able to handle being separated? Trixie watched as they chatted for a bit before giving each other affectionate head bonks, Kung Pao walking back to stand beside Trixie, April, and Shade. Trixie handed over her remaining Pokeballs to the pair. She listened carefully to Maui's message.

"Timid like April... and doesn't like the cold much. Looks like it was a good call to bring you along, Kung Pao," she said. With her Pokemon, she then headed off down the path into the forest, each of them looking in all directions for whatever might be moving about in the undergrowth.

[words=430] 400 to Incubator
Trixie is choosing April, Kung Pao, and Shade for the trial.

[Tarlar]

Kaui's face lit up when she realized that the cute plushy like swablu was going to stay with them for a bit longer, they wished her good luck and would eagerly await her return.

As Trixie stepped in between the two pillars the temperature dropped and snow started to drift from the clouds, was this just some sort of weird coincidence or was this a part of the trial? Anyway, if the totem Trixie should find didn't like the cold this didn't promise well for it.
A well worn path lead through the rather open wood which is summer surely would be full of herbs, flowers and shrubbery among the tall trees but at this time of year the ground was barren and the trees were sleeping leaf-less. The snow slowly began to cover the ground in a white blanket, although it would take some time to be more than just a thin layer dusted on.

They reached a little clearing which was made by a tree fallen some years ago, there were still some remains along with several small young trees, no taller than Trixie's belly, which was competing of the space, although that was on break too.
At first the area seemed empty and a path was visible leading further into the forest.

"Sen!" A warning call suddenly was heard as a sentret had spotted them and let out its well known warning that potential danger had appeared. It had fluffed out its fur against the cold, and stared down Trixie and her present pokemon.

A purple head popped up from behind the remains of the log in the middle of the clearing, the rattata shook the snow off which had gathered on its head and sniffed curiously as it tried to guess what it was which had appeared.

A slight movement in a tall tree to the right revealed a ledyba who was clinging to the trunk, trying to stay out of sight, or perhaps it had become a bit sleepy due to the low temperatures. It was moving a bit sluggish.

Directly opposite of the clearing another movement would catch their attention, a taillow was sitting on a branch shivering and it looked at Trixie sullenly. It shook some of the snow off it and preened the feathers of one wing.

All the wild pokemon seemed to be waiting for Trixie to do the next step, did any of these fit with the clues she had gotten?

[Jenesis]

As Trixie continued down the path she would behold a calming, wintry forest scene. The ground was dusted in a pristine layer of snow, a stark contrast to the barren trees. As she approached a clearing the path widened a bit, and she saw a fallen log laying on the ground; perhaps that would be a nice place to stop and take a rest. She cautiously approached it with April by her side, when she heard a sudden "Sen!"

It appeared that was the call to all the Pokemon in the vicinity. After the Sentret popped out, startling April and sending her scrambling for the safety of the log, a Rattata's head suddenly appeared, giving the poor turtle Pokemon quite a fright and making her hide inside her shell. Trixie barely caught a glimpse of some movement in the trees to her right before the chatter of a Taillow grabbed her attention to her left. The bird seemed to be quite out of sorts, and kept preening itself as it glared at Trixie.

Perhaps that was the Pokemon she was meant to be looking for? But... no, as Trixie stared down the bird, she decided it was far too bold to be the Pokemon that was shy when not with others of its kind. Certainly no other members of its species appeared to be around here. The same could be said for the other Pokemon. The Sentret was right out; it didn't seem to be anxious around Trixie at all, and its thick fur seemed to protect it well enough. The Rattata, too, was removed from consideration. It didn't meet any of the qualities that Kaui and Maui had spoken of. Active and outgoing, it sniffed the air for a bit before bounding up onto the log in a considerable feat of agility.

That left the strange movement to the right, which upon closer inspection was revealed to be a Ledyba trying its best to not be seen. How unfortunate that it was a Bug-type! Trixie's plan of using Kung Pao to help warm it up was foiled. Instead she cautiously approached the little insect Pokemon, noticing that it was shivering a bit and that its eyes were drooping. Instead of fire, she unwound her scarf from her neck and offered it to the Ledyba. "Are you the Pokemon we were sent to find?" she asked in a soft voice.

[words=400] to Incubator

[Caramell 🍬]

The winter wonderland created a harsh environment for many of the Pokemon gathered about. The purple Rattata twitched its ears curiously as it chattered away and used its front paws to wash its face. It would watch brunette teenager and her blue turtle cautiously as if daring them to approach it. When they stirred a bit from their spot, the purple rodent’s tail raised up in alarm and it jumped back into the tall grasses, racing off to some unforeseeable place. The Sentret immediately dropped to the ground after sounding its alarmed and barreled out of sight, likewise. When Trixie chose to approach the cold bug who clung to the bark of a large tree, trying to keep from freezing its wings off, the feathered Taillow would raise up its wings and soar far off into the canopies above.

The small red bug scurried around the bark of the tree nervously as the trainer approached. It would dart one way, then another, though the cold weather caused it to move much slower than normal. It flitted, lifting the red shell that encased its translucent wings underneath, and tested the air with them for a second. It would raise up as though it might take off too, but instead spun around and faced off against Trixie and her companions. The shivering, freezing bug stared at them knowingly as it shook and waited for Trixie to make a move as it prepared for the fight. The Pokemon was raring to go, and part of it hoped that the battle would help it warm its body up some. Whatever Trixie planned to do, it might be wise to do it soon. The Ledyba's eyes held a strange look of determination, though its timid nature caused it to flitter abou nervously. It was as though it might attack even if Trixie chose not to, almost as if to 'force' the trainer's hand into a battle.


Wild Encounter

---

Weather: Clear

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

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn"]
Ledyba LV 9
HP 100% [28/28]

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

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

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn"]
Pkmn Name LV 10
HP 100% [#/#]

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

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

Ledyba [Early Bird]: Normal
Trainer Pkmn [Ability]: Status

SP# Pkmn 1 used ..!
SP# Pkmn 2 used ..!


Note: You can choose to start the battle with April, Kung Pao, or Shade. I'm just setting up the template for the next mod. ^^

[Jenesis]

Trixie was not expecting the timid bug to suddenly whirl around and raise four of its six legs in a boxing stance. "Well, if you really want to... I don't back down from a challenge. Let's go, April!" Aforementioned turtle, on the other hand, was very much in favor of the "back down" strategy, and she turned to Trixie with nervous eyes.

"C'mon. I believe in you. Besides, it's already a little weakened from the cold, so think of it like a handicap. Like it's helping you by going easy on you!" It probably wasn't true in the strictest sense, but at this point in time Trixie wasn't about to let a silly thing like logic stop her pep talk. April glanced up to the Ledyba, seeing the determination in its eyes despite its shivering. Was it true? Was this ladybug really encouraging her? Could she be just as determined? She attempted her best game face and tottered unsteadily into the position Trixie indicated.

"All right, we're ready to go. Now hit 'em with your Water Gun attack!" Water burbled inside April's mouth, as she took time to work up her courage. Then she released the spray of water in the direction of the flying bug, hoping for a hit.

[words=210] to Incubator
April used Water Gun!

[antonius]

The ledyba is definitely up for a fight. It starts out with swift. Stars start flying out towards the squirtle hitting her hard. The ledyba gets a bit cocky with the solid hit until April launches a very powerful stream of water at the ledyba. It seems the pep talk really worked or maybe it was the encouragement of the opponent. It doesn't matter since the strength of the stream surprises both ledyba and April. It is also possible the cold helped out afterall.

>>Okay, now this is a fight I am hoping for. You might have a bit more pressure behind your squirt after all. Let us see if you got anything more in you.<<

The ledyba flies back up after shaking itself drier hoping for no ice to develop on its wings or body. It decides to fly around trying to make sure not to get hit so hard next time.


Wild Encounter

---

Weather: Clear

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

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn"]
Ledyba LV 9
HP 64% [18/28]

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

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

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn"]
April LV 11
HP 84% [26/31]

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

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

Ledyba [Early Bird]: Normal
April [Torrent]: Normal

SP17 Ledyba used swift!
SP16 April used water gun! It is a critical hit!!!


Note: This mod appreciates the set up Caramell has done especially the background.

[Jenesis]

The Ledyba struck first, and April was too slow to withdraw into her shell. Missiles shaped like golden stars flew out from the Ledyba's shell, smacking April about the arms and head as she tried to shield herself. "You can do this, April!" Trixie called out. "You've survived worse. Now do it back to 'em!"

As the stream of water passed through the icy air, it absorbed the temperature around it, so by the time it made contact with the Ledyba it was bone-chillingly cold. At least that was how it appeared to Trixie as the Ledyba staggered back, apparently from having its weak spot hit, even though April didn't know any Ice-type moves. Whatever the cause of it was, Trixie pumped her fist. "Great job, April!" she cheered. In truth she was just as surprised as both Pokemon before the foe shook off its wings and started flying around again. She surmised it was trying to throw off April's aim by staying in one place as little as possible.

"Don't be nervous. Just steady your aim, and blast it, same as before," Trixie said. The little turtle Pokemon tried to calm down and remember how the last attack had landed. Even with the Ledyba flying around trying to confuse her, she managed to steady herself. April tapped her hard shell, remembering the blows from the last attack, and how it had felt. She could stand up! She could survive! Even if the next attack was the same... she would be all right. With her nervousness kept in check she could see much better how the Ledyba's movements were not too fast to follow, as sluggish as the bug was from the cold. She held herself firm and got ready to shoot the Water Gun the next time the Ledyba passed in front of her field of vision.

[words=308] to Incubator
April used Water Gun!

[Tarlar]

The ledyba darted past April and she spit her water at it, and missed! She had been sure she had been aiming straight at where it was going to be even, and not just where it had been, but the bug was flying so erratically that it had changed direction just in the right time and avoided the cold blast of water. The water splattered out over the snow and melted some of it, the ledyba chuckled nervously.
"I.. I won't fall for that twice!" It declared and didn't manage to sound as confident as before, and it continued to zip around doing its best to avoid any more of the icy cold water blasts which April had proved capable of sending out at the moment.
It dodge another one April shot at it, but it didn't seem to know what to do the other way around as it didn't try to retaliate and attack April.

When it had avoid a few more water guns, one by hiding behind a tree just in time, it seemed to realize it couldn't continue like this. It would have to do something or April would get lucky and hit it anyway, it couldn't run forever, it would grow tired and less agile.
Suddenly it turned to race straight at the squirtle, in a straight line and its wings changed the way they were beating. A strange and really annoying sound began to flow from them, it went straight into April's skull and began vibrating there.
She was already in the process of sending another Water Gun at the bug now it had presented itself as an easy target, and she cut off the sound when it hit it true. The bug flailed as it pluffed into the snow and disappeared in the white pile.


Wild Encounter

---

Weather: Clear

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

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn"]
Ledyba LV 9
HP 39% [11/28]

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

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

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn"]
April LV 11
HP 84% [26/31]

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

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

Ledyba [Early Bird]: Normal
April [Torrent]: Normal

SP17 April used Water Gun!
SP17 Ledyba used Super Sonic! But it missed!

[Jenesis]

The battlefield was like a shooting gallery as April sent out Water Gun after Water Gun toward the increasingly tired Ledyba. Eventually one would have to hit. The Ledyba stopped dodging and tried to fire off a Supersonic attack, which April's blast cut off just in time. Trixie let out a sigh of relief. She remembered how much damage that move could do! Even if she couldn't remember all of it per se, that night she had run into the Team Rocket member still haunted her. Her foggy memory only proved how she had clearly been thrown for a loop by it.

"You've got this, April! Now, Tackle attack!" The Squirtle nodded nervously and tried to charge forward toward the Ledyba trapped in the icy drift. "S-Squiiiiirt!" she attempted in an approximation of a battle cry. Unfortunately, she lost her footing on the snowy ground, tripping over her own feet, and hastily drew her body back into her shell as she went careening forward from the momentum. For a moment Trixie thought April would be okay... but a panicked blast of water, after April had spun around to face the opposite direction, sent her shooting forward, over a snowdrift, poised to crash down even faster upon the Ledyba! A collision was imminent unless the poor bug could somehow get out of the way in time. Trixie crossed her fingers and hoped that April, at least, would be okay after that.

[words=240] to Incubator
April... used Tackle?

[antonius]

The ledyba is so focused on its own move it doesn't see the tumbling turtle shell coming its way. It is hit with an awkward tackle just as its own swift move launches. Yellow star things flies out from underneath the wings as it hits the squirtle. The swift attack gives just enough room for the ledyba to back up and catch a breather.

>>You really do have a hard shell. You are as fast as I am. You are a worthy opponent for this trial exercise. I do wonder if you can make it past the final test if you get that far.<<

The old couple are in the background watching the contest. They are smiling as another trainer is taking their challenge. Maybe, just maybe, the news will spread enough that they can share more about their beloved home and the wonderful Pokemon who live there.

Wild Encounter

---

Weather: Clear

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

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn"]
Ledyba LV 9
HP 18% [4/28]

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

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

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn"]
April LV 11
HP 74% [25/34]

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

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

Ledyba [Early Bird]: Normal
April [Torrent]: Normal

SP17 April used Tackle!
SP17 Ledyba used Swift!


Note: I apparently set up the battle wrong. April should have started with 34 HP initially. I have corrected the mistake.

[Jenesis]

The swift stars came at point-blank range, and April staggered backward as her shell took another battering. She sniffed in the cold snow, watching as the Ledyba backed up and prepared to attack again... but instead, it opened its mouth and spoke to her.

Was it... praising her? No one had ever done anything like that for April before. Oh of course, her trainer gave her lots of encouragement, but that was because they were on the same team. Win or lose, they could only do it together. But here was this opposing Pokemon who was seemingly trying to buoy her up, even though it had nothing to gain by doing so. <M-me?> April asked, gingerly pointing to her shell with her hand. She still couldn't quite believe it. That even though she had made mistakes, painful mistakes, she was good for something more than running and hiding. And April had a realization.

For the first time in her life, she was afraid of something other than battling, or danger, or getting hurt.

She was afraid of letting everyone down.

<Take...this!> she bellowed, letting the competitive spirit surge through her. Water gathered in her mouth, burbling and frothing, before she spat it at the Ledyba with all of her strength. The jet of water arced clear through the air directly at the Ledyba. Trixie cheered at seeing her Pokemon take the initiative on her own. But still, anything could happen in those next crucial moments...

[words=246] to Incubator
April used Water Gun!

[Tarlar]

The Ledyba looked at April and then looked around, "yeah, you. Can't you see anyone else around here?" It asked and chuckled and shrugged.
"You are giving me a good warm-up, so that's nice, but the one you are searching for is much toucher than me," it warned, "I have seen other struggle there since they thought too highly of themselves after having bested me!" The bug looked to really gloat over that thought.
The ledyba had relaxed a bit since April didn't seem aggressive and the battle felt less dangerous, or perhaps it had gotten more confidence from remembering what its goal was. Making sure no-one got to the totem who couldn't at least win a simple battle against something like itself.
It eyed April and seemed a bit nervous again, "not sure how to get through your shell though," it admitted and its eyes widened when April challenged it verbally.
"Oh! Oh! Oh!" It gasped and stars formed around it which flew just before April spewed her water. The two attacks collided but the water was too powerful to be stopped and the stars to widespread to be caught by the water. The stars slammed into April although her shell took the brunt of it, while the water blasted the bug into another snow pile.

A moment later the bug popped out of the snow and looked at April for a moment.
"You did it! Congratulations!" It called out and managed to get airborne again, "but can you find the amulet? I know where it is but I'm not telling!" It teased and zipped away. It looked back several times to see if they followed, and would grin if they did.

April grows +2 levels to [Lv 13]!
She can learn Bite if she forgets another move!



The Ledyba zooms off! It's your only clue to the Totem!

(ooc: Ledyba used Swift (-5dmg) on April before getting KO. April has 24/38 HP after level up)

[Jenesis]

Another barrage of stars battered April's shell, but she held firm, and her Water Gun struck true. The bug flipped over in midair before landing in another snow pile with a puff. A while later it got back up, but rather than fighting, it was congratulating her. She had done it! She had won! And she even felt a little stronger after the battle!

The Ledyba then zipped off, periodically checking over its shoulder to see if Trixie was following. "After it!" she cried.

The ground was getting slipperier as Trixie hustled through the forest, and a few times she almost slipped on something, but her running shoes were sturdy and kept her on her feet, as well as keeping said feet warm against the cold. April teetered from one side to the other, keeping her footing in spite of (or because of?) being constantly off balance. Despite the battle it was still giving the Squirtle and her trainer a good workout. But Trixie knew she couldn't let the Ledyba out of her sight. After all, there was an amulet waiting for her at the end of the trial!

When the Ledyba turned back another time, it grinned at Trixie, waving a leg as if to spur her onward. She shot back a grin and a thumbs-up of her own. How much further would it be? She was fine, but April was beginning to get tired out. Despite her newfound confidence, she had not budgeted for so much activity in one day!

[words=252] to Incubator
April will forget Rapid Spin and learn Bite. hey, a Dark-type move!