Not by a long shot [Bike] [F]

[Tarlar]

The heat was making the air flimmer.
"We did hope for sun today!" Olga said and Astrid coughed on the water she had been drinking. The two old friends had found a bit of shade under some trees and was taking a break before continuing.
"We should have started in the morning, it would have been less hot then," Astrid said warmly and Olga sighed, "yes, but then we'd miss out on the full breakfast!"
"I hope it is worth it!" Astrid chuckled and wiped her brow as she looked around, "the start of the old Bellchime Trail should be just around here, was it not?" She looked at her old friend who found a paper guide from her pocket and began to study it.
"I think we still have some ways to go, we haven't crossed the crossroad yet," she said and Astrid sighed."Perhaps we should find a place for a late snack?" She suggested and her friend wholeheartedly agreed.

They traveled a bit more and found a nice shaded place beneath some big oaks, right beside an overgrown pond.
"This is perfect! Come on out Marius," Olga said as she released her butterfree companien and the two old ladies enjoyed the breeze which the bug gave them before they began to relieve Yakul from her burdens, thanking her for her help. The skiddo waved her ears lazily in the heat.
The ladies found their folding chairs and some snacks to enjoy, and Astrid let out Ella and Pia too, not that she expected wild pokemon to be very aggressive in this heat but you'd never know. Pia rested under one of the trees and dozed off while Ella carefully made her way into the reeds around the pond.
Soon the two old women were deep in snacks and chatting about people they knew and what news they had to share with each other.

(ooc: on route 37, daytime)

[Caramell 🍬]

The hot summer sun bore down and caused most of the wild Pokemon around the area to run for shelter. Many of them scurried off through the tall grasses and forest of trees long before Astrid had entered the area. Though birds flew overhead with their wings outstretched, they were far removed from the world of the earth dwellers below. Some of the trainers that gathered around the route worked at slowly hoisting themselves up over the steep ledges or quickly working their way around through carefully carved out pathways. Even as they flipped over rocks and ordered their Pokemon to Headbutt nearby trees, nothing seemed to stir in their wake.

One strange trainer sat on a stump with brushes surrounding her at her feet. A large easel stood in front of her holding a decently sized blank canvas. The young woman held a single brush carefully in her hands as she studied the canvas and slowly make large, swooping strokes of deep reds, bright blues, and soft greens. She painted away with much delight and worked fastidiously to capture the moment around her. Within a moment, she switched the brushes around and added drops of grey and soft creams along with bright yellows and even moody blacks on the board. As soon as she artist managed to finish her work, she would immediately jump up and pluck the picture off the easel as she rushed over to Astrid while waving her free hand in a hurry.

“Miss…MISS WAIT!” She called out to Astrid, hoping to get the old lady to stop and turn around in her direction. If it didn’t work, then her furry light brown canine would rush out in front of Astrid to block her path, though there was no ill will in the Lycanroc’s personality as she simply wagged her tail and barked in an upbeat and happy tone. She would nod in the direction of her human knowingly, waiting for Astrid to spin around and greet the Artist. “I am Artiste Esther and this is my latest masterpiece. I’m sorry that I didn’t ask you explicit permission first. But I wanted to capture the moment…” Whether all of her Pokemon were out for Esther to see or not, it would seem like the artist already knew. The image was of Astrid standing with the setting sun illuminating her frame. On one shoulder was a Joltik with a Toucannon on her other shoulder. The older lady’s hand rested softly on the horns on a Skiddo and an Alolan Raticate nuzzled close to Astrid’s feet while a Fragadier held its arms wrapped tightly around one of Astrid’s legs. While the Joltik seemed to rest on one shoulder, the Toucannon was nuzzling Astrid fondly against her neck on the other.

Artisté Esther wants show you her work of art!

Esther is sending out her Level 27 Midday Lycanron named "Mona Lisa". Who will Astrid use?
^{Rain Heat Wave weather will be in effect}

Team:
^{Hover for Level}
What will it be now? EyfCx9KP1-100 1-100

[Tarlar]

The old friends chatted and enjoyed the weather the next few hours, as the heat kept wild pokemon at a very low activity.
Olga at some point asked Marius to take a break with the fanning as he had begun to look tired, soon she was fanning herself and complaining that it was too hot. Astrid eyed the pond while Olga gulped down some of the cold water they had brought and offered some to her butterfree.
"Would it not be nice to dip our feet a bit?" Astrid asked and Olga wrinkled her nose in disgust.
"You want to get into that? I'm sure its more a mudhole than a pond." Olga said and Astrid pushed herself up from the chair and grapped her cane. "Ella would not have gone into it if it was so," she said and began to walk over to it, "but the edges might be to overgrown for us to get to it."
The old woman paused when she heard someone shouting and a moment later a big brown dog came running and barked cheerfully in front of Astrid. Yakul's head flew up and she stared warily at the dog, until she recognized it to be friendly looking and not threatingly Astrid in any way, she relaxed again.
"Thank you, but the pond is not dangerous for me," Astrid told the canine and briefly wondered if there was something there she didn't know, which was important and that she might want to get Ella up again.

The reason was something entirely different and Olga quickly made her way over to see what the artis had to show Astrid.
"Marvelous! Are you taking commisions? I would love to get one of me and Marius!" Olga exclaimed when she saw the painting and her butterfree flapped his wings joyfully.
Astrid frowned, "it is very pretty, but how do you know my whole team?" She asked suspiciously and Olga laughed.
"You are too suspicious my dear! I'm so sorry, she has been a bit damaged by her work, I'm afraid," Olga said with a wink to Esther, Astrid looked a bit sheepishly and Olga turned back to her.
"You are a trainer and an old one, of course you are going to attract attention. And on top of that you have just won over Whitney who so many are scared of challening!" Olga declared and Astrid nodded, looking like a kid who got scolded.
"I am sorry, it is very pretty. What is the moment you tried to capture?" Astrid asked since she and her pokemon certainly hadn't stood like that anytime recently if ever. "What are your plans for it?" She added and fully expected the artist to want to try sell it to her.

Pia had watched from where she had been resting under the tree, she stood up and curiously came over to see what was on the canvas they were all so excited about.
"Tou! Toucannon!" She exclaimed offended when she saw how she had been depictured. "Toucannon!" She scolded and attempted to slap her wing lightly against the canvas to show her annoyance.
"Oh my goodness! I think Pia do not like how you have painted her," Astrid said worriedly, "careful Pia, do not destroy it please!"

Ella popped her head up from the pond, "what's wrong?" she called and Pia puffed out her chest indignant.
"I am training hard to be the best I can be and then they..! They! They paint me like.. like... like a cuddler! Like I'm some sort of pet who spents the day begging for petting!" she narrowed her eyes angrily at the artist and then pointed a wing at the lycanrock at her side.
"Battle me!" She damanded, "I'll show you what I'm capable off and why that is not now I am!" she snapped with a wing gesture towards the painting. Her beak began to heat up already as well and she stalked a bit away to make room for the upcomiong battle, well away from the humans.

Wordcount: 674
(ooc: Pia uses Beak Blast, finally got a chance to use it.)

[Caramell 🍬]

Esther’s face dropped when Olga asked if she was taking commissions. Her cheeks flushed with a light shade of pink. Esther carefully placed the painting at her feet and shyly reached up to scratch the back of her neck as she thought about Olga’s offer and how she wanted to help her out. But…was she good enough to charge a fee yet? “I’d love to. I’ll admit…I haven’t taken any commissions yet…I’m still trying to build my name up some…” She mumbled a bit under her own breath, then fought the courage to speak up so that her guests could hear her. “It’s not bad though, right? I mean…the piece. It's really that good?”

Astrid was harder to impress, though. Artisté Esther turned to her and tilted her head a little in confusion? How did she know her team…a guess? No, that didn’t feel right. Honestly, she had watched a GYM Battle that was being broadcast from Whitney’s GYM some time ago so the team she paired with Astrid just felt right. But…were all those Pokemon the same Pokemon she painted? Even if the woman seemed to match the memories of the older trainer that battled Whitney…she wasn’t so sure. “Honestly…they just suited you and the moment I was trying to capture…” Esther muttered, glancing towards her feet a little shyly. Had she upset the older lady somehow? She had been warned in the past about painting random trainers, but she needed some direction for her muse and Astrid made the perfect person! “I thought the lady that battled Whitney not long ago had an Ariados though…or am I wrong? Had a name that reminded me of Greek myths or history or something like that? Though the Skiddo of yours looks familiar, I’ll admit…”

Then, the conversation turned back to the painting and Esther studied her own image. There was so much she wanted to capture in the image. The love that a trainer has for their Pokemon and how that love resonates within the Pokemon themselves. How hard each victory or defeat is on a team and how that makes their bond stronger over time. Even just how the small moments in life, where a trainer is able to fully relax if only for a second with their beloved Pokemon, were important moments as well. “What was I trying to paint?...Well, you know what they say. The meaning is in the heart of the observer. What do you think the painting says?” She asked Astrid. Then, Esther jumped and yanked the painting protectively away as Astrid’s Toucannon tried to slap it.

“My goodness! You know…my Lycanroc could use a bit of a stretch of her legs…would it be ok if we battle? I wanted to add it to my collection to build my name. BUT if you can beat me in a battle, I’ll let you have it if you want.” Esther admitted with a smile. She nodded to her canine, who leaped out in front of her and faced off with Pia. Immediately, large rocks floated up high in the air and spun around. Within seconds, they surrounded the bird and slammed into Pia from all angle, entombing her to the spot. Pia’s beak blasted off a firing hot explosion of orange energy that it hurled at Esther’s Lycanroc. “Oh, amazing work, Mona Lisa! I’m really proud of that move – perfect timing, too! Pia’s beak did look a little…what’s the word? Oh! Steamy!” Esther giggled as she clapped and praised her canine companion.

Trainer Battle

---

Weather: Heat Wave

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

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn"]
Mona Lisa ♀ LV 27
HP 62% [53/85]

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

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

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn"]
Pia ♀ LV 28
HP 34% [31/91]

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

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

Esther's Mona Lisa [Keen Eye]: Normal
Astrid's Pia [Skill Link]: Normal [-1 Spd]

SP73 Mona Lisa used Rock Tomb! Pia's speed was lowered!
SP31- Pia used Beak Blast!


Lycanroc's Moveset: Howl, Bite, Rock Tomb, Sucker Punch

[Tarlar]

"Of course it is!" Olga said cheerfully, "and I'm glad you aren't famous yet, otherwise I wouldn't have enough money to pay you!" she continued eagerly and Astrid rolled her eyes with a smile.
The old trainer listened to what the aspiring artist had to say and nodded along encouragingly, she smiled warmly. "I am glad you think my pokemon suits me, we have probably grown on each other like a married couple," she said with a chuckle which turned bashfully when Esther mentioned an ariados.
"That does sound a lot like me," she admitted, "I do have an ariados who is named Helen, she is not with us today though." Her shoulders relaxed as there were a realistic reason for why Esther knew so much about her team now.

Astrid looked surprised at the artist and then at the picture which was made, "that is a good quiestion, but you must have had some thought when you got the impulse to paint it," Astrid argued.
"My guess would be you want to show the bond between a trainer and her pokemon," she then added slowly, or love would probably be a more precise description. "I think what makes it strange for me to look at, is that I can recognize the ones you have painted, and know them, and it is not really a natural behavior for some of them," she tried to explain awkwardly.

"Pia!" Astrid gasped, "behave yourself!"
The toucannon didn't seem to be bothered as she exchanged some words with Ella in the pond before pointing at the lycanrock.
"A battle is what Pia wishes for as well," Astrid answered as she studied her bird thoughtfully.
"Oh! That is so generous of you!" Olga exclaimed when Astrid got too distracted to answer the challenge and the price they were now battling for. "Giving something like that as a price to win! Oh, how I'd wish I could battle now to win one of my own!"

Pia was ready! She had trained hard for things like this and she was as ready as she could be, she would show them that she was anything but a pet, she was a fighter and she had her beak to prove it! It eradiated heat as it began to glow, you could almost feel it in the heat and the air even shimmered a bit above it which Pia was proud to see.
The rocks came flying out of nowhere and slammed her into the ground in a cloud of feathers, but she hung on! She still kept her beak warm, any time now! She knew she should just get it ready before her opponents attacked her and then she'd leave them as a smoldering pile. She had seen other toucannons do that while she was still living in her birthing nest.
She waited, and waited a bit more but something didn't fit quite with how she had imagined it would be, the lycanrock seem disturbingly unfaced by it. The heat grew in her beak and then she couldn't hold it back anymore, she pushed herself up standing and as she opened her beak, a beam of heat exploded from her beak and seemed to physically slam into Mona Lisa, who surprisingly enough hadn't manage to dodge it.
Pia slowly closed her beak and studied the brown dog closely, she was panting hard and as she studied her opponent's movements and energy she felt her heart sink. She certainly hadn't burned it to the ground, and she swallowed hard. Stubbornly she stayed as her legs shaked underneath her, she could still fight!
Her shoulders slumbed and her face twisted momentarily in pain but she stoic suppressed that and proudly lifted her head again. She took one long look at the lycanrock before disappointment clouded her eyes and she turned to walk back to Astrid with heavy steps.

"What is it Pia?" Astrid asked as the toucannon returned to her side, the old woman shot a glance towards Yakul who was dozing on the tree, and the saddlebags laying beside her with Astrid's items.
Pia slowly turned around herself to place herself standing beside Astrid, not looking at any of the others and fighting to keep a calm and collected expression.
"You had enough?" Astrid asked kindly and Pia turned her head away from her without answering.
Astrid did another quick glance at Yakul and decided against waking the grass type and instead let out a seadra.
"It is a friendly battle Silvia but they are hitting hard, so keep your focus," Astrid adviced and the seadra grinned, she was going to focus so hard!

Wordcount: 774
(ooc: Silvia switches in and uses Focus energy)

[Caramell 🍬]

Esther snapped her fingers when Astrid mentioned her Ariados. “Helen! That’s the name I was thinking of!” Esther’s eyes seemed to shimmer with some hidden light that emanated within her orbs. She smiled brightly and stared up at the blazing hot sun above. What must it have been like inside of that arena? Were the bleacher seats on the sides packed full of people on that day, or did they negotiate to keep most of them out of the arena? “Didn’t Clefairy used Shadow Force on Helen? I didn’t even realize that Clefairy could learn that move!” She giggled excitedly, then turned her attention back to the battle at hand. It was a strange move that Whitney had called out originally and seemed to rely heavily on with her Clefairy that must have made Shadow Force possible. Wasn’t it? Or was Esther misremembering what she’d watched onscreen?

Though, as Pia got up and walked away from the fight Esther would whistle to her dog, who backed up and sat down on her rear end. Mona Lisa lifted one of her hinds legs and scratched herself behind the ear while she waited for her opponents to decide what they were going to do. “Oh, Pia? Did I paint you in a bad light?” Esther knelt down on her knees from her side of the field and called out to the large black bird. “I’m so sorry about that, sweetheart.” Then she turned back to Astrid as she reflected on the older lady’s comments. “Truthfully, it’s the little moments that we take for granted when we spend all of our time battling and training.” Esther reached an arm up behind her head and scratched the back of her neck. When Silvia appeared on the battlefield, she turned her attention back to the fight at hand.

“Mona Lisa let’s keep it up with some more Rock Tombs, ok? That seems like a safe bet.” Esther smiled at her dog, who jumped back up on all fours as she began to pant and wag her tail excitedly. Mona Lisa rushed towards her opponent only to stop a few feet away as her eyes began to glow and strange, large rocks all floated around the light blue seahorse, slamming into Silvia from all angles. They would kick and grind against the large seahorse whose fins were longer and more defined than its base stage, managing to slow the other Pokemon down and take some considerable health from Silvia. “I wanted to capture that moment and the bond that trainers and their Pokemon share, if I’m being honest. Considering how Pia acted before, and your comment about how my painting doesn’t really reflect them…I think I may have hurt Pia’s feelings.” Esther frowned thoughtfully, wondering how she could fix it for the bird as Silvia began to focus her energy.


Trainer Battle

---

Weather: Heat Wave

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

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn"]
Mona Lisa ♀ LV 27
HP 62% [53/85]

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

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

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn"]
Silvia ♀ LV 32
HP 33% [29/87]

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

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

Esther's Mona Lisa [Keen Eye]: Normal
Astrid's Silvia [Sniper]: Normal [+2 CRIT, -2 SPD]

SP+ Silvia switches with Pia!
SP73 Mona Lisa used Rock Tomb! Silvia's speed was lowered!

SP73 Mona Lisa used Rock Tomb! Silvia's speed was lowered!
SP34 Silvia used Focus Energy! Her Critical Hit ratio increased!


Mod Notes: Pia HP 34% [31/91] participated.
Lycanroc's Moveset: Howl, Bite, Rock Tomb, Sucker Punch

[Tarlar]

Esther's reaction on learning Helen's name was not what the old trainer had expected and her eyes widened in surprise. Why was that so exciting to the artist that she seemed lost to the world of the mere thought of it? It became clear shortly after when it was revealed Esther had been remembering what she had seen back then and decided the best way to do that was to blind herself by staring at the blazing sun.
"Careful you don't blind yourself dear! that would make it hard to paint!" Olga said cheerfully and Marius flapped up and placed himself so that his shadow protected Esther from the sun.
Astrid nodded to the artist's question, "it did yes, it knows the move Metronome if you know that? It made the battle against it very unpredictable!" she said with a chuckle and would explain it if Esther for some reason didn't know what that move did. "I do not know what moves a clefairy usually can learn, I do not even know much about what my own pokemon can learn, I have enough trouble remembering what their current moves can do, it is twenty four moves after all."
"But you have solved that problem Astrid, you don't guide your pokemon in the middle of the battle, so you don't have to remember them at all!" Olga pointed out confidently and Astrid grimaced.
"I do need to know what they can do, I am supposed to train and guide them after all," she countered and Olga mumbled something as she looked away.

A smile spread on Astrid's face as Esther showed great control of her pokemon, "your pokemon is well trained!" She praised, "I do not know many trainers who can call their pokemon to a break in the heat of the battle!"
"You surely can!" Olga said and Astrid once again made a grimace, not sure if some of her pokemon would really listen, if they were agitated or caught up in the moment.
Pia narrowed her eyes and shot Esther an irritated glance, "I'm no sweetheart!" She mumbled a protest. Astrid often called her similar things, but she did that to everyone so it wasn't the same thing. Astrid smiled and Pia snorted when Esther talked about taking things for granted.
"I don't have time for silliness like that, there is a reason I spent all my time on the battles," she muttered and wished she could get the humans to understand.

Silvia was ready, a water type against a rock type? How hard could that be? She learned it a moment later as she more or less got buried in rocks and she struggled to pull herself loose so that she could get a proper aim at her target.
"Hey Pia? Got any advice?" Silvia called over her shoulder without looking back, and Pia looked up and took a closer look at the seadra.
"Get some healing from Astrid first," she said grimly and Silvia gasped, "what?! Already?!"
"I know how hard they hit!" The toucannon added and Silvia looked back and got a proper look on her mentor. Her eyes widened and without another word she made her way back to Astrid and demanded to get help until Astrid understood what she wanted and gave her some milk to drink.
Silvia turned back to the lycanrock and glared at it, "now it's personal! This is for Pia!" She called challenging and spewed a bunch of bubbles at the dog. That should do it.

"A bond can be showed in many ways," Astrid said quietly, "Pia is a proud toucannon, she knows her worth and what she strives for and works hard to reach her goals, she know who she is and what she wants, and I do not think your way of portraying her fit with that image she has of herself."
"Does it really matter? It is a well done," Olga said bluntly and Astrid looked at her dryly, "would you like to be portrayed as lazy bum?"

Wordcount: 672
(ooc: Moomoo Milk used on Silvia, she uses Bubble Beam. not updated)

[Caramell 🍬]

Esther’s eyes lit up at the mention of the move Metronome. Metronome was a pretty well known move and one that should have been obvious for Clefairy, given that was known as that Pokemon’s signature move. She’d heard rumors that the move was a foreign or alien move not from this planet. It was one of the reasons some Clefairy fanatics swore that these Pokemon actually came from outer space – such as from the moon itself – and weren’t actually naturally from the Pokemon world. Could it be true? “Ah, that explains it!” She nodded her head firmly. “That basically lets them use any move at all, doesn’t it? But…did the Clefairy purposefully choose the moves it wanted to use with Metronome or was it more of a random chance? Do you know?”

Silvia drunk up the Moo Moo Milk eagerly before returning back to the battle. She looked fighting fit and all of her previous wounds miraculously healed within seconds. The hot sun burned down bright, causing Esther to pull uncomfortably on the short sleeves of her shirt. It was so hot she felt as though her skin was burning. “Mona Lisa, please use Rock Tomb. After Astrid has finished administering the drink to her Seadra, though.” Mona’s ears pricked and she nodded her head with a gruff bark. As soon as Silvia turned back around and jumped back into the large puddle she used as her launchpad for the fight, Mona would send another round of flying rocks to crash into her opponent. The rocks spiraled in the air and seemed to rain down on the large blue seahorse in a shower of sharp boulders and jagged granites as they temporarily entombed her to the spot.

“So she feels as though she’s been drawn as something she’s not?” Esther scratched her chin thoughtfully. Esther didn’t agree with Astrid’s comment that seemed to almost state that she had drawn the older woman’s Pokemon as something as bad as a ‘lazy bum’, but she didn’t want to cause any drama or strife. She had painted them without their permission, after all, and if they weren’t quite happy with the end result that should mean she failed to bring out her vision the way she wanted. “Maybe I can make it up to her, hmm? Can you ask her if she would allow me to fix it and make her into the proud warrior she is, instead? Would that help?” The sniper seahorse fired a powerful beam of bubbles that popped against the Lycanroc from all angles, though Mona Lisa managed to dodge the worst of them and clung on to remain in the fight.

Trainer Battle

---

Weather: Heat Wave

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

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn"]
Mona Lisa ♀ LV 27
HP 18% [15/85]

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

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

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn"]
Silvia ♀ LV 32
HP 53% [46/87]

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

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

Esther's Mona Lisa [Keen Eye]: Normal
Astrid's Silvia [Sniper]: Normal [+2 CRIT, -4 SPD]

SP+ Astrid gives Silvia Moo Moo Milk! Silvia regained +58 HP to full health!
SP73 Mona Lisa used Rock Tomb! Silvia's speed was lowered!

SP73 Mona Lisa used Rock Tomb! Silvia's speed was lowered!
SP23 Silvia used Bubble Beam! Mona's speed was not lowered!


Mod Notes: Pia HP 34% [31/91] participated.
Lycanroc's Moveset: Howl, Bite, Rock Tomb, Sucker Punch
Deducted -1 Moo Moo Milk from inventory. ;_; 1/2 crit chance and it still wouldn't just give it to you.

[Tarlar]

"I think that is how it works yes," Astrid confirmed the artists questions and had to shrug of the next one, "I do not know, I do not really have any experience with it beside that one battle," she admitted but quickly added, "it sounded like Whitney did not know what would happen, so it could indicate its random somehow."
That sounded strange to Astrid though, how would a pokemon be able to summon a move without knowing what it was summoning? It wasn't like the knowledge of moves just was floating around really, was it something the metronome user already knew somehow, or was it given to them by another in that moment? But who?
Assist, which Aglaia had told her about made sense, and the same with sketch and mimic where the pokemon had seen the move used and could mimic the doing to make it happen again. But Metronome? Astrid had no clue on how that really worked.

Astrid smiled to Esther and then turned to Pia, "Is that the problem Pai?" She asked kindly, better go straight to the root instead of talking about someone like they weren't there or too stupid to understand.
"Tou! Toucannon!" Pia declared and folded a wing over her chest proudly, Astrid waited a bit but didn't get any clarification from her bird. Instead Pia snapped her head around and glared at Astrid and Olga.
"I'm not a lazy bum!" Olga protested and Astrid nodded, "exactly, you are one of the most hardworking people I know, so would you like being painted as a loafer now you're not?"
Olga half chuckled and tilted her head with a knowing smile, "you have too many kids Astrid! You are using your education skills on me too now," the old woman teased and Astrid grinned, "why not? It works!"
Pia huffed and looked away, and Astrid looked back at her bird. "Please Pia, I do not understand you, can you nod or shake your head to tell us yes or no please?" Astrid asked and Pia reluctantly nodded, and again when Astrid once again asked if Pia didn't like to be painted as cute and soft.
"So what do you like to be painted as?" Astrid asked and Pia straightened and spread her wings in a defensive circle in front of her, looking both proud and wary.
"What do you read that as?" Astrid asked Esther and gestured to Pia, "I assume you would be allowed if you understand her essence."

Silvia was quite shocked to see how much steam which rose from her bubbles and they were much smaller when they finally reached the dog. She glanced up at the sky where the sun was shining bright and frowned, could that really affect her attacks that much?
"Is that all you got?" She called challenging to Mona Lisa, "You are going to be sorry then! You attempts to trap me won't work! All this water here is going to keep me going no matter how many rocks you throw!"
Smoke began to drift from her little round mouth and she narrowed her eyes as she aimed at the lycanrock, doing her best to ignore anything sent at her in the meantime, she had to hit and she had to hit true and hard! She didn't have many chances and she was not going to crawl back to Astrid each turn to get help. She was no tiny horsea anymore and she could hold her ground.
A blue-purple-ish beam shot from her mouth and straight at the lycanrock.

Wordcount: 594
(ooc: Silvia uses Dragon Breath. If the battle ends, I'd like to use my multiplier on Pia.)

[DarkSlayer]

The artist nodded. "Oh yes, I can see that I made a horrible mistake. And I would be most delighted to make it right." She wasn't lying in the least bit as she said this, either. It was up to her to always make sure that her master pieces, if that's what they were, caught their subject in the most accurate of portrayals. Clearly she had failed to do that the first time around, and it was up to her and her alone to rectify the situation. Esther could already see just how she was going to make things better, with a painting that showed the bird in all its true glory. Of course that couldn't happen while this battle still raged. But once it was over...

"Now, Mona Lisa! Use your sucker punch!" It might have been seen as a bit of a nasty tactic, but it was one that was proven time and time again. As the seadra began to power up its own attack, Mona Lisa went it to smack the aquatic creature. But while she had been successful in that... she wound up getting a full face of that dragon breath, rendering her... completely unconscious. Indeed, the pokemon was blasted back, and she landed upon a side, still.

Esther nodded, figuring that that might happen and recalled her pokemon. "No worries, you did amazingly. But this isn't over yet!" She still had another pokemon after all, and she planned on using it to the best of its abilities as well. "Don't worry, though, I'll let you decide if you'd like to switch back out to your bird first." The artist smiled as she let the lanturn out onto the field, the pokemon appearing more than ready to take this fight on. With that hot sun over the battle, however, this may need to be wrapped up! After all, even an artist's abilities could be compromised... although there is the potential for a sudden cooling of temperature.

Trainer Battle

---

Weather: Heat Wave

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

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn"]
Smile ♀ LV 27
HP 100% [112/112]

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

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

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn"]
Silvia ♀ LV 32
HP 34% [30/87]

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

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

Esther's Smile [Volt Absorb]: Normal
Astrid's Silvia [Sniper]: Normal [+2 CRIT, -4 SPD]

SP73 Mona Lisa used Sucker Punch!
SP23 Silvia used Dragon Breath! Mona Lisa fainted!

Experience: 1,350 Total / 2 Pokemon = 675 Experience for Silvia, 675 x 1.5 = 1,013 Experience for Pia.
Pia levels up! 44/2611 to next level!
Silvia is now at 965/3169.
Pia and Silvia both gain +1 Happiness!

Esther sent out Lanturn (Smile)!


Mod Notes: Pia HP 34% [31/91] participated.
Silvia present for Lycanroc's (Lv. 27) knock out.


**Will be posting in the update thread for Astrid's party!

[Tarlar]

"That is all good and well, but I do not think Pia will allow you to repaint her unless you confirms what her essence is," Astrid prodded with a smile and Pia straightened and gave a firm nod and looked down on Esther along her long beak.
"But that's easy!" Olga said, "With that stance," Astrid's friend began but the old trainer interrupted her, "please Olga, do not give the answer away now. If Esther wants to try repaint Pai and wants to capture her true self, she need to be able to see it herself."
The two old ladies and the toucannon watched the artist expectantly, how would she define Pia?

The battle, which Astrid didn't participate much in other than keeping an eye on to be ready if her pokemon needed help, Silvia finished the battle after enduring the attack the faster rockdog used at her. She watched excitedly as it flew backwards from her attack and plumped down on the ground.
"I said you were going to be sorry!" She called at the fainted lycanrock and looked around in the hope someone else had seen her glorious victory but they were mostly focused on chatting. She grimaced and made her way up from the puddle she had fought from and over to Pia.
"There, now it has been taught its place!" She said proudly and looked eagerly up at her mentor, Pia smiled down to her and nodded. "You have grown a lot and avoided the mistake I made which is good," she said pleased and the seadra beamed.

Astrid praised Siliva too but the seadra didn't notice as all she had eyes on was Pia, the old woman looked surprised between Esther and the lanturn which was sent out to face them next.
"Pia? Oh I know my toucannon would be brave enough to face your fish, but its clearly has some skills with electricity with that glowing orb on its forehead! No, I am not going to send my pokemon into battles that hard if I have another option," the old trainer said confidently and found a pokeball in her pocket and a moment later a black furret raticate stood in front of her.
"I am sorry Rita, this is going to be really hot for you in this sun but I really need your help," Astrid said kindly and the raticate's whisker twitched as she looked around nervously and she froze at the sight of the lanturn.
"It is alright, you can do this. Just keep an eye on your opponent and go for the speed as you are so good at," Astrid encouraged and Rita swallowed.
"You're not alone Rita! And you're strong!" Silvia cheered her on as well and Rita exhaled in an attempt to calm her nerves a bit.
She raced forward, but not straight at the lanturn but at a spot to the left of it. Unexpectedly she made a sharp turn and leaped at the landbound fish. Her eyes darted from her target as she was midair and quickly scanned the surroundings as she pinpointed her her chosen escape route.

(ooc: Rita uses Crunch)

[Caramell 🍬]

Esther scratched the bottom of her chin and studied Pia carefully. If she wanted to repaint her subject, then she needed to know her subject as intimately as she knew herself. She needed to feel what her subject was feeling and think the same types of thoughts that her subject thought. The artist closed one eye while studying Pia with the other one and furrowed her brow together carefully. She was a Toucannon… known to communicate with their own kind through the strength of their hits alone. This Toucannon was definitely not a pet or a doll, meant to be babied and coddled. But what…what did Pia portray? The way she spread her arms out wide with quite the power stance, while she kept a vigilant watch on her surroundings. “Hmm…Pia…I think…”

Then it dawned on her! Of course! “She wants to be seen for the brave and fearless fighter she is. Wary of her surroundings and ready for the next fight. If the world must see her, let them see her strength! Her stamina! Her resolve! She is not a bird to take lightly as she keeps a steady watch for any sign of danger.” Esther smiled brightly before turning back to her large anglerfish and nodded towards her Pokemon. “Smile lets build up a stockpile first, before we prepare for our own attack.” Esther commented. The large blue fish flapped its fins together and splashed around in the large puddle that she used as her ‘base’ of sorts. She would hop from one puddle to the next, gathering bits of resources and edible things that it stashed into a large stockpile. “Laaannnttuurrrn!” It cheerfully murmured, though the words weren’t really translatable even for Pokemon language.

“Did I get it right, Pia?” Esther now turned her attention to the bird. Such a powerful and strong bird would probably appreciate Esther speaking directly to her. Though, the artist would glance at both the large black toucan and to her grey-haired trainer out of politeness, she needed her subject to approve of her words. Would Pia agree? Or would she let Esther know that she still missed the mark at some level, and should spend more time studying her subjects more intimately? Beads of sweat dotted her forehead just above her eyebrows, from stress of wanting to nail her subject and from the heat of their environment as she awaited Pia’s final answer. Even though Esther still felt new in many ways - and at the same time experienced in many others - she had a lot to learn about truly capturing the essence of her subjects.

Trainer Battle

---

Weather: Heat Wave

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

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn"]
Smile ♀ LV 27
HP 46% [52/112]

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

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

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn"]
Rita ♀ LV 30
HP 100% [94/94]

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

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

Esther's Smile [Volt Absorb]: Normal [+1 DEF +1 SP. DEF]
Astrid's Rita [Hustle]: Normal

SP60 Rita used Crunch! Smile avoided her defense being lowered!
SP49 Smile used Stockpile!


Mod Notes: Pia HP 34% [31/91]. Silvia HP 34% [30/87].
Lanturn's Moveset: Stockpile, Swallow, Spit Up, Charge [Based on evolution & learnset].

[Tarlar]

Pia returned the look from Esther without flinching seemingly trying to convert her proud thoughts and determined battles to the artists mentally. She slowly raised her beak and opened her still folded wings a bit out from her body, placing one foot a bit further ahead than the other, trying to ooze with energy, power and confidence.
A smile spread across her face and she puffed out her chest feathers pleased as the artist finally managed to 'read' her right. She gave Esther a court nod, not wanting to break the spell and how she was seen as Esther might think get something wrong then.
Silvia looked puzzled from Pia to the human artist, and then she too puffed out her chest and tried to look proud and confident.
"Are we going to get painted?" She whispered to Pia and then frowned, "by the one we battle?" Sounded like that painting wouldn't end up very good.
"She has painted some of us who battled in the last gym but she has read us terrible wrong, so we're trying to teach her how to do it right!" The toucannon answered with a smile but kept her eyes at the artist. Silvia's eyes widened in excitement, "I have been painted?!"

"Toucnannon!" Pia said in agreement to Esther, she certainly appreciated being addressed directly and not like she was a kid who wouldn't understand a thing.

Astrid laughed heartedly and studied Pia even though she was sure of the toucannon's thought about the new suggestion. Pia certainly looked pleased and gave a little nod to show her approval.
"I think you hit the nail, she is very protective and is very focused on her battle training. She has even taken Silvia under her wing and mentored her," she said with a smile and leaned on her cane, it was hot staying in the direct sun and standing, the sweat was running from her and she looked forward to get back to the shade and relax a bit.
"How are you going to do it? Are you changing the current painting or starting all over?" The old woman asked curiously and shot a quick glance after Olga who were shuffling over to the shade and their bags.
"Please bring me something to drink too!" She called after her friend who raised her hand in acknowledgement.

Rita was already panting, the sun was beaming down on her black fur and she wanted this to be over as fast as possible. She had managed to chomp down on her watery opponent once and she could do it again. She clenched her jaw and began running towards her opponent, ready to sink her teeth into it and end this. Her eyes still left her target and made a quick note on her surroundings, making sure where she could run afterwards if needed.

Wordcount: 475
(ooc: Rita uses Crunch twice, using running shoes.)

[Caramell 🍬]

The heat was insufferable to say the least. Esther began to collect her art supplies, cleaning some of her brushes off and refocusing the items she had out of her bag while the battle waged on between Rita and Smile. If she wanted to right the error she’d previously made, she would need the proper paints and tools to do such with. She immediately began laying out the supplies she would need to fix the mistake and repaint Pia on the canvas. “Oh, I don’t need to completely repaint the whole scene!” Esther explained, picking up a butterknife along with some other supplies. “I can begin by only scraping away the dried paint that was Pia, then use this to get rid of any excess that remains, and simply repaint her in the same image!” She quickly explained with a smile.

Smile craned her head to stare warily up at the blazing hot sun above them. It was too hot to have her out here! Where was Mona Lisa? Oh yeah, she had already done her best in the worst parts of the fight, huh? Smile simply didn’t want to stay out here in this heat, though. She spun around and gave her trainer large, worried eyes that would occasionally glance up at the sun. “I’m not built for the heat! Have a heart, Esther!” She complained. Esther frowned for a second and furrowed her brows together, before sighing softly. “Aww…I know, Smile. It’s way too hot for you. Let’s finish this fight quickly, ok? Then you can go back to your Pokeball. Use another stockpile then spit up what you have.”

Smile grumbled underneath her breath as she spun back around and eyed the furry black rat. “Listen uh…did your owner call you Rita? I just want to get out of the heat…let’s both do our best to end this quickly, ok?” She half-instructed, half-begged her opponent. Surely, even the Alolan Raticate could understand? Rita rushed up to leap on top of Smile and in her haste soared overhead a thick patch of ivy. The fish scooped every edible thing she could into her mouth to build a huge stockpile.Rita leaped once more and pinned the fish to the ground where she took a huge chomp out of Smile’s shoulders. Then, Smile spat up everything she had stockpiled and slapped Rita in her face with the pile of part-vomit part-pieces of berries and things. “Oh, my! That was a close one!” Smile giggled.

Trainer Battle

---

Weather: Heat Wave

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

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn"]
Smile ♀ LV 27
HP 17% [19/112]

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

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

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn"]
Rita ♀ LV 30
HP 61% [57/94]

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

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

Esther's Smile [Volt Absorb]: Normal
Astrid's Rita [Hustle]: Normal

SP60 Rita used Crunch! The move missed!
SP49 Smile used Stockpile!

SP60 Rita used Crunch! Smile's defenses were lowered!
SP49 Smile used Spit Up!


Mod Notes: Pia HP 34% [31/91]. Silvia HP 34% [30/87].
Lanturn's Moveset: Stockpile, Swallow, Spit Up, Charge [Based on evolution & learnset].

[Tarlar]

When Esther found her work materials and told what she was going to do to make edits on the painting she got quite a crowd. Both Astrid, Pia and Silvia made their way over, and even Ella joined too to see what it was all about. Olga was quick to return with her drinks and even offered a bottle of ice cold water to Esther as well and as they watched in silence to see her work.
It was fascinating to see the an expert working although Esther might find it a bit uncomfortable with so many eyes watching each and every stroke she made. Pia especially would watch closely and if Esther seemed to have any struggles with her, she'd offer to act as a model and step away a bit. The rest would move away as well if Esther asked them to give her room to work, albeit reluctantly.

Rita shot them an annoyed glance, she just wanted out of this and not only was she stuck with the battle she didn't want, she was stuck with it on her own while the others seemed to have no interest in it.
"I'm trying!" Rita answered through gritted teeth, "It's really hot in this fur, I'm build for the night! The darkness and the cold, not jumping around with the sun beating down on my back," she complained pantingly and rushed at the lanturn.
Her constant focus on the surroundings made her misjudge her jump and had had to use even more energy by turning around and getting hold of Smile and give her a proper bite.
The vomited stuff splashed on Rita and she shivered then gagged from the feeling as there were really no smell, but it was disgusting! She staggered away and wouldn't be able to answer any question what the difference was on this and a water type spewing water or any other pokemon technically vomiting. Perhaps that this has half eaten stuff in it which stuck to her fur? Rita wrinkled her nose in disgust as this would be hard for her to clean out without water, and it was already beginning to dry and stick even more firmly in her fur.
"Thanks," she said dryly to Smile and shook her fur but to no avail, she shivered from disgust again and then leaped teeth bared.

Wordcount: 392
(ooc: Rita uses Crunch)