And an Alola to you as well! (The Alola Experience)

[Goni]

Having finally gotten started with her tea-making company, Sara was feeling rather satisfied with her goals. She was finally feeling like maybe the Johto Region really could be home after all. With the prize winnings from various competitions which the locals held regularly, Sara had found herself not only a competent fisher, and an accomplished Gogoat racer, but a new homeowner. Well… Maybe 'home' was too ambitious of a word to call the property which Sara had purchased, she was really more of a shack owner. On the side of Route 29, between two run-down fence posts, Sara had purchased a plot of land with a single damaged structure on it. Affordable, yes, functional? No, not yet.

Sara's mother and father had made their way from their home in Alola to help Sara get her new home set up, though when they arrived, they seemed rather disappointed at what they saw. Rather than turn tail and run, they chose to stay and help Sara get set up. Both of Sara's parents were retirees, her father had been a construction worker, and her mother was still collecting dividends from her flower business back in Alola. With Sara's mother's business savvy and her father's construction experience, the two thought it best they stay in Johto for a while and help build something for Sara so that once she was done collecting what she needed to get her tea business up and running, she would have a place to work from!

Satisfied that her parents were going to do the brunt of the work on her estate, Sara decided it was best to get back on the road and continue on along the road to Azalea Town. So off she started, traveling along Route 29, though rather than combative trainers and wild pokemon, two unexpected people approached. "Alola!" They said. Shocked, Sara responded in turn; "Alola! It feels like it's been years since I've heard that greeting!"

~~

Sara sets of on The Alola Experience!
Notes: Bringing Tartarus the Ratata, Kellen the Squirtle, and Avery the Treecko! I'd like to put the Chingling Egg in my current party, switching out Aqui.
Word Count: 380

LAIKA OF GANGNAM STYLE

[Caramell 🍬]

The Alola Experience seemed to kick off to a great start with the surrounding trainers of Johto. Maui smiled sweetly and settled into her collapsible rocking chair outside of their camper as Kaui propped the front door of the camper open. He walked out with two plates balanced carefully on each shoulder and knelt down to slide them off and onto the tables in front of him. “You know, Maui…” The elderly gentleman hummed after he managed to set their breakfast up on their foldable table and stared at the bounty that they had prepared. “I think this is missing…hmm…” Kaui scratched his chin and studied his meals with a smile. Maui’s mouth drooled as she stared at the thick burger patties piled on top of a soft white bed of sweet rice and topped with a deliciously looking fried egg. A warm, inviting malasada coated generously in sugar nestled in a small plate beside it. “A condiment of some kind…hang on…”

While he disappeared inside and rummaged through their belongings, Maui immediately settled down on the bench seats and mentally prepared herself for the bounty. Though, something caught her attention. A strange apparition appeared in the heat waves that rose off of the ground and steamed their ways towards the open blue skies above. The closer the strange being got, the more it took shape into a twenty-something year old trainer. Maui jumped up and rushed to the door of their camper. She tossed it open in a hurry and yelled, “Kaui….Kaui! HEY KAUI! Turn your hearing aids up, KAUI, WE’VE GOT A VISITOR!” Kaui continued to rummage through their supplies oblivious to Maui’s screaming until she began tapping him on the shoulder. They would then exit the camper and hurriedly stroll over to Sara before she could disappear.

“Alola young Johtoian traveler!” Kaui began to wave his arms around the area in wide gestures, as if he were speaking before a grand council about something monumental and important. Kaui greeted and Maui nodded her head heavily as she spoke up alongside her husband. “Alola! I’m Maui and this is my husband Kaui…Kaui…Kaui…KAUI KNOCK IT OFF!” She snapped and gave her husband a light tap on the head to bring him back down to earth. “Oh, please don’t let Kaui scare you he’s a bit eccentric. Ya see we’re from…wait, you know our greeting? Are you from Alola, dear? That accent of yours does remind me of home…” Maui chimed in and asked Sara thoughtfully. Her eyes lit up hopefully as she had longed to see more Alolan travelers around Johto. They had even started the Alola Experience specifically to bring a bit of home to Johto.

Kaui glared at his wife as he rubbed the spot on his head where she struck. “Ya ain’t gotta hit me so hard, woman!” He grumbled under his breath and shook his hands. Then, Kaui would begin to rub his wrists with his fingers as though they had started to hurt him. “You’re going to give me a concussion. You know the doctor said I’ve gotta start watching my blood pressure sheesh!” Maui ignored her husband and invited Sara over to their makeshift breakfast table. “Please dear…it’s so good to see a familiar face… Won’t you make an old woman happy and stay a spell to enjoy breakfast with us?” She asked in a soft, sad tone that only someone who was truly heartless could say no to. “It’ll do these old bones some good to have someone as young and spry as you around…”

Kaui grabbed his wife’s hand and tugged it hard! “We’re going to bother and scare her off, Maui! She doesn’t want our Loco Moco and Malasada I’ve worked hard prepping. There’s plenty…sure…but we sound like two crazy old coots out there!” Then, he turned to her and would cut to the chase. “Now…before you leave, please hear me out, young one. We’ve started running our Alola Trials out here in Johto to bring a bit of home to this region. We LOVE Johto, don’t get us wrong…we just get a little homesick sometimes. Anyways, our trials are kinda like GYM Battles here in Johto. You’ll have to search out the Totem Pokemon and battle it. If you can do that and prove yourself before the Totem Pokemon, you’ll be given a prize.” Maui freed herself from her husband’s grip and rubbed her arm with her hand as she side-eyed him. “We were wondering originally if you’d come to take on the challenge. You can only bring three of your Pokemon with you, though.” Maui added in quickly.

Maui and Kaui invite you to take on the Alola Trial Challenge!

Your 3 Pokemon are selected. Feel free to officially accept the trial to begin!

[Goni]

Sara's mouth watered at the mention of Loco Moco Malasada. "Well, if you insist Auntie! Gee that's the Alola I remember, everyone offering a helping hand… no, a helping of lunch to a neighbor!" Sara said, happily. She took a seat next to the old man and eagerly awaited the delicious malasada. As a fresh plate of Malasada was delivered in front of her, Sara quickly started digging in. "So uncle-" Sara said deferentially, mouth full of food, "Why did you decide to make the Alola Trials in Johto?"

As Kaui laughed and explained about bringing Alola to Johto, Sara nodded along eagerly. "Ohh! I've done a little of bringing Alola to Johto as well! I'm sure that you had heard of the tea company I started while I was in Alola… well… before it got taken over by my business partner…. Well… I brought the tea business here!" Sara said as she hastily devoured the serving of malasada she was offered. "As thanks for offering me some of your food, let me offer you some of mine!" Sara said, happily. She quickly rifled through her backpack and pulled out a sealed tin of dried ingredients. "It's a bit… earthy right now… I'm still trying to get the flavor balance right." Sara said, contemplatively, but she put the tin down on the table. "I'd like you both to have it though as thanks!"

The tea tin was hand painted with love by Sara. The tin looked to have previously been a coffee tin, and if looked on too closely, you might notice the thick layers of paint over the words on the tin. It was beautifully decorated with greens and reds, and looked like a berry bush. On the back, it claimed to be organically grown with the cooperation of a Treecko and Cherubi, and on the front in big bold letters it read "Sara's UnbeLeafable Berry Tea", with a self portrait of a chibi style Sara with a thumbs up, winking. "I hope you enjoy it!" Sara said with a grin. "And with that I'll be off. Thanks so much for the challenge, this sounds like a lot of fun!"

Sara turned towards the trial area, and started on into it. "A totem pokemon, huh?" Sara said to herself, taking a look around.

~~

After a heaping serving of malasada, Sara is ready to head into the Alolan Trial!

Notes: The tea probably tastes okay… it's probably not the best flavor, but it's definitely an improvement over the mudbray and squirtle slime she had been previously trying to sell. Also, Sara is just saying auntie and uncle respectfully, she's not really related to them. :')
Word Count: 384 words

LAIKA OF GANGNAM STYLE

[Tarlar]

The couple was pleasantly surprised by the tea offer from Sara and Maui studied the pretty painted tin can curiously and sniffed the content, which gave her a brief skeptical look on her face but she was too polite to say anything about it.
Kaui was just happy Sara clearly enjoyed his malasadas and that she agreed to take on their challenge.
"Wait, wait!" He shouted and jumped to his feet when Sara suddenly said her goodbuys was was about to venture off before getting the most important bit of information.
"You don't know what to look for or where to start!" He shouted and rushed after her, "you need to find a pair of pillars, have you taken the trials back home in Alola? If so you cannot miss them. Take the path which they mark the beginning on, and the pokemon you are supposed to find is full of confidence and has nerves of steel, and then it constantly gnaws on stuff," he said secretly and grinned as he pointed her in the direction in which to start.

Even if Sara hadn't seen the pillars of a trial before she couldn't miss these ones. They were pretty new and almost shone white in the cold and clear day. A path lead up a hill from between them with trees dressed in beginning autumn colors of green, yellow and a spot of red.
When she reached the top she'd look down in a little valley below, a little brown pokemon with a striped tail froze in place and stared wideeyed at Sara when it noticed her. The sentret called out an alarm to warn anyone of the new arrival which made the rest of the rodents in the clearing look up.
Another brown pokemon, a ragged furred and striped, and with a little mask over its eyes ran in a zigzag pattern up to her, sniffed her boot and then ran to the nearest tree to rub up against it.
The last two pokemon a brown plump bigtoothed one and a purple rat with just as big teeth were both busy gnawing in a log. The bidoof looked like it had some plan with it while the rattata seemed to be very random in where and why it bit the tree. Neither seemed bothered with sharing the log.
Question was which of the pokemon fitted best with the clue Sara had been given?

[Goni]

"A pokemon that has nerves of steel, and constantly gnaws on stuff?" Sara looked down at Tartarus and blinked at it. Tartarus looked back at Sara and had somehow along the way picked up a stick and started gnawing on it. "Sounds a lot like you, Tartarus." As Sara entered the clearing, she noted the four pokemon in front of her. The sentret didn't seem to have nerves of steel at all, it was crying out in distress at just the mere sight of Sara. "Okay, probably not that one." Sara moved on to the next one, a Zigzagoon. It seemed to be unnerved at Sara, but it didn't really seem like it was all that interested in gnawing. Sara then turned her attention to the Bidoof and Rattata who were gnawing on a log. "Well, they're definitely both gnawers." Sara said to Tartarus.

Tartarus chittered calously as it approached the same log that the two wild pokemon were gnawing on, and began gnawing on the log itself. "Tartarus! Be careful!" Tartarus chittered in defiance as it found a meaty section of the log to start gnawing on. "Well, I guess that question had been answered already. Tartarus has always loved gnawing on stuff. I don't know much about this bidoof, but Tartarus certainly has always had nerves of steel. The pokemon we're looking for..." Sara said, pausing for dramatic affect as she raised her hand, pointing towards the sky. "Is you!" Sara said, bringing her hand down quickly and pointing at the wild Rattata.

A breeze rolled by as Sara waited for something to happen, her finger extended out towards the wild Rattata. Tartarus looked at Sara sympathetically, then looked over at the wild Rattata. As if to help his trainer in some way, Tartarus started chittering wildly at the Rattata, as if challenging it.

(306 words)

[Avalon]

Sara had made her choice, pointing and accusing the Rattata of being the one hiding the Trial's secrets. As Tartarus began to chirp and squeak at the wild rat, making their intentions and accusations known, the wild Rattata seemed to ponder what Tartarus and his Trainer had said. It tilted its head, ceasing its chewing of the log and appraising the duo before it. But then, after a moment of pondering, it immediately rushed past Sara and Tartarus and fled the pathway entirely. If she had been looking for a Pokemon with nerves of steel, then Rattata was not the one, it seemed; darting off at the slightest sound or noise. Far too skittish, it seemed, at least in comparison to the Pokemon which remained.

The other Pokemon who existed as options remained. The Bidoof continued chewing away at its log, barely acknowledging Tartarus or Sara as it continued to do whatever it was doing with the log. The Sentret was still sitting on its tail, watching the Alolan Trainer inquisitively, while the Zigzagoon continued to run in its zig-zag pattern. For a moment, it tried to follow and keep pace with the Rattata, but then seemed to quickly lose interest as the Rattata fled the pathway, and the zigzah raccoon resumed back its body up against a nearby tree.

Maui emerged from the way which Sara had originally come, hands behind his back and a fond smile on his face. He had seen the Rattata fleeing on his way in, and realized what it must have meant for the Trial and Sara's progress thus far. He couldn't directly help her or really give her any hints or anything, but he had been curious enough to stop by and check how she was progressing. After all, most Trials back home had some kind of caretaker watching over them; why not let the unofficial Trial have an unofficial overseer? "Sorry to say that it looks like you guessed the wrong one. Stay calm, though, the right Pokemon is still here somewhere. Remember, it loves to chew on things and has nerves of steel. A Trainer coming through and walking around in its home won't bother it much."

With that, Maui stepped back and watched as the Trial continued, curious as to what would happen next in the girl's process.

[Goni]

Sara scratched the back of her head. "Aw shucks, I thought that the Rattata was it for sure!" Sara said pouting as Tartarus gleefully claimed their spot chomping on the log now that the other Rattata had been chased off. As Maui offered up their hint again, Sara examined the three pokemon again. "Alright, well, I'm still fairly certain it isn't the Sentret, that thing looks way too concerned! I bet if I said 'BOO' it would scamper off. Maybe you're just a freak of nature Tartarus..." Sara said, staring at her Rattata as it gleefully munched away at the log. "I guess I'll have to go for my second pick then," Sara said with a grin. Sara slowly waved her finger towards the Sentret and Zigzagoon, trying to discern if Maui's face let on any trace of hinting at the right answer. "Augh... Your face didn't even twitch when I started pointing at those two... Well, I guess that can only mean... It's the Bidoof! Right?" Sara said, looking to Maui for confirmation.

As Sara expressed excitement, Tartarus responded, chittering wildly. Sure it had gotten to chomp on one side of the log, but that Bidoof had been on the other side much to their annoyance. "Ratartartar!" Tartarus cheered, scurrying around towards the Bidoof. "Tartarus, good instincts! Alright Bidoof!" Sara paused, then leaned over towards Maui "Did we win?" she whispered curiously. "I... uh... never did any of the trials on Alola, I really don't know what I'm doin' here.." Sara added sheepishly. "Am I supposed to fight it now or something?" Tartarus had already started greedily chomping on the log closer and closer to where the bidoof had staked its claim. "Tartar!" Tartarus chittered at the Bidoof, trying to convince it to abandon its post on the other side of the log.

(304 words)

[Avalon]

The Bidoof sat and watched with mild curiosity as Sara and Tartarus went about their business in choosing their second pick for the Trial. Maui watched, hands folded behind his back and a faint smile on his face as he observed. It was so much fun watching one of the younger generation get invested in their homeland's old traditions. Even if she had never had a chance to do the Trials back home, it warmed his heart to see her have a chance at the best they could manage in this foreign land. "I reckon you have it right. As for what comes next, that's up to Bidoof here."

The Bidoof tilted its head, suddenly the center of attention as it was officially singled out as the answer to the Trial's puzzle. It finally stopped with the log that it had been chowing down upon, appraising Tartarus and then Sara. It clicked its teeth together, stretching out its fluffy body as it took a hunkered down stance. "Yup, you guys got it. I'm the one. But now I gotta see if you're ready for the real challenge." the Bidoof chittered, taking a step away from the log. It had its duties as part of the Trial to do, but no point in letting a perfectly good log to waste by getting damaged during this.

"Looks like our Bidoof friend here wants to test you and yours, see if you're ready for the Totem. Beat him, and you'll be able to take the next steps." Maui advised, taking a few steps back. The Trial Pokemon were all trustworthy enough to not attack anyone needlessly unless it was part of the challenge, but he wanted to give the girl and her opponent a bit of space. He smiled fondly at Sara. "Give it your all, and show them that fiery Alola spirit!"

The Bidoof (Level 9) must test your mettle before the Trial!
What will Sara do now?

[Goni]

"Huh? It really wants to fight?" Sara said, surprised. "Even though I have... This?!" She said, whipping out the badge she had won from Falkner in Violet City. She smirked as she flashed the badge at the Bidoof. She turned her head to Maui. "I hear that even pokemon know what these badges are, and respect trainers that have em. This'll show that bidoof that I'm ready to pass this trial." The bidoof looked undeterred by Sara, and she gulped nervously. "Alright! Never mind, battles we can do, right Tartarus?" Sara said, grinning. Tartarus was visibly vibrating with excitement, jumping back and forth as it watched the bidoof with great focus. Tartarus was excited to fight, and their ears started flicking around, ensuring that there were no other pokemon about to jump out at them. Tartarus chittered to Sara, its legs giving way to false starts as it fought its urge to enter the battle without command from Sara. Sara watched piteously for a second as Tartarus could barely resist the call to battle like a dog waiting patiently for a treat. "Alright, lets get this thing started! Tartarus, use bite!"

[Tarlar]

Maui looked puzzled at Sara when she showed her badge, "It's shiny and all, but on alola that means nothing. We don't have Gyms so only foreigners has badges," he explained. "You need to show you have completed the trials to get any respect there," he said with a smile, "so that is what we go with here as well. Bidoof will be your guide to The Totem, but you need to prove you are ready to face them first."
He looked thoughtful for a moment, "I think the badge shows the pokemon, who know about it, that the trainer knows their way around training and they can trust their decision. I have never heard of a wild pokemon backing down from a battle due to a badge or a trial amulet."

The bidoof looked completely unfaced by the badge, it even raised an eyebrow as the trainer expected the piece of metal to do anything in this instance. Even if it had been a normal wild battle, it might not have meant much, other than if the wild pokemon knew what it was, it would know it was up against a real challenge here.
"Doof doof!" Bidoof called out challenging to Tartarus who barely could keep himself back, wondered what the rattata was waiting for. The bidoof was ready to rumble and it made no sense to it why Tartarus tried to keep himself back.
Then Sara called her order and the rattata was as shot out from a canon and buried his teeth in the brown normal type an instant later. Even that the bidoof seemed unfaced about, it really had nerves of steel! It rolled up and gently pulled itself free from Tartarus, its round side was going to be a lot harder for the other's teeth to get into, now they would more easily roll off.


Wild Encounter

---

Weather: Snowfall (Clear)

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

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn"]
Bidoof LV 9
HP 56% [18/32]

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

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

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn"]
Tartarus LV 13
HP 100% [32/32]

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

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

Bidoof [Simple]: Normal (+2DEF)
Tartarus [Run Away]: Normal

SP27 Tartarus used Bite!
SP9 Bidoof used Defense Curl!

[Goni]

Sara looked at the badge in her hand with slight dissapointment. From the way she had heard other trainers talk about it, she had supposed that the badges themselves had mystical properties. She let out a nervous laugh. "I suppose you're right... Those tourists who would come to Alola flaunting their badges always seemed to show them off at every opportunity, so I guess I thought maybe it would have some affect if I were to show them off." Sara said, scratching the back of her head. Sara eyed the bidoof, as it took a defensive pose, curling itself up and rounding itself out. Tartarus chittered excitedly, landing a blow without receiving any kick-back at all. "Alright Tartarus, lets finish this battle up. Keep on biting it till it shows us the way!" Sara said, grinning.

ooc: Using Running Shoes, Bite 2 times!

[Avalon]

The Bidoof remained in its defensive position, curling itself further into a ball as it prepared to move. This was a carefully chosen strategy, taught to it by the Totem Pokemon themself. Definitely a good way to see if this girl and her Rattata were up to the proper challenge that awaited them. Maui, for his part, stood by the side and remained silent for now, watching quietly as the two rodents attacked one another.

Tartarus launched forward, sinking his teeth into the Bidoof's fluffy hide. The Bidoof let out a squeak of pain, but held strong. The Bidoof curled even furhter into a ball and began to spin and twirl, spinning itslef out of the Rattata's jaws and rolling like a ball. The Bidoof's rolling body struck Tartarus, knocking the rat to the side as the Bidoof continued rolling. Bidoof moved in a circular pattern, surrounding the battlefield with its slightly hardened hide. The attack hit Tartarus as if he had been struck with a rock, but he remained standing. Following his Trainer's instructions, Tartarus launched himself into the path of the Bidoof.

Tartarus bit into the Bidoof's hide once more, though he was quickly knocked aside by the spinning beaver's attack. Both Pokemon were beginning to look haggard, even as the Bidoof continued its rotation around the trial grounds, waiting for the next chance to strike.

Wild Encounter

---

Weather: Snowfall (Clear)

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

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn"]
Bidoof LV 9
HP 9% [18/32]

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

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

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn"]
Tartarus LV 13
HP 50% [17/34]

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

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

Bidoof [Simple]: Normal (+2DEF), Rollout (2 Turns)
Tartarus [Run Away]: Normal

SP27 Tartarus used Bite!
SP13 Bidoof used Rollout!
The Running Shoes were used!
SP27 Tartarus used Bite!
SP13 Bidoof used Rollout!


((OOC: According to the Damage Calculator, Tartarus and Bidoof had some incorrect stats in the last post. Updating them to match what it says in the Calculator

[Goni]

"Alright! Nice bites, Tartarus!" Sara said, cheering the small rat on. The battle was closer than Sara had thought it was going to be, but the defensive posture of the Bidoof had allowed it to hang in to the battle. The fact that another rollout was coming was dangerous though. If Tartarus couldn't finish this off quickly, then the wild bidoof would likely knock Tartarus out. "It's all or nothing now, Tartarus! You've gotta bite it one more time and finish it off!" Despite the difference in apparent skill at fighting, Tartarus seemed to be struggling almost as much as the bidoof, and the fact that the bidoof was still picking up speed with its attack made Sara nervous. Tartarus shook off the blows that it had taken, and chittered softly to Sara as it faced its foe, not waiting for the enemy bidoof to continue rolling around the arena, rather taking the fight to them! Tartarus charged forward, its buck-teeth glistening in the light as it prepared to unlease another fearsome bite on its foe!

[Tiki]

The Rattata charged forward toward the rolling Bidoof, and bit hard onto the beaver. The Bidoof cried in pain, and rolled a little bit more as the pain settled in, spinning Tartarus a bit. Thankfully, the purple rodent wasn't easily disoriented by this. The Bidoof laid on the ground to rest for a bit, and mumbled to the mouse that he did great. A few seconds past after the beaver caught its breath, and it rolled back up and began running away, chattering a "Bidoof, Doof!" at the human and Rattata to chase after it. The purple mouse tapped Sara's hiking shoes, and made running motion toward the Bidoof.

"Your Rattata did great! Fighting that Bidoog like that!" Kaui the elder woman cheered for Sara. "You better start chasing the Bidoof. It looked like it was a screening test for the REAL trial Pokemon."

"We'll be right after you, but we're enjoying our walk after those Masala. Don't want to give ourselves heart burn from moving too fast after eating," The older man Maui chuckled, grinning with enthusiasm.

---

Tartarus gained 2 levels and is now Level 15!
He already learned Laser Focus....

OOC:
display screen last round should be 9 hp left on Bidoof I believe.
Defense Curl should also only give +1 defense

[Goni]

"Nice job Tartarus!" Sara said, with a cheer. Tartarus chittered happily, but as Bidoof started running away, Rattata quickly tapped Sara and pointed at the bidoof, urging her to give chase. As Kaui called out to start chasing the bidoof, Sara was already starting to run. "No problem Kaui and Maui! Thanks for telling me what I'm supposed to be doing for the trial!" Sara said with a thankful smile. Despite growing up in Alola, she had never participated in one of these trials before, but there was something thrilling about doing more than just battling, but figuring out based on hints and knowledge what pokemon was actually quite rewarding. Sara didn't consider herself a pokemon expert, but she had taken a course at a the Mizuma Educational Center and had not done well at all, but it at least had given her a resource and access to a plethora of pokemon information that she would not have otherwise been interested in. Tartarus happily led the way, its whiskers twitching wildly as it attempted to keep the scent of the bidoof in its nose.