The woods are lovely, dark and deep [Penumbra]

[Jenesis]

Trixie arrived to a winter wonderland, a far cry from the tropical island she had been stranded on for Arceus knows how long. It was a lovely vacation, but it was nice to finally be back. She pulled her coat tighter as she treaded through the light dusting of snow, following her P*DA's map as it pointed the way toward a certain education center. She could feel the weight of the forest surrounding her, pressing in on her, even as the path got steeper. She was going the right way.

Frederick flitted his wings rapidly to stave off the cold. The Scyther did not like this weather at all, but he was determined to grin and bear it, since Trixie had specially chosen him for this expedition. She wanted to catch some Dark-types, and the Scyther had two advantages on that front; he was a Bug-type, giving him a natural type advantage, but he also had the move False Swipe, which would let him weaken a Pokemon but ensure that it would not be knocked out. Sometimes she impressed herself with the depth of her preparation, she thought with a sly giggle to herself.

In a few moments more, they reached the main gate of the education center, and Trixie stepped in to find it all but deserted. It was hardly a surprise; the students and professors were probably all enjoying their winter break before classes resumed again. Trixie made her way around the main quad and followed the signs, not toward the classrooms, but to a steep-sided stretch of wilderness labeled "Penumbra Hills." She reached the foot of the hill and braced herself for the climb, but before she could take another step forward, a spine-chilling howl pierced the silence.

Trixie whirled around, Frederick letting out a low hissing noise as he sharpened his blades for battle. But the only one there was... a Houndour? "Frederick, hold on," Trixie said, motioning the mantis Pokemon to stand down, as she saw the fire dog bounding toward them excitedly. In other circumstances, this might be a prelude to battle. But this particular dog was holding a small envelope in its mouth, and it could not threaten them by spitting flame, not without scorching the contents of its own delivery. The dog wagged its tail excitedly as it stopped and sat ahead of Trixie. She reached down to receive the envelope and tore it open, unfolding the letter contained within.

"It's from... Mishu?" Her eyes widened as she read the handwritten note...

[words=421] 400 to Incubator
Please update the party as follows: Remove April and put Frederick in the party. Remove Hook, update Houndour to the following, and put her in the party. Remove Hook's Exp. Share and give it to Kuroinu. Thread party will be just Frederick and Kuroinu.

Kuroinu ♀ OT: Zaiden Kabila	LV 1 Houndour
Ability: Flash Fire ❤: 0	EXP: 0 / 1951
Nature: Adamant. Kuroinu is a strong-willed Pokemon who wants to prove her worth to the pack. She is steadfastly loyal and will fiercely fight in defense of her trainer. Bite Ember Beat UpTM Fire FangTM
Held Item: Exp. Share Other: Traded with Caramell on Mar 10, 2022

[Caramell 🍬]

The wintry season brought its own challenges to the wonderous Estates. Several of the flowering bushes that surrounded the long walkways were now mostly barren as their leaves slipped from their nimble branches and littered the ground, only to be covered by the oncoming snowstorms that billowed across the open terrain of Johto. The worst of the winter days would have most of the students and teachers hidden away inside of their respective homes with their families, tucked far away from the inspiring hallways and studious books that lined the walls of the inner chambers of Mizuma Education Center. Still, the place was a far cry from being barren of life – from the Pokemon that wondered around, both tamed and feral, to the groundskeepers who ensured the plants were flourishing even in the worst of the weather.

In truth, Mishu had left specific instructions with one of the groundskeepers. A young blonde haired woman who couldn’t have been any older than her early twenties spent most of her afternoon fighting with the rogue canine that her instructor was ‘so sure’ she could handle. She wouldn’t eat a drop of the kibbles and bits that the blonde caretaker had put out for her earlier in the day. Halfway during their weight, she had to personally chase after, corner, and recapture the darn Pokemon countless times to keep it from running away from her! “It’ll be easy she says.” The blonde caretaker huffed angrily underneath her voice, pulling on the piece of rope she’d used as a lasso for the wild dog. “Couldn’t be a tamer pup to watch she says. Yeah, sure! Why did I take this internship again?!” The woman grumbled loudly underneath her breath.

Then, yet AGAIN, the dog broke free – singeing the small bundle of rope like it was nothing – and ran at the top of its paws towards Penumbra Hills where she could only assume the rest of its hellish pack waited for it. This caretaker wouldn’t wait, though. Pfft, screw that! She turned away and stalked back inside of the estates muttering, “Good riddance…” underneath her breath. The Houndour, however, ran cheerfully to Trixie’s feet, wagging her tail excitedly and pawing at the air as though begging Trixie to play with her. The envelope that the Houndour carried to Trixie was simple and elegant, dyed in black with bright golden lettering across the top.

Dear Trixie,

I really appreciated the time we've spent with our Pokemon during our Picnic. I hope that time is treating you well and that Eastwood and Robin are doing well. I remembered how you marveled at my Hinoina and wanted a Houndour of your own. This little girl was bred specifically for you. I do hope you remember the advice I've given you about raising them, hm? She might require a trainer who knows how to handle her well.

I am terribly sorry that I couldn't meet you in person for your first visit to Mizuma Education Center, but I do hope you'll enjoy your stay! There's a lot to learn inside of our study halls if you've come before Winter Break. There's also lots of cool Pokemon you might stumble across within Penumbra Hills. Please be careful, though. The trees can be hard to navigate around as you work your way through the estate.

Sincerely,
Mishu Mizuma

Something rustled in the bushes near Trixie’s feet. It wouldn’t take long before a large purple constrictor broke free from the grass with a bright purple mouse secured tightly within it’s coils. The buck-toothed mouse kicked and clawed at the belly of the beast, as they rolled and tumbled through the snow locked in a life-or-death match. The mouse chattered loudly and squirmed, thrashing about. It gnawed at the purple snake’s tough scales until it was able to break skin, and eventually struggled out of the large rattlesnake’s coils. The Ekans coiled up and hissed, unfolding its large teeth as it rattled its tail and pinned its eyes dangerously down on its opponent. But before it could react, the wild Rattata leaped on top of the snake’s head, pinning it down into the snow. It chomped onto Ekan’s skull and sent the snake running off into the woods in an instance, before turning towards Trixie while slamming its thick tail against the snowy ground in warning. “Leave now!”

A Wild Rattata appeared!

Level 10. What will Trixie and her team do?

Shiny: mSZT5pnW1-42

SPOILER: Click to show

Rare: 1-10 | Uncommon: 1-3 | Pokemon: 1-2 | Level: 2-12

1-42·1-10·1-3·1-2·7-17

[Jenesis]

Trixie broke out into a delighted smile as she skimmed the note, her eyes falling on the words bred specifically for you. "For... me?" she repeated to herself as she looked down at the playful Houndour, who had turned to batting at the feet of the hovering mantis Pokemon, trying to encourage him to play. Frederick looked at Trixie with skepticism. They were meant to be babysitting this creature? The trainer, for her part, set down her backpack and begun to dig. "I got just the thing for you," she said to the Houndour, who perked up with attention. But what the trainer brought forth was not a treat, or a toy, but a metal headpiece of some sort. The Houndour did not like it at all! She let out an angry yelp and backed away as Trixie approached her with the device...

Only for them both to be distracted by the sight of a Rattata, fighting itself free from the coils of an Ekans. As the Ekans reared up to strike, the Rattata leapt up, bashing the snake Pokemon's down into the snow and sending it slithering off in fright. A worthy opponent! "Frederick, get ready!" Trixie said, and as the Rattata hissed out a warning, Trixie was able to take the opportunity to slip the Exp. Share down onto the Houndour's head. The Houndour whined as the electrodes fired up, thrashing her head this way and that, but she was unable to dislodge the metallic device.

"C'mon, now," Trixie said, holding the dog in place and trying to pat her on the back to get her to calm down. "This is a school, right? So this will help you, uh, learn something! That's right! Just pay attention to how Frederick fights!" It occurred to her that the pup needed a name. If Mishu's Pokemon was Hinoina, perhaps something inspired by ancient Kantonian as well? "Kuroinu? It means something like 'black dog'. That'll be your name from now on, okay?"

The dog had slowly come to understand that the device was not going to harm her. She nodded uneasily as Frederick squared off against the Rattata, who was not backing away from what it claimed as its turf. "Strike strong, Frederick - Wing Attack!" Trixie ordered. The bug Pokemon flitted his wings rapidly, rising up a few feet into the air before pitching his body downward and dive-bombing the purple rat, attempting to slap it across the side with said wings.

[words=411] 400 to Incubator
Caramell 🍬

[Caramell 🍬]

The small mammal’s rough purple fur bristled. It arched its back while digging its feet into the wild grassy turf underfoot. These trespassers were hostile enemies that were meant to challenge the wild rat and cause it to fear for its life. It had fought every day of its life to ensure that no creature would simply scare it away as though it were nothing more than a discarded bag floating on the open breeze. “Your trainer sends you to your death.” The furry monstrosity hissed, lowering its body against the ground so that it could mostly vanish into the tall grasses and inching steadily closer. The scuffle that this strange human faced with her canine companion didn’t bother the rat, as once its enemy was confirmed the purple rodent’s full attention snapped firmly on Frederick’s form.

The large green mantis zipped through the air in a high speed chase after the warm blooded mammal. Rattata zipped on the tips of its nimble feet and surged through the tall wheat grasses in varying directions. As soon as Frederick whipped up some powerful winds that slashed through the overgrown terrain, snapping large bundles of grass in half, the rat would dive to the sides barely escaping the worst of Frederick’s attacks. It squirrelled its way up the base of a large tree and rushed across a long thick oak branch, leaping from one tree to the next. “This is not your forest. She will not be your friend.” Ominous words poured from Rattata’s mouth like venom as it seethed and foamed.

Frederick immediately ducked under the large branch and sped through the air. Whether he was simply unphased by Rattata’s harsh words or he simply braved through the worst of the rodent’s torrents, Rattata couldn’t quite be sure. Once it found its opening, the furry purple mammal leaped off a long, sweeping willow’s branch and up high into the air. Though it meant to spring down upon Frederick and knock him clear out the air in hopes to chomp down on the softest parts of his body, Rattata wouldn’t be given such an opportunity. Frederick easily sliced the small mammal up with his winds, cutting deep into its chest and knocking it to the ground in a crumpled heap long before it had the chance to land its first move.

---

SUCCESS!!

---

Frederick gained 2 levels!
Frederick increased to Level 15!
Frederick grew closer to Trixie. +
Frederick increased to +1 Happiness!


Kuroinu gained 1 level!
Kuroinu increased to Level 2!

SPOILER: Click to show

Rat Moves: Tail Whip, Quick Attack, Focus Energy, Bite

Move: 4lSj410p1-4 | Fred Crit? 1-16 | Fred Damage: 1-16 | Rat Crit? 1-16 | Rat Damage: 1-16

Frederick annihilated little rat after one attack so...nvm on rat's damage or move, haha.

1-4·1-16·1-16·1-16·1-16

[Jenesis]

"That's the way, Frederick! Get 'em--whoa." Trixie was stunned into silence by the ferocity of the Scyther's attack. For all the Rattata had talked a big game, it was unceremoniously punted through the air and slammed onto the grass by the gale-force winds kicked up by Frederick's wings. The rat squeaked one last time in defiance, then lay still.

"Scy..." The Scyther let out a low hiss from his throat as he slowly flitted down to the ground, instinctually scraping his blades against each other to keep them sharp. That would serve the rat right. Perhaps it would think twice before threatening passers-by in such a manner. Frederick did not shy away from the glory of the fight, but picking on weak Pokemon like his new canine companion was not something he could abide. He spat in the fallen purple rat's direction before turning his gaze back to his trainer.

Trixie was still blinking with disbelief from the incredible domination her Pokemon had displayed, but Kuroinu gazed upon the Scyther with adoration in her eyes. She wanted to -- no, she would become just as strong! <Teach me your ways!> she barked to the green mantis Pokemon. Her sudden outburst elicited a look of confusion from Frederick. "Scy?" he rasped.

Before either of them could react, the Houndour was bounding off into the grasses again, on the hunt for another Pokemon to subdue in battle. Perhaps she would get to prove her prowess this time! ...or at least get this danged metal contraption off her head!

[words=255] to Incubator
Caramell 🍬

[Caramell 🍬]

Small flowers blossomed along the ground in seasonal patterns. While spring would slowly creep in like a demon in the night, some patches of bright green grass remained barren of flowers while other patches were washed in a sea of rainbow colors. Creatures that slumbered in their nests through the meager winter months when food was scarce would slowly start crawling out, stretching their limbs with a loud yawn, to greet the new day. Strange eyes peered through the bushes and tall trees around them. They watched in silence as Trixie and her team trekked up the steep hillside, where many ledges would jut out at them and require climbing or very careful maneuvering to safely get around.

Something lurked in the tall grasses that the fire pup rushed so eagerly off through. A loud rattling bounced off the small boulders and rough tree trunks around the area, deafened slightly from the overgrown shrubs that matted their limbs to each other in an eternal embrace. Sharp eyes watched from a dug out tunnel while sharp fangs ready to be unfolded pressed against the roof of the wild snake’s mouth. “Leaaaveee thissss placccceee!” The loud hiss called through the entangled trees and surrounding shrubs. It lashed out, snapping at the air just split seconds away from the small pup’s feet.

Hunger and fear drove the snake. Such wild fire dogs were a rare sight and most never dared come so close to the snake’s territory. The fear that pounded inside of the wild snake’s chest was a warning. Where there was a lone pup the wild creature knew that parents lurked by. Parents that could decimate it’s home within minutes, if they had a mind to. Though, when the pup’s parents never made an appearance, the snake’s face gleamed with a devious smirk. It crawled out, curling its long body in a half moon around the wild Houndour, hoping to immediately ensnare her in its coils. “Mmm…” The Ekans hummed to itself. “Perhapsss food?” It thought aloud.

A Wild Ekans wants to eat Kuroinu!

Level 9. What will Trixie and her team do?

Cuttable Tree? aTHoI3NC1-10
Shiny? 1-42

SPOILER: Click to show

Rare? 1-10 | Uncommon: 1-3 | Pokemon? 1-2 | Level? 4-14

1-10·1-42·1-10·1-3·1-2·4-14

[Jenesis]

Trixie would pay no attention to the flowers she inadvertently trampled in her trek up the hillside. She was too busy trying to keep up with the little Houndour, whose paws propelled her up the rough ledges with ease. The pup scarcely stopped to catch her breath, and certainly never to turn around. With his wings, Frederick was able to simply skim through the air behind her, while it was Trixie who was forced to huff and puff upward on her two legs, ever wary of rough rocks that would stub her toes, or slippery ledges that would send her feet sliding downward.

With her sharp nose, the fire dog sensed the presence of danger before she heard the tell-tale rattle. But, unable to tell what direction it was coming from, she was unprepared for the snake's sudden strike. She yipped in alarm and backed slowly away from the snake's feint, only to realize that with its long serpentine body, it had already half surrounded her. <I am not food!> she barked. <I'm not afraid of you... it is you who will become the food!> Flames gathered in her mouth, preparing to be unleashed upon the Ekans, and a low growl gathered in her throat.

<Kuroinu!> The air rustled alarmingly as Trixie's Scyther would come to the rescue - if the Ekans had been expecting backup, it was almost certainly not in the form of a great mantis Pokemon, who on any other day would have also been prey for the hellhound Pokemon. Frederick landed himself between the snake and his charge, keeping at least one blade pointed toward the Ekans's head at all times, even as the snake slowly circled around. Emboldened by the appearance of her ally, Kuroinu also stalked slowly forward, the flame in her mouth growing ever larger.

Before she could fire it, though, she was unexpectedly scooped up by Trixie, who gave the dog a patronizing head-rub as she whined. "There you are! You shouldn't go running off like that, you know!" Her attention then turned back to the snake - she didn't have any Pokedex data on that one yet. Perhaps it would be worth catching. "Frederick, give it a False Swipe!" she called out. The brave Scyther was slightly confused - was it not best to immediately vanquish such a vicious foe? - but did as commanded. He rushed forward and attempted to whap the snake with the flat of his blade-arm, just enough to daze it but not completely knock it out.

[words=416] to Incubator
Frederick used False Swipe!
Caramell 🍬

[Caramell 🍬]

The small pup had spunk. The wild snake’s toxic venom that seeped through its veins dripped from the tips of its sharp teeth. It’s cat-like slits rolled around inside of its large yellow eyes and narrowed down upon the suspecting prey. “Fiighhttterr. Yuumm.” The wild rattlesnake hissed underneath its breath. Its long tongue slipped out from its mouth and wavered about in the air, tasting the scents that rolls on top of the gentle breeze. It was a slowly warming day, one where the coldblooded reptile might have found itself on top of a rock basking in the sunlight to warm its scales had it not stumbled upon food. But hunger drove it on instead.

Then a large green mantis landed in front of the wild purple reptile as though to separate the Ekans from its dinner. The six foot long rattlesnake coiled up, pulling its long body back into tight coils underneath its head. It would raise its head up above the coils with a loud, warning hiss and rattle its tail loudly to the intruders. “You interrupted my dinnerrssss!” The purple venomous reptile hissed at Frederick accusingly. “But brought more fooood.” It waved the rattles at the tip of its tail dismissively towards the human girl who easily scooped up her seemingly rambunctious and spunky canine companion. A suitable payment plan to arrange for interrupting its meal, no doubt.

“Leaavee and leeet me dine in peaacccccccce.” It hissed, turning its gaze back upon Frederick accusingly. The large green mantis leaped into action within a heartbeat. He soared through the air as though he were a bullet fired from a chamber, and in the blink of an eye Frederick sent the long snake spiraling back through thick bramblebushes that cut and scraped their way through the Ekans’ thick scales. The snake hissed, not quite finished with the trio, and slithered back through the ensnaring vines and thin branches of the nearby shrubs, and lunged at Frederick, landing just a few feet away. As it coiled up into a tight ball with its head positioned above its body once more, the snake’s sharp eyes would leer menacingly at the large green mantis as though it were in deep thought.

Wild Encounter

---

Weather: Clear

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

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn"]
Ekans LV 9
HP 14% [4/28]

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

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

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn"]
Frederick LV 15
HP 100% [50/50]

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

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

Wild Ekans [??]: Normal
Trixie's Frederick [Technician]: Normal [-1 Def]

SP41 Frederick used False Swipe!
SP17 Ekans used Leer!

SPOILER: Click to show

Ekans Moves: Wrap, Leer, Poison Sting, Bite
Frederick: Crit: 6HbLu8oS1-16 | Damage: 1-16
Ekans Move: 1-4 |

1-4·1-16·1-4

[Jenesis]

Even though he had only known her a short while, Frederick was feeling a measure of protectiveness toward the young canine. It was an odd feeling, given that full-grown members of the species would probably not have thought twice before making a meal of the mantis. But perhaps her youth and naivete explained why he felt this way. There would be time for her to learn, and grow, and Frederick hoped to be on her good side when it happened. Perhaps she would even pick up on some of the principles of noble battle instead of retaining her rough and unruly ways.

The snake's rattle did not intimidate Frederick, and he easily swatted it into the bushes. But the purple serpent was not to be deterred so easily. Slithering back up to confront the trio, it wrapped its coils tightly around itself, shielding the bruised section of skin, and its eyes glowed balefully as it leered at Frederick. The Scyther did not scare easily, but he felt a shiver down his thorax all the same. He crossed his blades in a defensive posture and braced his feet against the ground, preparing for the snake's next attack.

It wouldn't have the chance, though.

Trixie had set Kuroinu down onto the ground; knowing the dog was prone to run off, she had also pulled out a handful of Poke-chow as a distraction while she rifled through her bag. "Where are they...?" Of all times to reorganize her belongings! She finally clasped her hand down on a big stack of red-and-white capsules, pulling one from the stack and pushing the central button to enlarge it. "Pokeball, go!" She wound up for the pitch once, twice, before lobbing the ball at the belligerent wild snake.

Kuroinu finished her kibble just at the wrong time. She looked upward and saw a ball soaring through the air. A game! Barking joyfully, she turned her head to follow the ball's arc, then when it passed the Scyther, ran between Frederick's legs to chase down the zooming projectile. The Ekans must have been very confused to see its prey running straight at it, only to get sucked into the ball just before either Pokemon's jaws could reach their target. It wobbled ferociously as Kuroinu stopped short, agitated at the strange ball that was jerking haphazardly apparently all on its own. She was soon joined by Trixie and Frederick, the trainer waiting to see if the catch was successful.

[words=410] 400 to Incubator
Trixie used a Poke Ball!

[Caramell 🍬]

The long snake’s scaley hide was mired with deep cuts and lacerations. Some of its scales were bent out of shape while a few were missing in various patches. No doubt whatever pain that the wild venomous legless reptile felt, it remained poised and prepared to carry that like a secret to its grave. Only the hunger that tore at it from the inside, rumbling like a tiger trapped at the bottom of a steep ditch trying to climb out in desperation. The small pup was too tempting a meal, the large mantis too wary an opponent. Ekans turned a halfway glance through the densely populated forest towards the small childlike human that stood near the two and locked its gaze firmly on this strange warm blooded mammal.

Large prey. The size of which could keep this beast’s stomach from creating a mutiny within its own body for months. Decisions layered thick inside the primitive serpent’s head and rattled around as it considered its options. Such a powerful foe would require a snake possibly twice its size or larger, yet this strange human held captive and out of reach the one thing the snake wanted to desperately for itself. A sizable prey that it was sure its tight coils could fit perfectly around, where it could unhinge its jaws and easily swallow whole for a decent meal to last it a few days. So when Trixie pulled free an empty Poke Ball and tossed it at the wild serpent it hissed expectantly, snapped, and shot through the air.

It's trajectory was aimed at the pup once more, who rushed after the same ball that sped through the air after the snake. The wild serpent would open its mouth wide with large drops of saliva pooling down from its lips to splash against the dusty grassy ground below. Whether Kuroinu would ever understand how her life might have hung in the balance, the snake wouldn’t make its mark quite as soon. Instead, the ball gobbled it up in the blink of an eye and plopped on the grassy ground below to roll and tumble around as the beast within struggled to break free once more. It was to no avail. Within a few minutes the red-and-white sphere would ding in triumph of Trixie’s latest capture.

---

Frederick gained 1 level.
Frederick increased to Level 16!
Frederick grew closer to Trixie.
Frederick increased to +2 Happiness!
Frederick is trying to learn Double Team!
Forget a move and learn Double Team?


Kuroinu gained 1 level.
Kuroinu increased to Level 3!

Please fill out the form on your new Pokemon:

[img src="https://pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/bw/ekans.png"]
[b]Ekans[/b]
Name: [choose]
Gender: [choose]
Level: 9
OT: Trixie Hayworth
Moves: Wrap, Leer, Poison Sting, Bite
Ability: Intimidate or Shed Skin
Nature/Personality: [choose]

-1 Poke Ball deducted from inventory.

[Jenesis]

"Excellent work, team!" Trixie knelt down to pat Kuroinu on the head, then almost raised a hand to high-five Frederick, before she remembered - Scyther - and thought better of it. She scooped up the Pokeball that was laying in the snow, hearing her Pokedex ding as the capture was registered. Soon there would be pages more of data for her to leaf through, or to send to Professor Elm.

Though she wandered around the woods a bit more, Trixie found no more Pokemon - presumably they were all hiding away from the cold - and she started to get lost in the dark. It was time to head back to the school grounds. There were still posters hung up, advertising exciting new classes that would be offered in the coming year. While it was probably too late for her to sign up for spring now, and sitting in a boring classroom would be a waste of a perfectly good summer, she took one of the handouts containing the next year's fall schedule. Perhaps some good old-fashioned book learning would do her some good after all. And with the amount of money she'd accumulated in her bank account so far... she hardly needed to worry about tuition.

[words=203] to Incubator
Frederick will not learn Double Team. Thread complete.