Old Soldiers never die, they simply fade away (gym) [F]

[Tarlar]

Astrid had turned up at the gym and contacted some assistant to try hear if she could audience to Morty to ask him about Falkner, or if they knew when he would come around next time so she could talk with him. They stared at her like she was crazy and outright refused, stating that neither men had time for such nonsense. Astrid readily agreed that she knew it was an odd request and tried to explain that she was training a seadra, but got interrupted. The assistants rudely told her that Lance wasn't interested in seeing her pokemon just because it was a dragon, no matter if it was a rare one or not, and that both Lance and Morty had a lot of fans and they had heard similar stories several times. They made it clear they were very disappointed that someone as old as her didn't know better, a child they could understand but Astrid?
Astrid couldn't get a word through and explain what she meant and in the end she just looked resigned at them while they rambled and then finally turned her away.

"Seems like there is only one kind of people they have time for," Astrid said as she returned to the pokemon center and switched her team around and went to Nurse Joy to make sure they were all healthy and fit for fight.
She checked her bag and then walked back to the Gym, "it is good I am one of those people."
Astrid pounded on the door and said as soon as it got opened, "Greetings, my name is Astrid and I want to challenge Morty for his gym badge."
They stared at her in disbelief, not doing any motion to open the door further. One of them even began to close the door so Astrid whipped out her gym badge case and showed them, "I mean it," she said sternly.


Wordcount: 320
(ooc: main team up: Yakul, Janus, Ella, Pia, Rita and Silvia. Everyone except Silvia is given a lum berry to hold. Silvia gets the Dragon Scale)

[Avalon]

The Gym staff looked at one another, faced with little choice but to do what the woman at their door asked. Pokemon League policy prohibited them from restricting any Trainers, even if they did suspect that it was just some overzealous groupie using it as some kind of pretense for getting closer to their Leader. One of the gym workers, a man who appeared to be some kind of sage or monk, sighed, bowing his head slightly. "Our apologies, madam. I am Jiei, one of the Trainers under Master Morty. I will show you to his arena at once."

Jiei opened the door, stepping to the side and gesturing for Astrid to come with them. The other Gym Trainer, a much younger woman in shrine maiden attire, stepped to the side, almost blending in with the wall as she allowed Astrid to come inside of their facility. Jiei would lead Astrid into the building, down a hallway that eventually lead to a rather traditional interior, more like a shrine or dojo than a building, though the arena was made of some odd material. The arena in the center of the wooden room looked like a sort of swirling void, made of some material blacker than night. It was rather disorienting, but Astrid would just have to trust that this building was what it seemed to be and not some sort of death trap.

Across from this disorienting arena, entered the Gym Leader. "Welcome to the Ecruteak Gym, challenger. I'm Morty. Sorry about the frosty reception, they've been having a bit of trouble with groupies and the like. Especially ever since Eusine started trying to grandstand. But you didn't come to hear about any of that. You wanted a challenge, yeah?" Morty said lackadaisically, hands in his pockets and a fond smile on his face as he took in the sight of his newest challenger. A mist began to set in, filling the floor of the room and giving it a sort of creepy ambience; sight was not inhibited for anyone, but it definitely gave the Gym a more appropriate vibe for its typing.

"You can't just trust your eyes, especially when dealing with those that come from the other side. I hope you and yours are ready for my Ghosts to have their fun!" Morty announced, smiling. Jiei the Gym Trainer took a spot to the side, acting as a sort of referee as they waited for Astrid to properly enter the arena. Morty stepped onto the black part of the floor, proving its safety, as a new form materialized from within the fog that set upon the ground. A black orb, surrounded by purple energy and letting out a cackling laughter as it took in the sight of its newest victim. The Gastly stuck its tongue out mockingly as it hovered beside its Trainer. "Gastly will be my first in this battle."

Morty has summoned his Gastly (Level 28)!
Who will Astrid choose first?

[Tarlar]

The moment Astrid announced she was a official challenger to the gym, the assistants changed behaviors and became polite and helpful. Astrid was sure she saw a few suspicious looks and a pair of rolling eyes when they thought she didn't look. It was a petty tactic she used, she knew it, but she was going to do this properly and take the challenge seriously. She would just also ask him about Lance while they were at it.
"What an amazing place," Astrid said impressed and wished she could have had her pokemon out so that they could experience it first hand as well. She found it best to keep the information to herself as she didn't doubt that Morty would be a challenge, she would need all advantages she could get.
She quickly lost her sense of direction and for a few moments she began to worry if the assistants were just leading her around endlessly until she would beg of them to take her out again. She breathed a sigh of relief when they stepped into the what clearly looked like a little battle arena, the swirling void forced her to remember that this was a gym leader who specialized in ghost types, if she should have forgotten it. She couldn't look at it for long, it made her dizzy.

Morty stepped in not much later.
"My approach might not have been the best," Astrid said with a smile, "while I did not come to make enquiries about Eusine and his whereabouts, I came in the hope you could give me some other informations. A challenge seemed like the only option to get an audience with you," she said with a chuckle. "Do not misunderstand mere here, I would like a proper challenge and my pokemon will not hold back, I will surely be asked to challenge you at some point so that Police can use it to assess my abilities in training, so I will just be ahead of that too," she said with a smile.
She nodded and leaned to her cane as Morty warned her about trusting her eyes, "I will make sure to pass your warning on," she pulled her trolley closer and folded out the inbuild camp chair and sat down as she expected a long battle.

Without any bells and whistles she pulled a pokeball from her pocket and released a seadra onto the battlefield.
"Silvia, you are up first and as our highly regarded Gym Leader Morty here has just said to me, you need to be alert, you cannot trust your eyes. Ghosts are known for their trickery and can turn invisible. I know you can do this, you are both quick thinking and work well under pressure," Astrid said encouragingly to Silvia who narrowed her eyes at the gastly, clearly not going to take the battle lightly.

"This is Silvia, and the reason we are here for the challenge. I have heard rumors about Lance being on the lookout for a good kingdra and I believe Silvia will live up to that. I can understand you are seeing him regularly and I hoped you could tell me if this is true and if so, where I can find him," Astrid explained to Morty.

Silvia spread out her fins and raised her snout proudly. "I am Silvia! A dragon I will become and I will show you why dragons are feared!" she shouted challenging, and then smirked, "if I can't trust what you are up to, I better just make sure you can't get away!"
She began to spew bubbles and turned her head and body as she tried to fill the whole room with whirling bubbles and make it impossible for the gastly to escape no matter where it hid.

Wordcount: 631
(ooc: Silvia uses Bubble Beam, if the battle ends I'd like to use my multiplier on her)

[Avalon]

Morty nodded, listening to Astrid's explanation. He fidgeted with the tail of his scarf absent-mindedly, giving the senior Trainer a gentle smile. "An officer of the law, huh? Yeah, I guess they do like using us Gym Leader's as practice. But sure, I can help with whatever else you have going on," Morty offered. It was kind of rare for people to come to him asking for favors or information; autographs or chances to meet him were pretty common requests, but he wasn't too often asked for information from his challengers.

Morty observed the Seadra sitting in the midst of his arena, putting a hand under his chin and stroking it as if in thought. Silvia, as Astrid called it, was a pretty strong-looking Pokemon. Well taken care of, clearly. And there was some truth to the rumors that she spoke of. Not too long ago, Lance had put out the word among many of the Region's Leaders and experts that he was hoping to train a new Dragon, and was willing to part with one of his own if he could find a suitable one. Morty wasn't sure why he didn't just ask Clair for help in acquiring one beyond that stupid 'Dragon Clan pride', but it wasn't any of his business.

"Yeah, you heard right. Lance has been wanting to try out some new Dragons. Said if someone could bring him a suitable Kingdra, he'd be willing to part with one of the Dratini's his family has been hatching and raising for generations. 'Course, you gotta find where he's off training first. Which I could tell you where I heard he was training last...but where's the fun in that?" Morty smirked, toying with a Poke Ball as he did so. He was a nice guy, and wanted to help this lady since she seemed to be a pretty decent person. Fun to talk to, at the very least. "Beat my Ghosts, and I'll tell you where you can find him. With a dragon-in-training like that, shouldn't be too insurmountable of a task for you."

Of course, he had no intention of making this easy. But Silvia, perhaps incensed by his challenge or this talk of being sent away to some other Trainer, released her flurry of bubbles at the ghostly bubble himself. Gastly was unable to react in time, stuck in the path of the watery assault. The bubbles burst and exploded against his body, and when the stream of bubbles stopped, Gastly had collapsed. Morty grimaced, recalling Gastly into his ball before retrieving another one. He lobbed the ball into the darkness and the fog, the ball falling out of sight. All that could be heard was the ball bursting open and something emerging into the fog and shadows.

From behind Astrid, she would be able to hear a loud "BLARGH" noise as a Haunter materialized from the fog, circling around her and Silvia. The Haunter cackled and giggled, laughing at its own behavior as its Trainer shook his head, a smile forming on his face despite it all. "Haunter will be next, here to avenge his brother. So let round two begin, Officer!" Of course, slightly obscured by the mist, changes could begin to be seen forming on Silvia. Her body shape was preparing to change, preparing to absorb the scale attached to her body and take her true draconic form, if Astrid so desired.

Silvia won! Silvia gained 2100 EXP (28 * 50 = 1400 * 1.5 = 2100)
Silvia is now Level 36 (377/3997 EXP)!
Silvia is trying to evolve into Kingdra!
Silvia gained +1 Happiness!

Morty isn't done yet! He sends out his Haunter (Level 30) next!
Will Astrid switch Pokemon?

[Tarlar]

Astrid smiled and gave the gym leader a court nod. She doubted it was a surprise to the gum leaders that the police used them for testing, she certainly wasn't the first one. "I do hope you know that your gym leaders are held at very high regard in the police force, that these tests of us against you, are seen as one of the greatest accomplishments one can get. Especially since few get as far as a Champion, and unlike full time trainers, Officers has a lot of other things which take up our time," the old officer said softly.
Astrid hadn't really thought about why Lance would put out such strange request, but she looked both surprised and happy when Morty confirmed it. "Did you hear that Silvia?"
"Dra!" Silvia called out determined and raised her snout to the sky.
"You are putting the stakes high!" Astrid laughed, "Alright Silvia! Show him what you are made of!"

Silvia was certainly fired up and she filled the room with bubbles and rather easily shot down the gastly before it really got to do anything. Silvia stretched and looked confidently at Morty, a fire burned in her eyes which followed the pokeball which disappeared into the fog.
"Seeeeaaaa," she began as she stretched her fins wide as she began to shine brightly. "Oh my goodness! This is unexpected!" Astrid exclaimed while shielding her eyes.
Silvia lit up the whole area, penetrating the swirling fog, except a single dark cloud in the corner where the haunter probably was hiding. A much larger and slicker version of Silvia emerged from the light, and she immediately began to look around for her opponent.

"Silvia?" Astrid called softly, "I know you want to battle, but you have reached your goal. Please give the others a chance to reach theirs as well."
Silvia spun around and glared at Astrid, who just watched her calmly but determined. The two stared silently at each other for a while, then Silvia huffed and looked away before she reluctantly made her way to Astrid's side.
"Thank you," the woman said gently, she frowned thoughtfully as she watched to cloud and the haunter circle them.

She made a decision and held a pokeball forth to release its content, a Frogadier materialized and looked worried the moment she saw her surroundings.
"Ella, do you not agree with me, that it could be an idea to freshen this place a bit? I think it is a bit muggy," Astrid grinned and Ella shot a look over her shoulder at her.
"There is a haunter hiding in the fog," Astrid said and Ella nodded and grabbed a handful of bubbles from her scarf and began to throw them randomly into the fog in an attempt to find the ghost hiding in there. She kept moving, knowing her opponent could come from all directions and any time, she would be ready to blast it with a Water Pulse.

Wordcount: 494
(ooc: Ella uses Water Pulse. Silvia evolves, self updated)

[Tiki]

As Silvia evolved, Morty calmly closed his eyes until he felt the evolution had finished. A lot of Pokemon do evolve around the levels while they're battling his gym, so he was used to this. These trainers come in with their own beam of hope and encouragement in his gym's misty ambience. He did not intend his gym to be creepy, as he merely have a sombre vibe and had shown his expertise in ghost type Pokemon.

"Congratulations, Astrid! One of your Pokemon had evolved. You and Silvia had proven your strong bonds together." He smiled and clapped like either twice or thrice. "With a Kingdra by your side, I am sure crime rate in Johto will be lowered. However, we're not done with your assessment test yet, officer."

When Ella had began flinging her Water Pulses, Morty raised an eyebrow as this wasn't a common Pokemon around the area. While lurking in the shadow, Haunter had to keep an eye on the random balls of water that hit the ground or ceiling, which exploded into a rapid splash of water. It tried to stay still until it was needed to dodge, but rolling its eyes to keep track of other random balls of water made it dizzy. When it least expected, it was hit with one ball of Water Pulse. Thanks to Morty's machine or mechanisms in the background, the fog seemed to be ongoing and not that easily faded.

He folded his arms and stood tall, as that confusion hitting his Pokemon seemed ironic, when it was usually his trick to use. "Hmm... This is also unexpected." He commented nonchalantly. "Hang in there Haunter, don't let this frog give you a jump scare. Use Night Shade!"

The ghost type Pokemon shook its head to try to regain composure, then its eyes glowed red and quickly fired a dark or dark-red beam of energy toward the Frogadier. The beam bounced, zigzagged, turned in the air randomly, and no matter how the frog tried to jump and to dodge, it followed like a missile. When the amphibian needed an extra second to think about where to jump next, it was hit by the Night Shade.

"This one have quick reflexes. I'll have to tell Koga if he's heard of this Pokemon." He mused. "I actually like how the fog is in here. It's great for meditation when you can't see that much distraction."

👻ECRUTEAK GYM👻

---

Weather: Misty vibe (Clear)

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

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn"]
Haunter LV 30
HP 46% [35/76]

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

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

"Booo..."

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn"]
Ella LV 33
HP 66% [58/88]
Keep Calm and...

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

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

Ella [Protean]: Status
Haunter [Levitate]: CoNfUsEd!

SP79 Ella used Water Pulse! Haunter is confused!
SP71 Haunted used Night Shade!


OOC:
i guess this new battle screen I can't fit "fun text" like in the old days

[Tarlar]

While Morty might not have wanted to make the gym seem gloomy and creepy, the darkness, the fog and especial that he had ghosts for company, it would be most peoples first thought when they entered. Of course, he probably could have had it all in light pastel colors and full of pretty flowers, and people would still find it spooky simply because a ghost could pop out of the wall at any moment.

Astrid smiled a bit forcefully at Morty's words, it was strange to get so praised for a pokemon she wasn't training to keep, but was just with her momentarily. She apparently hadn't made that clear enough. Silvia deflated when Morty painted her a future which wasn't going to be hers, praising a bond that didn't feel as it was described.
"Thank you for your kind words Morty," Astrid said politely and glanced at Silvia, she turned the wording in her heads a few times before she continued. "None of the pokemon with me today are usually on my IPF team though, this is more a test of me as a trainer, than the team. Besides, Silvia is aiming for a much higher goal than the police work I am doing. I am not in the front lines after all, not with my age!" She chuckled, "I expect her to reach her full potential elsewhere," she said kindly and Silvia stretched proudly beside her.

Astrid smiled proudly when she saw how effective Ella had become, and although it was very watery it wasn't water pulses she threw around, but her 'frubbles', the foam laying around her neck. The moment it revealed the haunter's presence byt sticking to it, she quickly formed a orb of water between her hands which slammed into the haunter a moment later.
Ella had really come a long way since she joined Astrid as a froakie, her strength and agility had grown quite a bit too despite her not being young when she joined. She was still slower than some of the other really speedy ones of her species, but her biggest handicap was that she tired quickly.
She did impressively in dodging and jumping and avoiding the erratically beam, even bouncing off the walls and making flik-flaks, but her age quickly showed and she began breathing hard. She stumbled and glanced around as she tried to pinpoint the beam, when it slammed into her side and threw her to the ground.

Ella sat up as she tried to catch her breath, attempting keeping an eye on the ghost which presumably was trying to hide in the fog.
"Are you alright Ella?" Astrid called out and the frogadier croaked, not taking her eyes from where she thought the haunter was.
She formed a little orb of water in the palm of her hand and held it ready to fling the moment she saw Haunter move.

"It is very good for you ghosts to hide in indeed," Astrid agreed about the fog, "although I am a bit surprised you are not taking further advantage of their abilities of going through walls and such, they can all do that, can they not?" She asked curiously.

Wordcount: 530
(ooc: Ella uses Water Pulse. You know you are free to use the old templates if you prefer Tiki, no one says you have to use this one if you prefer another )

[Tiki]

Morty folded his hands and listened attentively as the older woman explained the situation with her Kingdra. He waited until she finished before adding his own reply. "I understand. Sometimes, a Pokemon is too talented for the trainer, and would need an expert to reach their full potential."

"Well, no. My colleague in Hoenn has a ghost type Pokemon who cannot phase or travel through walls." The young man replied to the question, while making it sound mysterious. "Using fog seemed to be the fairest to different types of trainers that come in here."

Morty moved his eyes to watch his Haunter, who was partly hiding behind the fog and holding on to the ground to rest its confusion, which seemed to be difficult to clear its dizziness. On the other hand, was the acrobatic frog who was catching her breath. It did not take long for the water type to notice the ghost type, and flung another bubbly disc of water at it. Morty did not even get the chance to suggest his Haunter to dodge.

"You did great so far, but we're not done yet." He thanked his Haunter and returned the Pokemon. Then, he sent out another Pokemon into the field. "Gengar, show Officer Astrid what her future holds!"

---

Ella gained 30*50=1500 experience for winning!
1865/3367 till next level
She gained +1 happiness. Now +13!


Morty sent out his (Level 34) Gengar!

SPOILER: Click to show

OOC:
the future is just more Pokemon

[Tarlar]

Astrid smiled wryly at Morty's comment, it was true although it still stung a bit. "Yes, you cannot be sure a pokemon and a trainer mix well together, although I am not sure this is the case here. The life I can offer though, is not much for a determined fighter who wants to reach her best, it is mostly patrolling and taking care of smaller problems. The gym battles are probably going to be some of the toughest and most challenging battles we get," Astrid chuckled, she was a bit surprised she felt the need to defend herself and her ability to be a trainer.

"Really? I thought all ghosts could phase through walls, even if they are rather solid to begin with," the old trainer said and looked thoughtful, that was a pretty important bit of knowledge if she ever needed to trap one in her line of work.
"Do you know what makes it possible, or not possible for a ghost to have that ability?" She asked curiously.

Haunter was taking all the advantages of fog, although it seemed like it could need some more training in that. Ella spotted it quickly when it moved and sent it down for the count with her water pulse. The moment it got recalled she collapsed on the floor, and Astrid stood up worriedly, and she quickly recalled her old friend to let her out in front of her to check her over.
Ella smiled tiredly and brushed off Astrid's attempts of fuzzing over her, before she settled with her back resting against the trolley so that she could watch the rest of the battle. Silvia made her way around to join her and expressed pride of Ella's way of handling it and asked for details to learn from it.

"So this is it, the one everyone is scared about," Astrid said seriously as the watched the grinning gengar, "I can see why. I better choose one who is not so easily frightened."
She let out a serious looking toucannon who eyed the ghost calmly, "Pia, you got cheated out of the last gym battle, so let us see if you can handle this ghost. Be careful, it is a tricky one, and powerful from what I have heard."
Pia narrowed her eyes, "good."

She spread her wings and screeched loudly as a challenge, then she scooped up a clawful of smaller rocks from the floor and soared towards the ceiling. Gliding around she readied herself throwing the rocks at her opponent.

Wordcount: 422
(ooc: Pia uses Screech and Rock Blast, using running shoes)

[Avalon]

Morty nodded along to what Astrid had to say about her decision to give up her Kingdra. It was the mark of a good Trainer to see that they knew when their Pokemon could be better served with someone or somewhere else. Not all Pokemon and Trainers were meant to be together, after all. He had seen plenty of people trade away or, heavens forbid, abandon their Pokemon for reasons as simple as them not bonding or not working together well enough. Best to identify those traits in a Pokemon quickly so it could prosper elsewhere.

He shrugged at the question of what might have affected a ghost's intangibility. He had thought of that very same question on occasion before, but had yet to come up with any satisfying answers about it. Ghosts were an odd type of creature, after all; they didn't entirely abide by the laws of mankind or the material world as a whole. Some were so odd that they seemed distinctly alien to the layman. "Maybe it's the environment, or maybe it has something to do with where that ghost came from. You know, some people believe that certain Ghost-types carry the souls of humans who have already passed on. Maybe the answer has something to do with that."

He smiled at the amount of reverence being shown to his Gengar. "Yes, this Gengar is kind of the talk of the town. Few people have managed to get past him, hopefully we'll be able to show you why!" Morty said calmly. He knew that the odds were against him in this; it was still six to one, after all. But Gengar was his oldest partner, the one who had been with him since he had gotten started in this very town so long ago. Starting out as a Gastly he had met one night in the ruins of the Burned Tower while out playing with Eusine, Gengar had been with Morty since he had been a boy.

And now here he was again, fighting in another heated battle for Morty's sake. "Gengar, you know what to do by now. Put that bird under our spell! Hypnosis!" he called out, and Gengar leaped into action. His eyes glowed red, sending out waves of psychic energy. Pia couldn't look away or shut her eyes in time to avoid the ghost's gaze. Pia's wings and talons grew sluggish, and she began to doze off. However, before slumber could completely take hold of the bird's body, the bird reached into its down and began to eat something. The Lum Berry that Astrid had stowed away on Pia's body was coming in handy, the juices of the fruit jolting the bird back awake.

"So you had your bird ready with a Lum Berry, just in case I tried something. Guess someone did their research, huh?" Morty teased. He was impressed, though it was no secret that he preferred trickery over brute force. He often employed this same strategy, wearing down an opponent with status conditions and abilities. Every now and then, though, someone would come along with some kind of way around his tricks. Pia let out a loud screech, and Gengar could only cover his ears as he flinched at the noise. Gengar once again repeated its trick, releasing a flash of red energy waves from its eyes. This time, however, Pia, was able to avoid the hypnotic pattern that Gengar released, instead leading into an attack of her own.

It was unclear where Pia found the rocks needed for it, but she began launching rock after rock at the ghost. Gengar tried to dance and dodge around the rocks, but one struck it directly in the leg. With its momentum interrupted, the next four rocks collided with the ghost's body. Each rock did more and more damage, and with the fifth rock the Gengar collapsed onto the ground. Its own eyes closing as it drifted into unconsciousness. Morty sighed, retrieving Gengar's Poke Ball and recalling the ghost into the ball. He clapped, entering the battlefield and closing some of the distance between him and Astrid.

"Well done. It's nice to see that the IPF is still able to handle its own. Disappointing that it ended so quickly, but a deal is a deal. For beating me here today, you've earned yourself the Fog Badge. And an additional present, from me to you, a TM for my favorite move," Morty explained, sliding the badge and a small disk into Astrid's hands, along with a small sum of money. "And as for our other deal, I'll tell you where to find Lance. Last I spoke to him, he said he was going on a training trip to the Dark Cave. He's probably still there with his dragons doing...whatever he does on those trips of his."

With that, Morty offered to escort her out of the Gym, happy to make idle chatter with the elderly Trainer. So many Trainers came in, brash and obnoxious, as they tried to win his badge and prove some kind of point. But Astrid had been nothing but pleasant, which had been a welcome change.

SPOILER: Click to show

SP90 Gengar used Hypnosis! Pia fell asleep! Pia ate her Lum Berry!
SP50 Pkmn 2 used Screech! Gengar's defense dropped sharply!

SP90 Gengar used Hypnosis! It missed!
SP50 Pkmn 2 used Rock Blast! It hit five times!
Gengar fainted!

Pia gained 1700 EXP for her win! Now at 2208/2791!

For beating Morty, Astrid earned $3720, the Fog Badge, and TM30 (Shadow Ball)!
Surf can now also be used outside of battle!

((OOC: Pia's Lum Berry used up, leaving this for you to self-update besides the money.))

[Tarlar]

The expression on Astrid's face clearly showed she had no expected Morty's answer, he was a gym leader and the expert of ghosts and not even he knew how the ghosts ability to phase worked or not worked. Some mysteries in the world clearly wasn't meant to be solved, or perhaps Morty did know but deemed it best the world didn't?
Or perhaps, the gym leader was just too busy with all the battles to take time to research on his pokemon, who said that gym leaders were researchers of their type by the way? They knew a lot about them simply because they were around them so much, just like any trainer knew their own pokemon.
"I will not be able to answer that, I have little experience with ghost or the dead," Astrid said and then added smiled wryly, "although I might get to soon!"

A glance at a very determined looking Pia, "we hope so too." Pia was already soaring when the hypnosis hit, and her flight instantly got unstable as she fought the sleep which suddenly threatened to take her under. She lowered her beak and picked the berry out which Astrid had given her before the battle and swallowed it whole, and soon she was flapping with new vigor.
"It is a bit hard to defend yourself when you are sleeping!" Astrid laughed, feeling proud she had been so clever. She had made sure to have some awakenings and other items in her back to heal her pokemon as the lum berry was a one time savior.

Astrid too covered her ears as Pia let out her earsplitting screech to show her defiance of the ghosts attempts to control her, even if it was just by getting her to fall asleep when she didn't want to. Gengar tried again and it was unclear if Pia was just lucky or if she was more alert and knew to somehow avoid it, but she didn't fall asleep this time.
While there were no big rocks laying around, she could easily collect plenty of small pebbles and when hurled in clawfuls at a time they were almost as effective as a full boulder, they hurt just as much. With the barrage of rocks Pia continued to throw at the ghost without any break, never giving him a chance to rest or counter it, the end was coming. Soon the gengar floated to the floor and got recalled by Morty, the challenge was over.
Astrid's tactic had worked a lot better than she had expected.

She pulled herself up from the chair, and walked out to meet Morty, Pia waited for them and Silvia and Ella followed their trainer.
"I do apologize that my pokemon are too great," Astrid teased and accepted the things he handed her gracefully, "they will be treasured. And while the battle might have been quicker than anticipated, the preparation for it has taken much longer than you might think, which is the only reason."
She glanced at Pia, the toucannon was quickly becoming an ace on her team, the serious bird gave her a small nod of appreciation, knowing how the berry had helped carrying her through but was fully aware of how all her hard training was the main reason.
"Dark Cave, I have been there before," Astrid said thoughtfully, seemed like their next destination had been put down.

She chatted friendly with Morty as he lead her out of the gym, she still received a few suspicious glares from the assistants but she ignored them. The old woman learned that Lance was traveling much further into the caves than normally, to be in peace, or to give his pokemon harder training, Morty wasn't sure. It made Astrid doubt she could just waltz in and find him. Time to do some more research.

Wordcount: 640
(ooc: updated stuff, not sure why it was left for me, when it was doable and not needed to be asked for )

FIN