Into the Unknown {Alola Experience} [F]

[Pixel]

After tracking down and battling that punk with the (allegedly) stolen totodile, Freya trekked back to New Bark to tell Professor Elm what she discovered. But to her surprise, there was a sign of the door that said 'closed for lunch', which meant she couldn't get inside. With a sigh, she kicked a clump of snow and started wandering New Bark, looking for a way to pass the time.

'Baxy looked content to just, hunker down and vanish into a snow bank, which meant harassing her was out of the picture for now. What to do, what to do?

As she tramped along, crushing soft flakes into a sturdier foot path, she spotted an odd little sign. She wandered up to it to read the sign. Totem Trials...straight from Alola?! She had heard rumors about that and vibrated a bit. Oh, how neat, she had stumbled upon a Trial without meaning to do so. Might as well have a little fun while the Professor was on lunch.

She wandered closer and wondered what she was supposed to do from here? That was when she spotted them, an older couple in rather colorful shirts. They looked straight from the islands if she had ever seen one.

Freya waved back and approached, a big smile on her own face, "Hello there! I saw the sign. Are you really hosting Alolan Trials here? I heard about it but wasn't sure if it was true. I'm really excited about giving it a try. I'm studying Mythology and Lore, and know that Alola has a very unique system of testing trainers. Do these Trials have a badge system? Are there actual Totem pokemon? What phenomena makes certain pokemon in Alola grow to be larger than their counterparts?"

She breathed in and patted her cheeks, "I...I am getting overexcited about this! Um, I think the sign said that you can only enter with three pokemon. I will...take these three." She pulled the pokeballs off her belt to hold them in her palm. "Will you hold the others or do I need to deposit them in a PC?"

<Shut uppppp> complained Frigibax.

Freya turned and stuck out her tongue, "Oh, don't be like that 'baxy. Besides, you seem perfectly fine out here, sleeping in the snow. Bet it reminds you of home~ You miss the mountains? Is that why you're grumpy?"

Frigbax and grunted back and just laid down.

"Don't mind her, she's just a sourpuss and is probably hungry. It's lunch time."

—

Word Count: 414 (+400)  | OOC:

Giving everyone an oran berry.
Trial START!

[necroix]

Retirement had been doing wonderful things for Maui and Kaui. Truly it was an experience to be able to show the trainers of Johto about Alola and all the things that they loved about it. One by one they would attract people to the challenges that they had, and one by one they would come and take them. Today seemed no different even with their brightly colored shirts the two of them were at least dressed a little warmer due to the snow that had recently fallen in Johto. It is an eager young lady who seems to approach them after seeing the sign they so lovingly put together.

"That's right." Maui says when she asks if they are doing the Alolan Challenge here. The couple listened to the list of questions that she had and a bright caring smile seemed to form on both of their faces. "It seems you have plenty of questions for us, come we shall answer all of them." replies Kaui as he goes over everything that she had mentioned about Totem Pokemon, the region itself, and yes of course the much larger Pokemon their region hosted. When all the questions were properly answered Maui once more took over. "That is correct." She makes sure to check the Pokemon that the challenger has chosen and smiles gently. "I shall hold them until you come back. We will keep them safe and sound." she says making sure to safely take the balls that Freya will be leaving behind.

A laugh comes from the woman at the exchange between the two. "It is quite alright dear, I have seen my fair share of Pokemon, she will be perfectly fine to sleep or do whatever she would like until you return." This was supposed to be a fun time after all and the trainer did not need to worry about the Pokemon that they were leaving behind. "Kaui, can you show her where she needs to start her trial? I'll stay here with the Pokemon." A nod from Kaui as he motions Freya to follow him off the beaten path to where two alolan pillars stand "So just as a recap, you are looking for the special amulet that will be in the lair of the Totem Pokemon." he said stopping at the entrance.

"Oh and, just a little hint for you. The Pokemon you are looking for is really fast, I've seen it go I'd recon at least 50 miles per hour if not faster. " A small laugh seems to follow. "It's awful at turns though, quite funny to watch if you ever get the chance." With that he gives a bright smile and a small wave. "Good luck on your trial!" he offers before heading back down the path they had come from. It seemed everything was up to the young lady now as she would press forward through the starting pillars thankfully the path wasn't that demanding, it led into a path of woods where 4 different paths awaited ahead of her.

Each one seemed to have a Pokemon that was eating freshly prepared berries. On the first path, there was a Spearow, it seemed quite picky furiously picking through the berries that were laid out. The second path was a Rattata who was eating every berry available as quickly as its mouth could hold it. The third path had a Zigzagoon who was playfully zig-zagging around the berries as if herding them. The fourth path had a tailow who was the slowest of all of them still working on the first berry out of all of them. The Pokemon seemed to be in their little world though when Freya approached all of them seemed to notice and at various speeds seemed to dart down their respective paths.

Which path will Freya Take?
Path 1: Spearow Path 2: Rattata Path 3: Zigzagoon Path 4: Taillow

[Pixel]

Freya listened to the couple and nodded along, grinning as the older couple explained more about Alola and the trials. Her topaz eyes were absolutely starry as she contemplated actually participating in this unique cultural exchange. Wow. She wouldn't even need to travel to Alola to get a taste of this unique phenomena! How exciting. 

Freya then listened to their explaining the hint and she had to take a moment to stand there, befuddled. Huh. Those were...all pokemon she wasn't too familiar with. Though their names all rang a bell, even if she never battled one before. Spearows and Rattata could be found here on the first route according to the little travel guide she had with her. And from what she could tell from reading about them, neither were exactly known for going fast or having issues turning. 

She even double checked her pokedex for information on their evolutions. Hm. No. Nothing. That left Zigzagoon and Taillow. Though she didn't look at that little robin and thing fast or having difficulty maneuvering. And the little raccoon kept zigzagging. This was tricky, but she would keep researching.

After a few minutes of perusing her pokedex, she found a key bit of info. 

"Linoone can run up to 60MPH going straight but have difficulty on turns. Perfect!" Freya beamed. Though, what an odd clue. There were no linoone...here...

Ooooh...

"Maybe the hint is for the final totem. So if I'm going to find a linoone, I should...follow the zigzagoon? Is that what this is telling me to do?" Freya shrugged. No harm if she messed up. Tucking the pokdex away in a pocket, she wandered down in pursuit of the zigzagoon. She was wary and on edge. From what she knew, this would be a test of her puzzle skills and battle prowess. Which meant she needed to be alert. HMMMMM.

After a little walking, she was pretty sure she spotted something rustling in the grass nearby and reacted accordingly.

"Qwaxly, use water pledge and flush out whatever is hiding over there!" she called out impulsively. The pokeball she threw broke open to reveal the little white-and-blue duck who smoothed out his head feathers before focusing on what his trainer sent him to face. He couldn't see a target clearly yet, but no matter! He would dutifully flush out whatever was nearby as they journeyed.

In theory, the spray could even launch a pokemon into the air momentarily if it hit just right.

—

Word Count: 412 (+400)  | OOC:

Zag path.
Using water pledge x2 on the encounter.

[Professor Oak]

The Zigzagoon, with its playful demeanour and a carefree twinkle in its eyes, had been merrily arranging the berries into an artful composition when the sudden disruption struck. A cascade of aquamarine energy surged forth, its cool cascade tearing through the tranquillity of the woods like an unexpected gust of wind in a serene garden.

"Whoa! What was that?" The Zigzagoon's voice carried a mixture of surprise and mild indignation as it hopped back, its fur ruffled and tiny paws splashed by the watery assault. Beads of water clung to its glossy fur, momentarily dampening the usually cheery demeanor.

With a flick of its tail, the Zigzagoon shot a reproachful glance towards the source of the aqueous bombardment. "Hey now, not cool! I was just going about my business here, arranging these succulent delights." Its tone bordered between playful admonishment and genuine protest, the mischief in its eyes momentarily replaced by a hint of annoyance.

As the droplets dispersed into a fine mist, the Zigzagoon shook itself vigorously, fluffing up its fur to dispel the lingering moisture. "Fine then, if that's how it's going to be." A huff of breath escaped the mischievous creature, its nose twitching in mild irritation.

Without much ado, the Zigzagoon bounded off, its agile form darting down the path toward a rocky terrain that seemed more suited for a game of chase. The wind whistled through the craggy outcrops, carrying the echoes of the Zigzagoon's muffled mutterings as it scurried away. "Can't even enjoy a good snack in peace. Always some surprises around here."

The creature's voice trailed off as it disappeared among the labyrinthine rocks, the vibrant tufts of its fur blending momentarily with the rugged landscape, leaving a sense of mystery and mischief lingering in the air.

speed: YRxNVJeWp_1-2 moves: p_1-4 (sand-attack)

---

VICTORY

---

Zigzagoon was defeated and has fled! Follow it down the path?

Quaxly gained 2 levels and grew to level 12! Health [38/38]

1-2·1-4

[Pixel]

Freya hurried to peer behind the bush, only to see the fluffy tail of the zigzagoon vanish out of sight. She spied the berries and rubbed her face, "Sorry about your berry collection! Um, hey, I think I'm supposed to follow you now. Wait up!" She returned her qwaxly and started to run in the direction that she saw the little normal type vanish. 

"Zigzagoon? You there? Hello?" she kept moving until she realized that she wasn't quite sure where she was anymore or if she was on a trail even. Freya looked around and pushed the leafless branches of a young tree from her face. The air was cold and whisked through her hair and nipped at her face.

If she wasn't so used to the cold from her mountainous adventures in the past, she would probably be shivering as she stood there idle. "I think I need some help. Arcainine! Come out and help sniff out our path."

She sent out her childhood companion and he boofed, tail wagging.

"Hey there, please lend me your nose, old friend?" Freya bid him.

<Yes mama! I can help!> he replied before putting his nose to the ground and leading Freya onward. Hopefully in the right direction! 

—

Word Count: 200  | OOC:

Let's follow!

[Caramell 🍬]

Sharp rocks jutted out in every direction, creating large circular patterns along the ground and small crevices where a tiny raccoon may have ducked off. However, Freya would be hard pressed to find any such creature lurking among their jagged edges. Some rocks were small and best suited for skipping across the surface of a lake or pond. Many, however, were huge and would require carefully walking around, following the strange pathways they marked, or climbing over, if Freya didn’t mind risking cutting herself on their edges. The labyrinth would break out on the other side where several specifically marked pathways made their presence known.

North:

The northernmost path carried itself up the side of one cliff-like hill. The ledges were walkable to say the least, though several small boulders and jagged edges would beckon only a skilled climber to try and navigate their way along the side. The hilly landscape flourished with tall grasses now golden brown to the touch from the onset of winter, and scattered limbs from the rough barks of neighboring trees that grew along the hillside. A soft chirping could be heard further up ahead, with loud shrills carrying in between, as though warning any and everyone that were near to stay away.

Northwest:

The northwestern trail carried itself around the side of the cliff-like hill. A scattering of small trees decorated the landscape, with several small wildflowers blossoming around their bases. It was scenic, though the onslaught of winter sniped most of the picturesque beauty. Several of the bushes had large, barren spots full of wilted and browned petals where the once majestic flowers rose. A strange stir carried itself on the open breeze, like a gentle vibration in the air that buzzed with excitement. Gentle rustling amongst the leaves gave away a telltale sign that something lurked within this wonderful landscape.

West:

The western trail carried itself away from the first hillside to a twin, where the ledges were steep to climb. Many of the pathways were broken up, with evidence that someone or something had jumped across them to make it to the other side. A loud chittering carried itself far up along the ledge-like edge where a small tunnel rested near the top. Should Freya find herself drawn to this strange spot, she would hear loud hissing as she climbed closer and tried to peer inside.

Northeast:

The northeastern trail carried itself around the other side of the first cliff-like hillside to a soft meadow decorated with tall wheatgrasses. Their long stalks stretched upwards to the heavens as though they might caress the pillowy soft clouds above with their golden brown blades. They rivaled the height of any small child, who could find himself vanishing inside of their enormous fields. Something stirred through the tall blades, barking excitedly with a mixture of strange chuckling as it rushed between the tall grasses, just out of sight.

East:

The easternmost path carried itself away from both twin cliff-like hillsides towards a rockier, yet straighter pathway. Large boulders carved their trail in a strange pattern that curved back-and-forth unevenly and spun around to a singular large tree growing near a small lake. A loud shrill carried its sharp tunes over the landscape, with loud fluttering through the branches that buckled and swayed underneath some hidden animal’s weight. The chirrups that sung from the lonesome tree were a warning for others to stay far away, lest they meet an ugly fate.

What path will Freya choose?

[Pixel]

Freya followed Arcanine until he boofed again, lifting his head, nose twitching. She drew to a halt to look around for clues and found herself peering down into a gap between two hills. It didn't look like there was an easy way down, but if she squinted, she could see the disturbed earth where some creature leapt across. "Okay, bud, I'm going to need your help here. Getting over there will be pretty tough unless we jump too, so I'm counting on you."

<I help! I can help mama! I'm good at jumping.>

"You are. You're such a good jumper. Yes you are!" Freya praised before climbing on his back. The arcanine made a tight circle before retreating back on the path a little...before launching himself as fast as he could off the edge of the hilltop. They sailed across the gap quite effortlessly and landed on the other hill with momentum to spare.

Freya pet his shoulder and laughed, "Good boy. Gonna get so many treats later. Thank you for your help." She dismounted and looked around, spotting a hole. One that lead down into a tunnel. "Is that hissing? Oh, this better not be an ekans nest... those snakes can squeeze into a pawmi den if they tried..." Breathing in slow, she started journeying down the tunnel in hopes of finding that sentret.

—

Word Count: 230  | OOC:

West Path

[Avalon]

Arcanine the bestest boy did as he was asked, and was able to effortlessly help Freya follow the western path. Broken and zigzagged though it was, it almost made perfect sense to be the kind of path a Pokemon like Zigzagoon might try to take. The suspicious cave that Freya had found herself standing in the entrance of was alive with the sound of...something. Not quite the sound of an Ekans, though there was some form of faint noise coming from deeper within the cave. The only option, other than turning back, would be to go deeper within the cave.

Upon entering the cave and going in deeper, the path would wind downwards through the cave and into the mountainside proper, taking enough time that one might be forgiven for thinking the path went on without end and that this was all some sort of wild goose chase. But eventually, the path ended in a small den, a round room of natural stone that seemed curved as if designed like some sort of arena. In the center of the room a small makeshift altar sat, with something small and brightly colored sitting atop it like a grand prize.

Freya would be unimpeded in her trek towards this altar, at least, at first, but then the room would shake and stir as something darted out from a hole in one of the walls. Coming out like a bullet, a brown shape shot forward and came to a sudden stop, kicking up dirt and rocks as it tried to stop on a dime. A Linoone, larger than usual and standing directly in front of the altar. "CHILD OF PALDEA, STEP FORWARD AND FACE YOUR GREATEST TRIAL YET! SHOW TO ME THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE WORTHY OF THE BLESSING OF ALOLA!" it roared, making it clear that if Freya wanted to claim her prize, then she would have to first find a way through this massive raccoon.

The Totem Linoone (Level 11) has appeared!
Choose a Pokemon to battle.

[Pixel]

Slowly they trekked until they reached an open chamber of some sort. The path was unstable and uneven, but Freya managed to avoid tripped over anything and spraining her ankle. Then, she spotted it, the altar and the amulet on top.

"There it is, arcanine!" she said, moving to grab their prize. But before she could take more than a step, the walls seemed to rattle and shake, dirt falling upon them. She covered her head, her eyes wide as a massive pokemon zoomed into the room. "Woah, so that is a linoone! It's so big! Is it supposed to be so big...? No. No it's the totem. AMAZING!"

She beamed.

Then she heard it usher the challenge and she widened her stance, "Oh, I am more than ready, Guardian of this trial. I /will/ prove I am worthy of the blessings of Alola. Not just here, but at every trial here in Johto, this I swear. Now, let's battle!"

Her companion howled and leapt in front of her.

"Arcanine? You wanna do this? Alright. I'm counting on you, then," she said. "Sometimes, the best strategy, is overwhelming offense! Arcanine, use flare blitz! And follow it up with a crunch! Show what we can do." The ancient-formed hound yipped before turning into a living blaze and charging at the linoone with terrifying speed. 

—

Word Count: 230  | OOC:

Flare Blitz + Crunch

[Caramell 🍬]

Linoone raised himself up on his hind legs and stared down at Freya. Given the tight quarters of the tunnel they were in, he had to bend uncomfortably against the roof of the tunnel. She seemed serious and determined, equally ready to meet the challenge head on. “Are you positive of this insight about yourself, child of Paldea?” He inquired with a raise of an furred eyebrow towards the strange looking fire dog that jumped in front to face him in battle. “This will test your bond with your Pokemon most of all. If you have the will it takes to work together as a team, then you may yet prove yourself worthy.”

Though Freya’s Hisuian Arcanine intimidated Totem Linoone, he did his best not to let it show. They were brave and fierce creatures even in their regular form. As a Totem and long before accepting such a role, Linoone had heard many stories involving Arcanine, many of them not so favorable for Pokemon like his kind. “And you, Arcanine?” Its eyes pierced through it’s opponent with a sharp, endearing look. “Are you sure you’re as bonded to your human as you can be? Are you willing to do what it takes as a loyal companion of hers? To work through any obstacle together?” Arcanine struck his opponent hard, sending Linoone scattering backwards in the air until he landed flat on his back just before the prize.

Wounded, but not quite beaten, Linoone raised himself back up on his two furry back legs and stared at the two warriors. They were tough and their bond sure. That was a pleasing thing to note. But were they ready for his next attack? When Arcanine snapped his fangs on Totem Linoone’s shoulders, though, the Totem Pokemon relented with a firm nod towards the ultimate prize. “Very well. I am pleased to see your body is sure, through-and-through, despite all odds. Please take this trinket along with you on your travels. You’ll find that it has a mystifying power of attracting Pokemon never before seen around this region.” And with that, Linoone rushed back off through the maze-like network of tunnels further inside the cave.

---

Arcanine gained +2 levels!
Arcanine increased to Level 15!


Freya Defeated the Totem Pokemon!

She's found the Trial Amulet as her prize.

[Pixel]

<Mama my best friend> Arcanine declared. <I trust her just like she trusts me. We're a team! Un-de-featable!> 

Freya smiled at his declaration and nodded to the linoone totem, "I am sure of our bond, master of the trial. Together, we are stronger. I merely didn't have an opportunity to appreciate that bond until I left home."

She watched as her partner surged into battle, as fast as could be, slamming into the linoone before grabbing the totem with his jaws and throwing their foe aside. He wasn't rougher than need be. Thus he knew when the Totem was defeated and stepped back, panting softly as he recovered from the blitzing fast battle. 

The totem deemed their bond solid and worthy and fled, leaving them behind to bask in its words of warning. So this little amulet would attract pokemon not native and normally hesitant to approach trainers in the right circumstances, huh? Well. She'd have to see how that all worked out on her journey. 

"Let's get back. Baxy is probably complaining about her lack of dinner," Freya said in a light, affectionate tone. 

With Arcanine's help, she left the trial grounds and returned to the old couple, collecting her pokemon and talking to them for a little while about the amulet. Apparently there were more to collect, and each she possessed would increase the effect. Interesting! She would need to tell Adrian all about this later.

But first—

"Baxy! I'm back!"

<oh, what a treat,> the frigibax complained, hauling herself up. 

"Let's get something to eat in Cherrygrove!"

<First reasonable thing you've said all day.>

 

—

Word Count: 250  | OOC:

Fin