Baby It's Cold Outside [Mod][F]

[Pixel]

Upon reaching Violet, Freya was bombarded with a snowstorm. Any plans of traversing further to go find Adrian at the Ranch were blown out the window as she had more important things to focus on. Such as not getting caught in a blizzard alone. She hurried to the pokemon center and kicked the snow off her boots. 

"Man... The weather out there is awful. At least I can relax for a bit in here where it's warm." Freya idly checked her socials and messages, surprised to see a notification from the man of the hour. Apparently he sent her a pokemon he wanted her to help raise up for his research into pokemon moves and breeding. Well, it was part of her deal. Curious, she opened her boxes and saw it was a marill. "Oh how cute! We have these in Paldea too. Let's see. She's female and has the moves water gun, belly drum, aqua jet and waterfall. Oh wow. All she needs is Play Rough and she'd be set up for Tera Raids. Azumarill was super popular for those..."

She looked up from her phone, "I'm surprised you don't have any thoughts on our newest addition, 'Baxy!" Pause. "Baxy?" Freya peered around the pokemon center and didn't see her grumpy companion anywhere. "Maybe she stayed out in the snow." 

Freya went up to the glass window and looked out, her breath clouding the glass. No sign of her anywhere...

She stepped outside, bombarded by screeching wind and hail.

"Baxy?! Frigibax? Where are you? The weather isn't very good for us non ice-types y'know. If you're having fun out here, just say something so I know you're okay." She called out over the wind.

Nothing. No response. 

Her heart raced. She had recently encountered Team Rocket who were notorious pokemon thieves in the route prior. Could it be possible one of them grabbed her Baxy? No. No that couldn't be it, she told herself. Frigiax wouldn't have allowed herself to be taken, much less without a word or a fight. She must have wandered off. 

"Baxy! Come here. You're worrying me." Freya trudged into the snow, fighting the urge to seek warmth, her worry for her pokemon outweighing any other discomfort. "C'mon, it isn't funny. Say something." And into the gloom she went, prepared to shake the shoulders of anyone she came across and ask them if they saw a little pokemon that was 'yea high' before describing her Frigibax. 

—

Word Count:   400 |  OOC:

Looking for an encounter, trainer or wild!
Doing just a lil training. But with a side of drama.

Moving an adrenaline orb from Adrian to Freya.
Swapping charmander into my box.

Moving a LV1 marill from Adrian's Nursery Box to Freya's party.

EXP Share is on Orthworm

[Rexman]

The whirling winds and  snow on the move was blinding, making it hard to see barely a foot or so in front of her. Unfortunately, due to the whiteout that was currently all around her, Freya ended up crossing over the boundary line between the city of Violet and the route that bordered the land. Due to this, Freya was now putting herself in a position where she was more likely to encounter wild Pokemon or any other trainer who happened to be out in this kind of weather.

Special training? It was hard to determine why some people would go out and train in bad weather, but some saw it as a challenge and just another reason to prove their strength. 

There was no sign of Baxy as she continued moving through the blowing wind, but that didn't stop something else from showing up. From out of the white background, a lone, yellowish blob seemed to be appear but as Freya got closer, she would see that it was a Pokemon. The yellow facial bulb of the apparent grass type seemed to be stuck in place, a long icicle stuck to the inside membrane of the mouth area.

Was it frozen solid? Or just conserving energy?

A Wild Level 12 Bellsprout has appeared
What will Freya do?

Shine bright?
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[Pixel]

Freya shivered, gloved hands flexing numbing fingers as she navigated the cold. Her breath clouded around her mouth. She looked around with a frantic desperation. Her friend. Her dear friend was missing. She cupped those cold hands around her mouth and called out again and again over the roar of the blizzard. She lost track of how far she traveled as each step became sluggish in the snow. Trembling, she kept shouting until her voice went raw and her face was chapped from the wind.

Just as she was about forced to take shelter to recover some energy, she spotted something in the snow that was unmoving. Yellowish. Could that be 'Baxy? Freya scurried that way only to find a bellsprout looking stiff and frozen in the snow.

"Oh you poor thing." She murmured. This weather was unfit for the grass type. Her heart aching with anxiety, she found she couldn't take the grief of potentially abandoning a pokemon that needed help. "I'll get you safe. Fueccoco, use ember to melt the snow and ice around it." She tossed the  pokeball out to reveal the tiny croc. He looked back at her in mild confusion, but at her gesture, he realized immediately what she needed of him. He blew some smoke rings. RIGHT! This he could do.

The little croc toddled over, hopping forth when the snow became too deep for him to walk in. He breathed hot, steamy breath over the frosty banks until he had a path carved all the way over to the bellsprout.

<Don't worry, we're here to help!> he declared, using his flames to melt the snow and ice around the bellsprout. <I'm gonna be real careful. I'm sorry if I knick you a little. My fire is super hot so this should be over really soon.> Freya had given him a little chunk of charcoal to hold which helped. 

Once the little croc was sure he had his new friend melted, he turned to Freya and waved. She sighed and scurried closer to check on the bellsprout, thankful she could speak pokemon.

"Hey there, little one. I know you don't know us, but the weather is terrible and you look frozen over. If you'd like, I can make sure you're nice and warm." She held out a pokeball. "And even if you don't want to trust me and come along, I'd love it if you can tell me if you've seen a little grey-blue pokemon around. Her name is Frigibax and she went missing in this storm. She's an ice type, so I'm not too worried about the weather but..." 

The faster she could find her companion the better.

—

Word Count; 400 |  OOC:

Fueccoco is holding Charcoal. 
Ember + Pokeball

(Use mod bar)

EXP Share is on Orthworm

[Professor Oak]

The Bellsprout lay encased in a frozen cocoon, a prisoner of the merciless winter's grip. The cold had rendered its verdant stalks rigid, and its normally vibrant, yellow facial bulb was obscured by a glistening sheen of ice. The world around it was a frigid expanse of white, the blizzard's icy breath stealing away the vibrancy of the landscape.

A gentle warmth pulsed nearby, a beacon in the swirling whiteout. The plant wobbled upright, the crusted snow crunching under its tiny feet. The warmth originated from a curious creature, a miniature crocodile sculpted from living embers. Its fiery breath had carved a path through the snowdrift, melting the icy prison that encased it. Bellsprout felt a surge of gratitude, its delicate vines twitching in an awkward bow.

A voice, melodic yet laced with worry, drifted through the howling wind. The words were strange, not the swaying silent language of plants it understood, but somehow, it grasped their meaning. They spoke of concern, of searching, of a lost friend named Frigibax. The name resonated within, a faint echo in the wintery expanse of its memories.

As Freya approached, her breath visible in the crisp air, the Bellsprout sensed the warmth of empathy in her words. The offer of shelter and a place on her team was a lifeline extended in the snowstorm's desolation. The Bellsprout couldn't help but feel a flutter of hope, like a delicate blossom unfurling in the first light of spring.

With a resolute shake of his vine, the Bellsprout nudged the pokeball with a leaf. The world spun, a kaleidoscope of swirling light and shadow. Then, it found itself nestled within a warm, cushioned world. The scent of pine needles and damp earth replaced the biting wind, and soft murmurs replaced the blizzard's roar.

---

Bellsprout joined Freya's team!
[img src="https://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/gen5/bellsprout.png"]
[b]Bellsprout[/b]
Name: [choose]
Gender: [choose]
Level: 12
OT: Freya Baxton
Moves: Vine Whip, Growth, Wrap
Ability: Chlorophyll
Nature/Personality: [choose]

Fuecoco gained 4 levels and is now level 14! Forget a move for Bite?
Orthworm gained 1 level and is now level 4!
Pixel, missed the note, it’s been fixed.
-1 Pokeball

[Pixel]

The little bellsprout touched the pokeball and disappeared within. She held the pokeball to her chest, worrying about her Frigibax with a frantic uncertainty. What had happened? Where had she gone? Of course, while she stood there, knee deep in the snow, unsure of what to do next...

That was when something nudged her leg.

She looked down.

"BAXY! Oh thank arceus, where have you been?! I thought you had been pokenapped by a rocket!" she cried, scooping the little draggon up to hold her. She whirled—oblivious to the cold for the moment. (The air oddly felt warmer now, as if this was winter's last hurrah before Spring swept through.)

<Put me down, you ditz!> Frigbax grumbled. <I was NAPPING.>

"Napping? Why?"

<...We were walking too long and I got tired, okay? And the snow is...comfortable.>

"Oh, Baxy. It probably reminded you of home..."

<Stop calling me that!>

"Never!" Freya snuggled the ornery little dragon. "Oh Baxy, I was so worried. And...and..." She sniffed. 

<SIGH. Get back indoors before you get sick, human. You're not made for this weather. And who knows how long you've been wandering around like a dolt.> 

Freya beamed as she trudged her way back to the pokemon center, humming happily to herself. "Well, since training seems to be sorta...out for now, since that storm is no joke...how about we try to sign up for a gym battle, hm?"

<I hope you do not expect me to fight.> She grumbled. <I'm not lowering myself to battling weak little birds.>

"Oh don't be a spoil sport!"

<I think I will. You can't stop me.>

Freya sniffled, lip wibbling again as she cuddled her face into her companion's hide. "I am...so happy you're safe! I was so worried! i look everywhere and—"

<Don't be melodramatic. Yeesh. You'd think someone died. Now go take a hot bath or something. You're far too chilled for a human.>

"I love you, Baxy. I love that you care in your own grumpy way."

<All of this over a NAP and I had to go find you and your anxious tail when I woke up.>

That said...Baxy and Freya settled into the pokemon center to wait out the storm. Freya then went into her pokegear and started looking to see if the Gym was open.

—

Word Count; 400 |  OOC:
Forgetting tackle for bite.

Thread on HOLD until I finish the Violet Gym.

Professor Oak Hey, was there confusion on who to use my modbar on? ^_^;; Sorry if I was unclear. But Fueccoco should have gotten an extra level and grown to LV 14 as he was LV10 before LV up. 

[Pixel]

There was still a touch of chill on the air as Freya once more trekked out of Violet. This time on purpose rather than because she was frantically searching for her frigibax who had wandered off to nap in the snow. With the Zephyr Badge in hand and a Z-Ring on her wrist, she had passed enough time in the city that the last of winter had been blown away by the first guts of spring. However, when that warm air met the cold of the last dregs of that blizzard, a thick fog covered the land in an eerie veil of white. 

She managed to contact Adrian and return his exp share (he came out to Violet to retrieve it from her, mentioning something about the Ilex Forest in passing before leaving again.) And she thanked him for the chance to use it, even if it was accidental for him to drop it on his part. Now all of her team was at least, well, no longer level 1. They all some experience under their belts and cold hold their own just a smidge.

However, many of them were quite under leveled for the route ahead.

But Freya was not concerned. She trusted her pokemon to be able to handle themselves for her quick jaunt through the cave. She didn't plan to linger for too long, so in and out, quick as breeze. That was the plan.

With a skip to her step and grumpy-mc-baxy on her heels, she scurried through the damp grasses towards the mouth of Union Cave. She peered in and looked around, aware of the workmen milling around. Oh yeah, Adrian mentioned her had a job in the area recently. Apparently some radicals tried to sabotage the construction of a new tunnel or something and he had a close call. Well, best to leave them alone. She didn't want to pester the men who had recently had a scare.

So on she went, stepping into the cave, following the lit path ahead towards Azalea. 

—

Word Count; 000 | OOC:
Union Cave Encounter plz.
(If a trainer, please no surprise rival)

Giving the exp share back to Adrian. Swapping Crocalor for Star.

[Rexman]

The chill of the air followed Freya into the cave, the mouth and a bit of the cave blanketed with some fog. As she continued her descent into the cave system, the chill seemed to fade away and the air was not so biting or chilly. The hanging lanterns in the cave provided some of that extra warmth and since the gusting wind was gone, the conditions felt better.

Just as Freya was content to stay away from the workers and leave them be, they in turn left her alone, being too respectful to cat call or do anything inappropriate. Even though it was an outdated stereotype that workmen would do that, it was still nice to see that the practice was virtually gone.

There was a blanket warning on the cave that wild Pokemon might be disturbed by the light and the presence of humans working, and so Freya was smart to carry a team with some diversity that was battle ready.

However, not all Pokemon were big and scary. Sometimes, even in a place like this, a wild Pokemon just seemed to be out of place, alone and scared. As Freya continued forward, the sounds of something having a hard time echoed in the quiet tunnels. After one of the bends in the walkway, the Pokemon was revealed, sitting in a puddle of what was hopefully its own tears.

Level 13 Whismur appears to be having a mental breakdown, what will Freya do?

SPOILER: Click to show

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[Pixel]

Crying? Was there like a lost child in here or something?

Concerned, Freya looked for the source, peering over and around rocky formations, hoping that she wasn't about to find a lost, injured child curled up in a cranny somewhere. After a while of searching, she stumbled upon the source of the sobbing. A whismur. Her heart twisted a little bit in sympathy. Poor thing! However, even if she was from Paldea, she did hear about how loud this line could be... it was probably be best not to startle it and risk her eardrums.

Slowly, she skirted around it so that the whismur could see and hear her approach clearly, before crouching down in front of it at a bit of a distance. She opened up her stylish little purse and rummaged within. Frigibax grumbled a bit about her soft heart.

"I have to help pokemon in need. It's the right thing to do. And this little guy looks scared. Maybe it's hurt. I can't tell but I'm not going to touch a wild pokemon unless it's very, very trusting." As she searched for a suitable snack to bribe trust from the whismur with, she accidentally knocked one of her pokeballs to the floor, and in a flash, wooper was revealed.

The little mudfish burst from the ball with a low 'wooooop' and a tilt of her head. Where was she? Oh. In a cave. Damp and dark and cozy. Not as nice as a marsh or swamp, but properly moist. Her tail wagged a bit as she took in her scenery, and then her gaze settled on the pink pokemon in front of her.

<Oh. Hello there!> she greeted cheerfully. She toddled closer. <What's wrong? Why ya cryin'? Wanna be friends? We could be friends.>

Freya looked up, a wrapped sandwich in hand.

"Wooper, careful, I'm not exactly sure what those pokemon can do and I don't want you hurt." She sighed and unwrapped the snack, earning some protest from Baxy. 

<That's mine> the little dragon complained.

"I will get you another when we reach Azalea. Don't fuss," Freya chuckled. She then held out the snack to the crying whismur, "Hey their little one. Wanna be our friend? We don't want to hurt you."

<Yeah! Let's be pals. That's what I was sayin'!> Wooper declared, casually slapping the whismur on the back with her tail. Freya laid the snack on the ground to see if the pink pokemon would take it and also took out a pokeball. She offered it as well.

Baxy groaned.

Freya ignored her protests.

—

Word Count; 400 | OOC:
Poison Tail then a Pokeball just to see if it'll work.

[Avalon]

The Whismur could do little more than continue to cry, even at the sight of food or the offer of friendship. What could possibly be so difficult in the little living speaker's life that it felt the need to sob and scream so uncontrollably, one might wonder. The piercing wails and cries only got louder, bouncing off of the walls of the cave. With each echo bouncing off of the walls, the sound only got louder and the pain caused by them only grew in sharpness.

The slap on the back and the sight of the sandwich were enough to break up the monotonous wailing and crying, Whismur pausing and staring into the void as if dissociating. Its face continued to tremble and quake, though the crying and wailing had stopped for now. Whismur waddled over to the sandwich, sniffing at the wrapping and poking and prodding at it quizzically. It was rare for the humans who trampled upon its home to just come up offering food, and the human's words sounded nice enough. Maybe there was nothing to cry about now?

The Whismur's attention roamed from the sandwich to the Poke Ball, prodding at the metal sphere. It had seen them before, thrown around by humans and used willy-nilly, but had never gotten to observe one up close. Whismur reached out and touched the ball, hoping to inspect it. But its stubby limbs clumsily slapped down on the button mechanism of the ball, causing it to open and consume the loudmouthed Pokemon into a red light. The ball trembled in Freya's hands, vaguely vibrating as a muffled cry could be heard from within it. Then the ball clicked and shrunk down, ready to be put away for future use. Even now, however, the Pokemon's wailing and cries could be faintly heard from within the ball.

Wooper gained +3 levels through the power of friendship and food! Wooper is now Level 16
Wooper is trying to learn Slam! Delete a move to make room?

[img src="https://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/bw/whismur.png"]
[b]Whismur[/b]
Name: [choose]
Gender: [choose]
Level: 13
OT: Freya Baxton
Moves: Astonish, Pound, Echoed Voice, Howl
Ability: Soundproof
Nature/Personality: [choose]

[Pixel]

The little whismur accepted the offer of friendship.

With a little encouragement and a snack, it investigated the ball and suddenly vanished within. Baxy complained a little more about the whismur eating her sandwhich, but Freya booped the dragon on the snoot before patting wooper and standing. 

"I will make sure this little one stays safe and warm and fed. No more scary caves," she said aloud, tucking the ball away into her purse. "You think it would enjoy living on the ranch?"

<A cave dweller. On a ranch?> 

"It's not that bad for them! Adrian has an area dedicated to cave dwellers that is a little more sheltered and is way darker. I helped him even build it. He has a couple pokemon who shelter in there now." Freya pointed out. 

They continued to talk as they navigated the rest of the way out of the cave into the route outside. Freya breathed in the warmer air and noted that the last vestiges of winter were indeed gone. Not even a whisper or glimmer remaining. Poor Baxy would not be sleeping in a snowpile any time soon. Not with how the weather had already returned to being warm and the grass was quickly shifting to green and bright with blooming flowers.

—

Word Count; 200 | OOC:
FIN!