Appointment #1: Arriving on time [F]

[DrakeX]

^{OOC Note: Johan is on his way to Elm to pick up the Bulbasaur, and thus only carries his Diglett with him
Time of day - Noon (12PM)
Word Count: 606}

---

Stepping off the boat anchored to New Bark Town's shore, a man steps out of the way so that other passengers can disembark. Grabbing hold of his right arm with his left hand, he pulls it back behind his head and fully stretches his body, even going as far as standing on his toes. Releasing a sigh of relief at the release of tension, the man grabs hold of his chin and turns his head sideways until he hears a pop, repeating the process by turning the other way until he hears a similar sound. With a groan of contentment, the brunet finally takes the time to actually have a look at his surroundings.

The town he finds himself in, New Bark Town if he recalls correctly, is the exact opposite of what he is used to from the hustle and bustle in Saffron and Levincia. Unlike those metropolitan cities, the town seems more akin to a small, cosy village with only a few buildings. The houses he notices are modest, unlike the skyscrapers of the cities, with sloped roofs and small gardens that quite a few residents in his hometown would need to pay a lot of money to add. Lush greenery surrounds the town, and it seems to be set against a backdrop of rolling hills and a tranquil river. Dirt paths connect the buildings, which are bordered by a multitude of different coloured fences. These paths, well-trodden and showcasing that even such a small community has quite a bit of foot traffic, seem to lead out of the town. The weather feels nice to the skin, not too hot nor too cold and allows him to pop open the buttons on top of his shirt.

Seeing the unpaved but clean and even dirt road, Johan remembers his partner. Reaching for the sole, occupied Pokéball on his waist, Johan releases its inhabitant. In a flash of light, Johan is joined by a tiny, brown Pokémon buried within the earth, leaving only its head visible, which barely reaches past his ankle. Releasing a cry of delight, the diglett starts doing what its species does best and starts digging circles around Johan's feet in joy at being out and about.

The right corner of his lips rises slightly at sight of the little guy's enthusiasm. A gift from his brother, as while the older man didn't care much for ground types in general, the older man did know how much this particular species is a fascination of Johan. Bending through his knees and squatting, Johan places a palm on his starter. The little guy blinks in surprise at the sudden contact. Its confusion barely lasts two seconds before it closes its eyes in joy and yells out a greeting.

"Digadiggaga!"

"Hey there, Julian. Aren't you excited?"

The little mole releases another cry of joy in affirmation and nods its head. "Dig!"

"Hehe, well don't go too overboard with the digging, okay? We don't want the townsfolk to complain, now do we?"

Blinking again, Julian actually takes the time to observe what he has done. The ground around Johan has been slightly uprooted, leaving behind a small circle. Focusing back on its trainer, the diglett tilts its head slightly in confusion as it wonders how this could be a problem to anyone. He was still young and small. Certainly, no one could be bothered by this tiny, shallow bit? Not to mention, wasn't digging everyone's favourite pastime? Surely they can just dig it back up if it bothers them that much? Figuring that his human knows better how his own species thinks, Julian simply decides to agree with the man.

"Dig! Dig!" The ground type shakes its head, seemingly in understanding. Nodding in satisfaction, Johan slowly lets go of his Pokémon's head to see if he really does understand the request. As the brown creature doesn't immediately dig off without his input, Johan smiles in appreciation. A smile that is quickly returned by the fella.

Straightening his legs so that he stands at full height again, Johan pulls back his left sleeve to check the time. Noticing that he still has time before meeting with the esteemed Pokémon Professor and realising that he feels a bit peckish, he decides upon his first order of business in the new region. "What do you say we take a look around the area for a bite to eat as we wait for my appointment?"

Julian wastes no time in jumping, in so far a diglett can jump that is, up and down in joy at the offer, before circling around Johan's feet.

Awkwardly chuckling at the action, Johan realises he still has a long way to go before he's sure Julian knows not to do such things in a more civilized location.

[DrakeX]

^{Time of day - Noon (1PM)
Word Count: 1,328}

---

The small, local diner he found at the edge of New Bark Town is a modest establishment, apparently well known around these parts for its homestyle cooking and welcoming atmosphere. Today, its usual hum of conversation is punctuated by the clinking of cutlery and the occasional chirping of nearby Pidgey. Sitting at one of the tables, Johan finishes the last of his order, a simple ham and cheese sandwich that had been anything but simple.

Two warm, crusty slices of bread, whose golden-brown exterior gives way to a soft, airy crumb. Inside, layers of succulent ham, thinly sliced and delicately smoky, mingle with melted, gooey cheese. The cheese, a nice blend of sharp cheddar and creamy Swiss, oozes slightly, which creates a rich, savoury symphony with each bite. A whisper of mustard nestles between the ham and cheese, its tangy kick perfectly balanced by a touch of sweet honey. Fresh, crisp lettuce adds a delightful crunch, while ripe tomato slices bring a burst of juicy freshness. Complementing the sandwich, a refreshing bowl of salad is served to the side, featuring a vibrant mix of crisp greens, juicy cherry tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, and thinly sliced red onions.

Enjoying a nice cup of coffee after the meal, Johan is a figure of calm and precision, with his meticulously groomed appearance contrasting nicely with the rustic charm of the diner. Beside him, Julian peeks out from the ground, a bowl of food in front of him that looks almost twice his size but which the little glutton is going through with little problem. The duo had been lucky enough to be able to eat outside in front of the porch; a diglett's physiology doesn't make them the most favourite guests of indoor dining. Smiling at his starter's appetite, the human looks down at his watch and is pleased to note that he perfectly calculated the needed time to enjoy their lunch at a leisurely pace. Placing his cup back on the table, the brunet dusts off imaginary dust from his pants before grabbing his bag and standing up.

Out of the corner of its eyes, Julian inspects the movements of its trainer and stops obliterating its meal. Noticing the attention, Johan smirks lightly.

"Just finish up your dish, Julian. I'm just off to pay the nice people of this establishment.” Nodding his head, the little guy focuses back on the remains of its meal. The smirk remains on Johan's lips for a couple of seconds while he focuses on his starter, before it slips off as he turns around and walks up to the cash register. The cashier, the owner of the establishment itself, greets him with a warm smile that reminds him of his own grandmother whenever he visits.

"Why, hello there, dearie. Is there anything else we can do for you?" Her voice sounds soothing and warm, as if she is on the verge of just handing him a treat.

"Thank you very much, madam. The sandwich was delicious, and I can only assume Julian agrees with his own dish. Seeing how he barely stops to breathe from time to time. Just the check, please." Despite how socially awkward he may be, Johan does know how to talk to personnel.

"That's mighty kind of you, dearie. We're always happy to see new faces in town. Are you visiting a relative, or just sightseeing?" She asks while presenting him with the price.

"Oh no, neither of those. Well... I guess I could add sightseeing to my list after my meeting." Johan answers without actually giving the lady a solid response as he hands her the requested amount.

"I see. Well, then, I hope you have a lovely day. You and that adorable little diglett of yours."

"Thank you very much, madam. You as well." Bidding her adieu, Johan turns on his heel and walks back to the porch. There he sees Julian basking in the sun with half-lidded eyes, plate empty, and belly full.

"Come on, Julian. Let's go. We wouldn't want to be late, now do we?" Nodding its head, the diglett faces the open doorway into the restaurant and yells out its name in gratitude at the food before following his trainer.

As they make their way to Professor Elm's lab, Johan can't help but wonder about the upcoming appointment. Today’s meeting with Professor Elm is crucial; Johan needs to claim one of the Kanto starters before he is allowed entry into Johto. While confusing—why does Elm not offer Johto's starters?—he can at least assume this requirement's been set to ensure the safety of prospective travellers by the governmental body. It's not the most cost-effective method, though, as Johan can't help but recall that the starters are quite coveted, not only due to their abilities but also because of their rarity. Maybe there's a background check Johan is unaware of that the government performs as opposed to simply handing one of these prized Pokémon out like candy?

"Not that it’s any of my business. Not to mention that none of the Pokémon truly call to me, but I just know Lucas is going to tan my hide if I refuse Johto's generosity." He grimaces slightly, recalling how Lucas' rants are not too dissimilar from his preferred Pokémon type if they get in a fit.

The brunet is pulled out of his thoughts by a loud squeak from Julian. Looking down, he notices how the little guy is brimming with excitement. Whether that's because of the prospect of a new friend or a possible fight the professor might require so that they prove themselves, Johan isn't fully certain. Shaking his head at the mole Pokémon's energy, Johan focuses back on the road, where, at the end of it, he notices a building larger than the others after a couple more minutes of walking.

Situated on the town's outskirts, it seamlessly blends with New Bark's natural beauty. Constructed with warm, red bricks, it gives off a welcoming and sturdy appearance. Large, arched windows adorn the walls, allow plenty of natural light to flood the interior, and offer passer-byers glimpses of the inhabitants inside. Either Elm and his assistants have more time on their hands than Johan believes, or there's a dedicated gardener in charge of the greenery surrounding the building, which consists of an array of colourful flowers and native plants. It seems quite inviting to any and all Pokémon, especially those in the Grass alignment. A winding cobblestone path leads up to the main entrance, flanked by neatly trimmed hedges and small decorative trees.

Reaching the front door, Johan looks at his wristwatch and notices that it's slowly reaching the appointed time. Looking further down, he sees his tiny digger and has to refrain from sighing. He literally does not have time for any further shenanigans, having not calculated them for the lunch and walk. Julian looks at him with slightly watery eyes and stares upwards at him from a downward position. While Diglett can't learn the move Baby Doll Eyes, the human is impressed that his Ground type has gotten as close to performing it as he can. Not that it stops Johan, as he forces a playful smile on his face. "You know how it goes, Julian. We don't want to wreck the professor's lab, so it's back in the ball for you."

The diglett sighs playfully at its failed attempt before energy fills it back up again. "Diga diga ga g-!"

Cutting off the rambling with a beam of light, Johan pockets the ball right where it belongs before straightening his clothes one last time. Seeing that he only has a singular minute to spare, Johan takes in one big breath, holds it for a few moments, and then releases it in one big exhale. Calm once more, his finger reaches over to the doorbell and presses it in just as the time on his timepieces display 01:35 PM on the dot. All according to calculations.

[DrakeX]

^{OOC Note: Officially picked up Bulbasaur. Changed the name from Sapro to Verdan.
Time of day - Noon (1:35PM)
Word Count: 1,437}

---

"Johan! It's good to finally meet you. How has your the trip been?" Elm says, extending his hand.

Smiling in response, Johan shakes the professor's hand in return. "Good afternoon, professor. The boat ride went well. Julian was slightly saddened that he couldn't join me in the open. There are too many uncertainties about what a diglett can do to the infrastructure.

"Ah yes, I can imagine that. Diglett's uncertain, mysterious physiology doesn't lend itself very well to a seafaring vehicle. Which makes your visit all the more important, considering one of your Pokémon is technically advised to not pop out if you're out at sea." As they talk, Elm leads him further inside the building. They pass a variety of Pokémon and research assistants bustling about until they reach the back room, where three Poké Balls sit on a table.

Standing next to the table, the professor turns to Johan and sweeps one hand towards the innocent-looking balls. "As you know," Elm begins, "entry into Johto requires that trainers be equipped with at least one starter for added safety. It just so happens that I possess a set of Kantonian starters for you to choose from. As you may or may not know, this means you get to pick between bulbasaur, charmander, or squirtle. Please choose carefully; you have ample time."

Johan nods. While his mind understands the gravity of the decision, his heart isn't truly in it. Each starter has its strengths and weaknesses and is rare to boot, but Johan doesn't truly seek a 'perfect' counter to any of his other Pokémon's weaknesses. He's simply exploring Johto and will try to find those that please his particular obsession. As he reads through the information on the starters, he holds himself back from sighing in boredom. A water type that operates on its own, and while the fire type has an interesting relationship with the fire on its tail, that's more of a health measurement. Reaching the third and last folder, Johan has to reread the file a couple of times.

Bulbasaur, the Seed Pokémon

Bulbasaur is born with a plant seed on its back. This seed provides nourishment as it grows, soaking up sunlight to gradually become larger and eventually sprout. Bulbasaur can often be seen napping in bright sunlight, storing energy in the bulb on its back.

 
Going through the information presented to him once more, Johan can feel excitement slowly well up inside of him. Turning his head to the professor, Johan knows he has to ask. "Say, Professor Elm? I have a question concerning bulbasaur."

Looking up from his tablet, Elm focuses on his visitor. "Yes? Something wrong?"

"The bulb on its back, is it... is it sentient? Or does it act in a symbiotic way like paras and the shrooms on its back?"

Humming, Professor Elm clearly gathers his thoughts before answering the question. "While they aren't my main area of expertise, I can say that the two have little in common. The mushrooms of a paras are more... parasitic than symbiotic and aim to take over the host's body. When they allegedly succeed in this goal, it results in their evolution into parasect. Bulbasaur's bulb, however, helps the creature itself survive, as it offers ways of staving off predators with delibilating powders, vines, and razor-sharp leaves. In return, the main body returns the favour by being, well, moveable and thus always able to photosynthesize in the best spots. This gives the plant the best opportunity to grow and bloom, which in turn brings forth its evolution. I don't think the bulb is sentient enough to be considered its own being, though. I hope that explains enough."

The more Johan hears, the more excited he becomes. That is exactly the type of Pokémon he looks for! While not as fun to observe as a group of Combee, it fits his parameters more than enough.

"It most certainly does, professor! In fact, it was so easy to understand that I've come to a decision. I'm picking Bulbasaur." He looks down at the Grass type's Pokéball, a spark of 'something' flashing past his eyes for but a nanosecond.

Blinking once at the sudden decision, Elm soon smiles in response as he stows the tablet away. "I'm glad to have helped. Bulbasaur is an interesting choice, especially since most people focused on the Gym Challenge in Johto tend to ignore Grass types at the start. Not to mention that its resilience and defensive capabilities in general complement your diglett well."

After locking down the pads with the other two Pokéballs, Elm grabs the third ball and hands it over to Johan. Taking it with gratitude, Johan looks around before the balding man chuckles. "Oh, don't worry about releasing the Pokémon out here. They've been in here multiple times and know not to cause too much mischief."

Nodding in understanding, Johan clenches the device in his hand before throwing it in the air. "Come on out, Bulbasaur."

The Pokémon in question slowly forms in front of him while a light obscures its body. When it dims, Johan finally comes eye to eye with this second Pokémon, a small, quadrupedal amphibian with blue-green skin with darker patches. Its red eyes blink a few times with a drowsy quality in them, and the ear-like structures on top of its head twitch. It opens its wide mouth with a yawn, showcasing its small, pointy teeth, before smacking its lips. Shaking its body awake, the bulb on the back sways from left to right but remains firmly seated. With half-lidded eyes, the Grass type takes in its surroundings and focuses on the human it's most familiar with. Planting its behind on the ground, he tilts his head while looking at Elm.

"Bulb?"

"Haha, hello there, Bulbasaur. It wasn't me who called you, though. Meet your trainer." Looking in the direction where the professor's finger points, Bulbasaur finally takes in the other human. Not moving from its spot, the Pokémon simply tilts its head in the other direction.

"Bulb?"

Hearing the lethargy in the Pokémon's voice, Johan is at first worried about the Pokémon's health, but seeing how Elm doesn't mind, he assumes this is simply how the bulbasaur is. Putting on a smile, the human bends down so as to not look too intimidating.

"Hello there, Bulbasaur. My name is Johan, and from today onwards, I'll be your Trainer. Let's take good care of each other." Reaching over a hand, Johan awkwardly stops just a few inches shy of patting the Pokémon's head. The Bulbasaur stares for a couple of seconds with half-lidded eyes at the appendage before seemingly shrugging and raising its behind from the ground so it can lean into the touch.

"Bulb."

Smiling at the acceptance, Johan takes a couple of seconds to pet his new Pokémon. "Hmm, I do believe you need a name... How about...... Verdan?"

Blinking sleepily at the name, the Bulbasaur simply nods once before deciding it has been pet enough and sits back down. Smiling awkwardly at the sleepy look and the uncaring nature of the Pokémon, Johan stands back up and aims the Pokéball at its inhabitant. "Well then, I'll be sure to introduce you to my other Pokémon at a later time."

Verdan simply yawns again as it is engulfed in a beam of light and disappears back into its home. Staring at the ball in his hand, Johan changes his focus to Elm as he pockets the ball away. The man in question chuckles awkwardly in return. "Don't worry too much. That particular bulbasaur might look too calm and collected, he's no pushover."

Taking the man at his word, Johan nods silently before following Elm out of the room. The hustle and bustle of the lab hasn't decreased in the slightest, but he barely has any time to share a few glances before Elm shows him back to the entrance.

"Well then, Johan, I hope you'll enjoy yourself in Johto. If you have any further questions, you can just call, and either I or my colleagues'll pick up. Have a nice day!"

Not giving the brunet a chance to return the greeting, Elm turns back towards the lab in a hurry. Standing awkwardly in the entranceway, Johan remains frozen for a couple of seconds before his brain catches up.

"Uhm, I, uh.... thanks. You... too..." Finishing lamely, the human scratches his head before shrugging and stepping out of the lab. He has two Pokémon to introduce to each other, and who was he to further take more of the good professor's precious time than he already has?

[Pixel]

As Johan left the lab, he would hear a startled screech. That screech sound turned into an angry shout. Nearby, a young woman had been enjoying a snack outside on her front porch, and apparently, in a moment of inattentiveness, laid her cream-cheese bagel down on a napkin. Before she could pick it back up, a clever little rat crawled up the railing and snatched the bagel, fleeing with it between its teeth. The poor lady had not only lost her meal but was risking future troubles from the wildlife if they thought they could get a free meal out of her.

"Stop that thief!" she called out. "Please!"

The rat bolted, weaving around mailboxes and bushes and between the legs of a distracted mailman. People looked over in surprise, and a couple kids laughed. It wasn't like anyone was in danger. But it would probably be best if SOMEONE stopped this ratty thief before it could cause more mayhem in the sleepy little town of New Bark this fine day. Soon the ratatta was close to Johan, and it lunged towards him, as if to dart between his legs like he had with the mailman. It was aiming to escape down the route with its quarry!

---

A [LV 5] rattata is running off with a bagel!
Quick, stop it from escaping!


Weather is CLEAR

aacK64S1p_1-421-42

[DrakeX]

^{Time of day - Noon (2:15PM)
Word Count: 397}

---

"Hmm, I wonder where I can find a good spot to introduce the two of them. Julian'll be energetic enough; he might dig a bit too much." As Johan leaves the lab, he scans the area for a spot off the main road. His diglett has already dug some stretches up during their walk around town, and Johan doesn't want the town folk to declare the two of them a huge bother. Johan's search, however, is rudely interrupted by a screech that grates his ears. Turning on his heel, the brunet looks in the direction of the sound while rubbing the tip of his pinky in one ear to ease the pain. He hears someone yelling about there being a thief on the loose, but that is just about the only thing that he registers from the voice. Seeing the purple rat run at him at what he considers to be full speed, the man's body freezes up in shock at the turn of events. Caught like a deerling in headlights, Johan's mind cannot fully comprehend what is going on. None of this has been predetermined in his mind!

Fumbling at his belt in search of a pokéball to throw out, the brunet feels himself become more nervous with each passing second, and his breath slowly becomes more laboured. When he finally grabs a hold of a ball containing a partner of his, he can't help but release a sigh of relief as a small droplet of sweat travels down his forehead. This quickly turns into a shock of horror when the ball clumsily drops out of his hands in between his legs instead of being thrown away from him. In a burst of light, Julian forms between his legs, still in mid-speech from when he was recalled.

"-diga-"

While his starter's rambling usually doesn't bother him too much, with his mind currently going haywire, the man can't help but shout impatiently at the mole.

"Julian! N-not now! Do something! S-s-sand Attack! Behind y-you!"

Johan is just barely able to yell out his orders for the little guy. Orders where the Ground type hears the urgency in its Trainer's voice. Its friendly demeanour shifts to a more serious one as it turns around to face its foe with enough force that scores of sand and mud fly towards the incoming rat. No one will harm his human!

---

• Julian the Diglett uses Sand-Attack

[Tarlar]

It was a very fast rat, when it reached the area where Johan was, it was quite far away from the lady it had stolen from. It was fast but it was still strange that no one else tried to stop it. While it made sense that the young woman to not have pokemon on her own, and for the mailman as well, and the kids probably was too young to have anything but pokemon-playmates, it couldn't be right that no one in New Bark Town didn't have some pokemon who could do something here? It was well known it was suggested you had a pokemon yourself for protection, wasn't there really anyone in New Bark Town who had one?
Oh right, Johan did, and luckily for him the rat ran straight at him, making an easy setup for him to be the Hero of today!

The bagel looked delicious, no wonder the rattata had risked getting so far into the town to get it, risking everything just for a taste of some real fast food, which it made even faster. Salvia was dripping and it really had to fight the urge to stop up and gobble it down, but if it wanted it all it would need to get as fast as way as possible.

As it pelted down the road, a lone man stood in its way, and he let out a very little pokemon which the rat didn't really worry about as it could easily go around. Or it could until another human, a female teen with a determined look on her face, appeared to its right and let out a charmander and effectively blocked the escape route. It only took it a second to chance it with Johan and the tiny brown pokemon whom it could easily leap over and it waved its tail focused as it continued forward, somehow picking up more speed, making no indication that it was aggressive.
It reached Julian before they expected it, and had he been any other kind of pokemon he would have been trampled, but since he was small and very fast when it came to ducking, he disappeared underground and sent a cloud of sand upwards which the rat jumped straight through.
It in itself wouldn't have stopped it but the tiny trenches Julian had made, either right now, or perhaps when they had entered the town earlier today, did. The rattata didn't see them through the sand and got a paw caught in one of them and made a hard crashlanding.

"That's the way to do it!" The young female trainer shouted and gave Johan a thumps up, her charmander pouted disappointed that it was going to miss out on a battle.
The rattata got to its feet dazed and tried to reorientate itself and locate the bagel. Running footsteps was heard as the young woman who had lost her lunch arrived, she was panting as if she wasn't used to physical exercise and she looked around for her food, and grimaced when she spotted it, as it was now rather muddy from the mixture of salvia and dirt from the road.
"Oh no," she mumbled defeated.


Wild Encounter

---

Weather: Humid (Clear)

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

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn"]
Rattata LV 5
HP 100% [19/19]

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

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

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn"]
Julian LV 1
HP 100% [11/11]

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

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

Wild Rattata: Normal (-1ACC)
Julian [Arena Trap]: Normal (-1DEF)

SP13 Rattata used Tail Whip!
SP7 Julian used Sand Attack!

[DrakeX]

^{Time of day - Noon
Word Count: 418
Piplup Egg Counter: (400/8000)}

---

The girl's encouragement brings the chaos inside Johan's mind to a halt as her presence gives him something to focus on. No longer does he feel like right is up while down is northeast; now he simply feels like dropping on his knees and unleashing his lunch. While the sandwich had been absolutely wonderful, there is little doubt in Johan's mind that if it came back out the same way it came in, then it was not going to taste as nice.

Looking towards where the noise comes from, Johan's eyes widen when he notices the Pokémon by her side. Seeing the girl's Charmander, the brunet remembers that he actually has a second Pokémon on hand—one that has, what he can only assume, been trained at least a little. Which was more training than Julian ever got from him. He wasn't too embarrassed to admit that, while he did have plans to train his Pokémon... He wasn't planning on doing so... in the immediate future. Maybe... While he wants to travel the region and gather up a multitude of certain Pokémon, he has never put much thought into the more... violent aspects of his goal. His siblings and most of the world were fine with Pokémon battles, but to Johan, they were a chaotic mess—too many variables, little structure, and no time to gather oneself and assess the situation. 

Taking in a deep breath, the man reaches for his belt once more. Grabbing his newest Pokémon's ball, the watch maker gives it a tight grip before tossing it in front of him. Just right in between Julian and the Rattata.

"V-Verdan! Take down that Rattata! Julian, come back!" The Diglett whines in response to the order, which oddly enough  calms Johan's thoughts further as that is an action he is quite familiar with. Feeling frustration well up at the disobedience, momentarily forgetting how quickly Julian acted earlier, Johan grabs his starter's ball and forcefully recalls him.

"Julian! Come back. Now!"

The Bulbasaur, meanwhile, calmly observes his surroundings the moment he fully forms. Noticing that his new Trainer stands behind him and another Pokémon is in front of him, Verdan knows from the simulations in the lab what is expected of him. While he isn't that used to such broad orders, the purple rat has been used enough times against him that he knows what to do. With the bulb on his back, Verdan summons two green vines to be used as whips on the other Pokémon.

---

• Julian the Diglett switches out with Verdan the Bulbasaur
• Verdan the Bulbasaur uses Vine Whip

[Pixel]

"Yeah! You two got this one!" the girl with the charmander called out, cheering him on. "I mean, we could have totally handled this one too, but you got it." The little fire lizard at her side just huffed and crossed its arms, a little disappointed that it didn't get to be there hero. Ah well, they hadn't been with their own trainer very long at all, so there were plenty of opportunities for heroism to arise. For now, the tension was building for the fight before them.

As the new trainer withdrew the diglet to sent out his Bulbasaur, the rat surged forward and slammed into the plant-monster's side. <This is my food. None of ya can have it> the rat grumbled over a mouthful of delicious, stolen bagel. The lady who had her breakfast pilfered let out a small gasp.

"Oh no! I hope your pokemon don't get hurt because of me," she said, hand covering her mouth as she realized that her lost snack might result in a long, hard battle.

The rat's tail twitched and it huffed. Nobody was in its camp huh? No one cheered on the underdog who just wanted a full belly today? Distracted by the numerous humans, it didn't notice the vines until it was too late and it got grabbed. ACK!


Wild Encounter

---

Weather: Humid (Clear)

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

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn"]
Rattata LV 5
HP 68% [13/19]

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

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

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn"]
Verdan  LV 5
HP 71% [15/21]

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

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

Wild Rattata: Normal (-1ACC)
Verdan [Overgrow]: Normal (-1DEF)

SP+Bulbasaur was switched in
SP13 Rattata used |h|SvxWmp_1-3 Quick Attack (Acc 85) p_1-100
SP 13 Rattata used p_1-3 tail whip
SP 11 Bulbasaur used vine whip



1-3·1-100·1-3

[DrakeX]

^{Time of day - Afternoon
Word Count: 375
Piplup Egg Counter: (775/8000)}

---

Flinching as if struck himself, Johan worries for the health of his new Pokémon as the little rat slams into him. It's certainly a lot faster than he expected, having seemingly disappeared from his eyes only to reappear head first in Verdan's side. He has little to worry about; however, while Verdan grunts slightly at the attack, it's more akin to the sound Johan himself lets out when he bumps his little toe full force into a table leg. It might be painful, but it's not something that he cannot walk off.

While he doesn't fully comprehend what the bystanders are saying and is too focused on the fight, their mere presence reassures him. It lets him know that the situation is still somewhat in control, whether he feels like it is or not. Just in case Rattata overwhelms him and his team, he knows that there's at least one other Trainer, no matter how new, that can stop the little thief. That thought alone stems the nervousness from freezing him up completely.

Johan's mind races as Verdan's vines snap forward, wrapping around the Rattata. He feels his heart pound in his chest as something fills his body—an alien feeling that makes it difficult to concentrate. He's never been in a battle situation like this before, and the chaotic nature of it all was overwhelming. It feels strange. The brunet might be disoriented and uncertain about his actions, but that is exactly what prevents him from suffering from any stage fright.

The watchmaker holds back a shout of joy as he sees Rattata get hit. Instead, he opts to express his happiness by simply clenching his fists before addressing his Grass type.

"Verdan, keep it up! Use another one of those vines!" Johan calls out, his voice steadier than he felt.

Sparing a backward glance at the steadier order of his Trainer, Verdan grunts softly in acknowledgment. The vines that struck the purple Pokémon encrouch on the Normal type as he tries to restrain it before slamming it into the ground. While Verdan understands the wild Pokémon's actions, they matter little to him. His Trainer needs him, and he's been bred and raised to follow his assigned human's orders to the best of his ability.

---

• Verdan the Bulbasaur uses Vine Whip to restrain Rattata and slam it in the ground

[Hunter]

The lady who had her bagel stolen was nervously concerned for the trainer and there innocent looking Bulbasaur, the uncertainty in his voice was palpable. Her fears were soon quivered as a more direct approach followed from the male as he appeared to be warming to the situation, able to formulate a plan of how to best handle the situation he and his team of pokemon now found themselves in. Verdan had a calm yet commanding presence over the entire situation it seemed, that was especially on display as her vines put a halt to the speedy little mouse that was running a muck.

The quadrupedal rodent pokemon was trying its absolute darndest to finish off the dirt covered bagel in between fending off oncoming attacks from its opponent, it was figuratively poking its paws in two separate cookie jars. The purple colored mouse pokemon's entire body was tossed around like a test dummy on a roller-coaster via the seed pokemon's vines, the twisting and turning only serving to infuriate the rodent. If karma was to be believed as a living and present factor, it appeared the purple colored mouse pokemon had what was coming to it as it's movements indefinitely appeared more laborious than they previously were and its stomach feeling less than optimal.  Despite the circumstances the wild Rattata was determined to leave no stone unturned, it had come to the conclusion that its only way to escape this situation would be the hard way, beat its current opponent and hope an opportunity to escape would present itself after the fact.

Wild Encounter

---

Weather: Humid (Clear)

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

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn"]
Rattata LV 5
HP 36% [7/19]

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

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

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn"]
Verdan  LV 5
HP 42% [9/21]

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

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

Wild Rattata: Normal (-1ACC)
Verdan [Overgrow]: Normal (-1DEF)

SP13 Rattata used fx8bSU|Vp_1-3 Tackle (Acc 85) p_1-100
SP 11 Bulbasaur used Vine Whip



Note: Have updated your Piplup Egg word count.1-3·1-100

[DrakeX]

^{Time of day - Afternoon
Word Count: 466
Piplup Egg Counter: (1,175/8000)}

---

As tension fills the air, Johan feels his nerves buzz while the battle continues on. With the surprise at suddenly getting into a fight fading, Johan feels his initial uncertainty giving way to his more analytical mindset. The engagement becomes more like a game of chess, with a series of strategic moves needing to be taken in order to win, rather than the chaotic mess he first floundered in.

In the meantime, Verdan is as calm as a cucumbur, but vigilant none the less. The Rattata is relentless as its desperation drives it to fight with a ferocity that the Bulbasaur is rarely exposed to. He feels his own energy slowly wane as the strain in his vines continues onward while he grapples with the rodent. Each twist and turn saps away more of his strength.

The wild Rattata surely must be feeling the effects of the battle! Verdan watches it cling to the remnants of the bagel as if it's a lifeline, its movements becoming sluggish and more erratic. The constant tossing and turning has to have taken its toll! Otherwise, Verdan will be quite unsettled if the rodent lasts much longer at this pace.

Seeing the effect they have on the purple Pokémon, Johan sends his thoughts racing in order to devise a strategy to end this. Clenching his fists in thought, the brunet feels the cold steel of a spherical object in one hand. Looking down at the appendage, his eyes widen as he notices Verdan's Pokéball, which he's still clutching after summoning the dual type. With that recall, Johan hatches a plan to end this.

"Verdan, we need to finish this quickly," he calls out, his voice almost completely steady now. The tremble in his voice from the start of the scramble is almost unrecognisable if one doesn't listen intently. "Use Vine Whip one more time, but focus on restraining it rather than just attacking."

Looking behind him for a brief second, Verdan briefly wonders what his Trainer's got in store before deeming it unnecessary to worry. The Pokémon fight, and the Trainer thinks up strategies. Simple as that.

"Bulba!" The Grass starter releases a cry that is slightly more invigorating than what the lab researcher has ever heard of this particular specimen. His vines tighten around the Rattata, aiming to pin it down and prevent any further resistance. Fatigue's catching up to him, and all Verdan wants to do is bask in the sun afterwards.

While his Pokémon immobilizes the purple rat, Johan replaces Verdan's ball with an empty one. The brunet waits until the last moment where he is certain that his dual type has downed the wild Pokémon before making his move.

"Let go now, Verdan!" As he yells his order, Johan throws the ball straight at the Rattata.

---

• Verdan the Bulbasaur uses Vine Whip to restrain Rattata and keep it in place
• Johan tries to capture the wild Rattata (-1 PokéBall)

[Pixel]

Snarf snarf snarf.

The wild rattata shifted from trying to fight off its foe in favor of gobbling down its stolen snack as fast as possible. It worked hard to get this treat and it wasn't going to leave here with an empty belly! Chunks of delightful bread quickly vanished, even as the bulbasaur reached out to entangle it in vines, effectively immobilizing it and preventing it from doing much more than wiggling its tail in protest. The last bits of bagel slipped free of its teeth, hitting the ground to be covered completely in dirt, inedible by any human that may come upon it. Honestly, why everyone was so fussy over the lost food was beyond the rat. Not like the humans were going to eat it.

Suddenly, a ball arced out and bounced off the rat's side.

There was a flash of light and the rat vanished, not even putting up a fight.

The nervous lady wandered up, looking down at the ground and the remnants of her breakfast, "Um. Thanks for trying to help."

---

Diglett gained +1 LV for participating and grew to LV 2
Bulbasaur gained +3 LVs and grew to LV 8, and learned growth!
(-1 pokeball)

Please fill out the form below for your new pokemon:

[img src="https://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/gen5/rattata.png"]
[b]Rattata[/b]
Name: [choose]
Gender: [choose]
Level: 5
OT: Johan Morow
Moves: Tackle, Tail Whip, Quick Attack
Ability: Run Away or Guts
Nature/Personality: [choose]

[DrakeX]

^{Time of day – Afternoon
Julian the Diglett has Arena Trap
Word Count: 528
Piplup Egg Counter: (1,575/8000)}

---

A Pokéball. That's all it is. A simple Pokéball that innocently lays on the ground, not moving an inch. There's nothing more to it. It's simply a standard capturing device that just about anyone can get their hands on, it wasn't even one of the more unique ones. Normal, unassuming, and uneventful. Yet it contains something special for Johan. A Rattata. Or to be more exact, the very first Pokémon that he has ever caught by his lonesome. It wasn't a Pokémon that was given to him as a present, or as a requirement to enter a new region. No. It's something he caught on his own. Staring at the device, the brunet's brain still doesn't fully register the fact that he actually achieved such a feat.

After a few moments, minutes, hours, days, he is pulled out of his staring contest by a bump to his shin. Startled out of his daze, Johan almost takes a step back at the unexpected physical touch before he realises just what jerked him back into the present. Or rather, who. The red eyes of his Bulbasaur, ever so calm and unbothered by the events of the last few minutes, stare at him as it slightly tilts its head to the side.

"Bulb?" Seated on its hump, the creature calls out to Johan with a slight bit of concern in his tone. The man blinks at the grass type until finally his mind catches up to the events that transpired. A smile slowly overtakes his face before blooming into a massive smile.

"Verdan! You did it! You did great, buddy! Better than that! You won! We won! Hahhaaha!" Crouching down, Johan grabs the quadrupled Kanto starter by the cheeks and slightly pulls it up closer to his own face. Not for long though as he quickly starts to affectionately rub all over the hyprid type's face. Squishing, patting and petting the Pokémon for all its worth. The Pokémon in question simply takes it in stride with a small, content smile on his face while pleased at the happiness of its trainer. Said human just keeps on laughing and with each exhale of breath, he feels the tension in his body slowly dissipate. His shoulders droop, his back unclenches and the stomach that felt so turbulent is relaxing. The adrenaline that fuelled him through the chaos begins to fade, leaving him with a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration. Rubbing and petting Verdan is done just as much to congratulate his Pokémon as it is to calm himself down. There's a slight tremble in his hands now that adrenaline no longer courses through his veins, but if Verdan notices, then the Pokémon doesn't seem to acknowledge it.

His mind races while the battle replays in his head. The sudden appearance of Rattata, accidentally sending Julian out, the battle with Verdan, and the capture. Honestly, he still can't fully believe what he pulled off. The chaotic nature of Pokémon battles still unsettles him; it did overwhelm him in fact, but there was a small part of him that revelled in the challenge. Maybe, just maybe, he could get the hang of this battle scene.

[DrakeX]

^{Time of day – Afternoon
Julian the Diglett has Arena Trap
Word Count: 924
Piplup Egg Counter: (1,975/8000)}

---

The petting of his second Pokémon halts when he notices that the 'victim' of the theft approaching. Giving Verdan's head one last rub, Johan stands back up and notices the rueful smile on the woman's face as she stares at the bagel. Following her gaze, the brunet grimaces at the dirt-covered food. The bagel lies on the ground, half-buried under a thin layer of stones and dirt. Once golden-brown and appetising, its surface is now smeared with gritty earth while tiny pebbles cling stubbornly to its crust. A few crumbs from the bagel are scattered around, blending with the dust and debris. Any smooth, shiny exterior it might have had is now marred by the rough texture of the soil, and the bagel looks misshapen, with some parts pressed flat against the ground. Anything other than a Bug, Steel or Ground type has a decent chance of upsetting their stomach if they consume it. Smiling awkwardly, he rubs the back of his head as his face mirrors the woman's rueful look rather than the reassuring one he aimed for.

"Uhm, sorry about the... uh, dirt and saliva."

Looking up from the bagel, the woman simply chuckles and waves his concerns away. "Oh, it's quite alright. Once the little rat got in a scuffle, I thought it was going to end up like this. You and your Pokémon did great, though. I was really worried there for a moment, but you easily pulled through."

Glancing at Verdan, sitting calmly by his side as he inspects the newcomer with a bored expression, Johan nods and smiles broadly back at the lady. "Yeah, Verdan did most of the work. I'm still new to this whole battling thing."

She nods understandingly. "Well, you did a fantastic job for a beginner. Keep at it, and I'm sure you'll get even better."

"That was awesome! You really handled the Rattata well!" The two of them jump at the sudden interruption. Turning their heads, they notice as the girl with the Charmander, who cheered during the battle, walks over with a grin on her face and a pep in her step. Following behind her is the aforementioned Fire type, waddling after her as far as its stumpy legs can carry it. As she comes to a stop near them, the Kanto starter has to swerve around her as to not crash into his trainer. Standing in front of the girl, the lizard crosses his arms and looks haughtily at Johan's Bulbasaur. Said dual type simply stares back before yawning and ignores the Fire type's posturing. Not giving the Fire type a second look and refocusing on his trainer, Verdan misses the other Pokémon uncrossing its arms as its jaw drops down at the blatant disregard. 

Not noticing the interaction between the smaller species, Johan smiles with relief, feeling a bit more confident. "Thanks. I was pretty nervous, but Verdan pulled through."

She nods enthusiastically. "I'm Lily, by the way. And this is Blaze," she said, gesturing to her Charmander. Said Pokémon shakes itself out of its shock before scowling and stepping up to Verdan. He then yells at its fellow starter, all the while pointing one claw at the quadruple, before pointing at himself and then down at the ground. Widening its arms to look as big and intimidating as possible, the Pokémon hisses and seemingly prepares itself for a battle. Instead of rising up to the challenge, Verdan merely quirks an eyebrow at the display before gazing upwards at Lily and Johan. Seeing the confusion and surprise on both humans, especially his own, the Seed Pokémon looks back at the Lizard Pokémon and calmly shakes its head. Rather than diffusing the situation, this only enrages Blaze further, who quickly starts to gesture even more wildly. Waving its arms up and down and stamping its feet on the ground, Johan can't help but compare the little guy to a small child that's not getting his way.

"B-Blaze! What's going on? Settle down!" The girl bends down and takes a hold of her Pokémon before lifting him up by placing one arm under his buttocks and the other around his chest. Realising that his trainer is preventing him from assaulting the other Pokémon, Blaze turns his head and starts yelling at her while pointing down at Verdan.

"Cha charcha chaaaar!"

"I'm sorry, Blaze, but I don't understand. Uhm, sorry about this, but I need to settle this guy down. Let's have a fight when we meet up again! Now come on, you, what's going on? Did you eat something bad early? I told you..." As she walks away, Johan notices how the Charmander tries to glare as long and as much as possible at his Grass type. Looking down, he sees that his Pokémon still has the same bored expression as when the battle ended. Scratching the top of his head, the watchmaker can't help but be confused by the whole ordeal.

"Well, that was... something..." Looking around, he notices that the other woman also left. Whether or not she had somewhere to be, or she didn't feel the need to stick around with two strangers he doesn't know.

Shrugging, Johan grabs a hold of Verdan's PokéBall before aiming it at him. "Alright, Verdan. Let's see if I can find a place to heal you."

"Bulbaaaaaa~" The Pokémon simply yawns as the beam absorbs it back in its portable home. Chuckling at the dual type's antics, Johan starts looking around for a PokéCenter or a local who can direct him to one.

---

Fin
Total Word Count: 6,479

Words added to egg & archived.
~L