Sprout Growing [Dang Bloom] [F]

[Tiki]

Roselia, Pansage, Sandshrew
Moving EXP Share to Sandshrew
Should Trial Amulet in my inventory say (1) for doing NBT or no?

After meeting with Meg to have his Roselia's hidden ability unlocked, Alex went back to meet with the elderly couple to unlock the next stage of the Alolan Trials. The trainer hadn't been in this city in a long time, and took some nostalgic routes like going toward the Pokemon Center and the Pokemart first. Then, he went to locate the Alolan couple for the starting ground of the next trial.

They led him toward an outskirt area of Route 30, where he vaguely remember traveling through Route 30 quickly. He might remember what Pokemon he had caught or battle later on. He was quickly in a forested surrounding, with denser and thicker green foliage in his vicinity. If Alex hadn't meet the couple before, he would have thought they were some old aged kidnappers, but thankfully, they seemed trustworthy. He waited for whoever or whatever this "guide" the couple had spoke about to appear.

[Pixel]

Alex would wait for a while.

The hedges, he would notice, were made of berry bushes, each lush with ripe fruit ready for picking. The foliage was so dense that it seemed to offer a great deal of shelter from the elements and even should the weather turn harsh, it might stay relatively dry and pleasant in the shade of these trees.

Eventually, whether out of boredom or curiosity or some other reason, he would go a little deeper into the hedges and end up in a 'chamber' of sorts, where the maze-like corridor would widen up to reveal a wider room. And there, laying the middle of the ground, breathing heavily and sweating, looking like it had been poisoned by something, was a small, fluffy pokemon. Was this guide, perhaps? It looked so sick.

Was this part of the trial?

The trees were covered in berries after all...

---

The [LV 12] Cottonee appears to be suffering from poison...

...and all around you are berry bushes.

[Tiki]

ooc: moving exp share back from sandshrew to Pansage

Alex waited under the dense trees, a cool shaded rest from the blistering heat out by Cherrygrove City, He could hear some bushes and grasses rustle, and some young Pokemon peeking and then running away, but nobody came to get him. He wasn't sure if this Alolan trial would have a Pokemon to guide him for the challenge or something. The area as filled with ripe berry bushes that were ready for eating. He was curious to take a sniff or to take a bite from some of them, but he wasn't sure if this was part of the test to not eat the berries.

He wasn't sure how long passed, but there had to be at least five minutes. There was no one still. He got up and sighed as he began walking again. He was very close to sit down and wait longer, but he wondered if the guide was injured or stuck between some bushes or branches. He kept on walking, until he saw a sick Cottonee laying on the ground and struggling.

It was sick, and with fresh berries available around them, the cure should be conveniently close. Although, he wasn't sure why it didn't just eat one on its own. He thought, perhaps, this was part of the trial?

He picked up the Cottonee, and observed it briefly as he assessed its sickness. Given how the Cottonee was breathing heavily and looking nauseous, but could still manage to move responsively to Alex holding it, he had an idea which berry would work. He gently laid down the ill grass type Pokemon, and then snagged and yanked a Pecha Berry off of a bush. He fed it to the Pokemon, and then hoped it worked.

[Pixel]

When the pecha berry was offered, the cottonee scarfed it up eagerly. In just a few nibbles, the sweet berry was gone and the little fluffball was perked right up. All the trembling stopped and it peeked up at the challenger with big, orange eyes that seemed to gleam with mischief. The little pokemon then bounced off Alex's lap to sit across from him, leaves outspread like arms. It chirped and hummed and flicked a few leaves his direction as if to say it wanted to battle.

<If you want to go beyond this point, you must defeat me in battle> the little cottonball challenged. <The first test of this trial was successful, but I cannot guide you to the totem if you cannot win a test of strength against me!>

It bounced and spun, ready to get between Alex and any exits should he not catch onto its hint right away.

---

[LV 12] Guide Cottonee is challenging you to a battle!
Ability is Prankster.

[Tiki]

Sandshrew use Poison Sting x2
Not me sending a Pokemon with Poison Sting after giving it Pecha Berry literally.

The Cottonee quickly hopped off from Alex's arms as it got better from the Pecha Berry. Colors returned to the white and green hued Pokemon with small orange eyes. There wasn't a lot of colors to return if there wasn't a lot in the first place. At a reasonable distance from the trainer, the grass type bounced and chirped as if to issue a challenge to Alex as part of the trial. If the Cottonee wanted to be cured and disappeared into the foliage as part of the challenge, it would have done that by now.

Normally he would send out his Roselia with a surprise pyrotechnics, but he decided to take a small risk to use a type disadvantageous Pokemon because it also had a slightly advantageous move. He grabbed a Pokeball and accepted the Cottonee's offer. He shouted back at the opponent. "So, I guess you wanted a battle too now that you're better? Duerks, come on out and use Poison Sting!"

The Sandshrew unrolled itself from the ball and greeted the Cottonee happily with arms spread out wide. "HIII! Ha, you look also round!"

[Pixel]

<Round indeed! Let the battle begin!> The cottonee started their trial by combat off strong with a powerful stun spore. It moved startlingly swift, impishly tossing the spores into the air before its foe could properly access the situation. The golden powder rain down upon them and unfortunately coated the sandshrew in a thin film that left his muscles tight and spasming. When he moved to shot poisoned barbs at the cottonee, he staggered and tensed, unable to fully unfurl. The guide chittered and giggled. <Oh, you don't look so good! You also look like a pest. I must protect this garden from destruction, so pardon me, little one~>

The guide cottonee began to glow and sap the little sandshrew's energy greedily. More more more! It wasn't even in need of health, but it drained the sandshrew anyway to weaken him.

Fortunately, after the cotton ball finished, the sandshrew found the strength to lash out, scattering barbs at the cottonee and knocking it backwards.

<OUCH!>


Wild Encounter

---

Weather: Clear

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

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn"]
Guide Cottonee LV 12
HP 54% [19/35]

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

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

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn"]
Sandshrew LV 16
HP 65% [30/46]

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

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

Guide Cottonee [Prankster]: Status
Sandshrew [Sand Rush]: Paralyzed

SP24+ Cottonee used hGhJyIuwp_1-4 stun spore! (acc) p_1-100 Hit! Sandshrew is paralyzed
SP2211Sandshrew is paralyzed (33%) p_1-100 and cannot move!
SP24 Cottonee used p_1-4 mega drain p_1-16 p_1-16 [-14 HP]
SP2211 Sandshrew is paralyzed (33%) p_1-100 and used poison sting! p_1-16 p_1-16 (poison?) p_1-100 [-16 HP]1-4·1-100·1-100·1-4·1-16·1-16·1-100·1-16·1-16·1-100

[Tiki]

The Cottonee hopped around with a trail of cloudy yellow spores behind it, and unfortunately, the Sandshrew had breathed in the sickening air and succumbed to paralysis. The opponent grass type used this opportunity to use a Mega Drain on Duerks. The Sandshrew curled into a ball, as he suffered in pain. However, he found a moment of strength after pushing through, and fired a Poison Sting back toward the Cottonee.

Alex watched carefully, and deciding if he would need to intervene. However, he decided not yet. His Sandshrew was still standing on his ground well, and he could intervene later. "Sandshrew, keep it up with another Poison Sting!" He hollered out his next move, and hoped the Sandshrew could push through the paralysis again.

"I am not a pest! I am not a bug type or flying or fire type Pokemon! Aren't you silly?" The Sandshrew answered back, groaning through his pain as he spoke.

[Pixel]

<Not all pests are birds or bugs> Giggled the cottonee. <Some burrow in the dirt like mice and moles or rabbits. Other plants can steal nutrients and shed poisons. Life as a plant is one of constant war, no matter how sleepy a garden seems. So yes, you are a pesky pest. The type of pest that throws around poisons and nibbles on leaves, tunneling deep into soil to disturb roots and overturn soil.>

It spun cheerfully and took advantage of its foe's slowness to drain even more of the sandshrew's health. This time, it was so effective that the ground type could barely keep standing afterwards, swaying dramatically as his strength was sapped nearly to nothing. <Tasty! So very tasty! Tee-hee. You provide me much nourishment with your presence, however.>

The flurry of poison spines that followed did take a huge chunk of said pool of said stolen health.

Wild Encounter

---

Weather: Clear

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

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn"]
Guide Cottonee LV 12
HP 43% [15/35]

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

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

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn"]
Sandshrew LV 16
HP 13% [6/46]

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

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

Guide Cottonee [Prankster]: Status
Sandshrew [Sand Rush]: Paralyzed

SP24+ Cottonee used _LY5WWJCp_1-4 Mega Drain! p_1-16 p_1-16 Crit! [-24 HP] Cottonee restored some HP [+12]
SP2211Sandshrew is paralyzed (33%) p_1-100 and uses Poison Sting! p_1-16 p_1-16 [-16 HP]

1-4·1-16·1-16·1-100·1-16·1-16

[Tiki]

Using 1 of Penelope's Full Restore back to full HP and remove paralysis, now 0. Self deduct
Then Poison Sting again

"I am not a pest! I am moving soils to give it room to store water and air pockets!" The Sandshrew defended himself as the Cottonee drained some more of his stamina. The ground type stammered, and struggled to stand still. The weakened Sandshrew held onto his own strength, and then fired another volley of Poison Sting in retaliation. However, that wasn't enough to knock out the Cottonee.

"Come here, Duerks, the Cottonee is hitting you hard!" Alex called out his Pokemon, and fished out a green looking potion from his bag. He removed the cap and fed it to his Pokemon for recovery. The refreshed Sandshrew perked up energetically, and readied to strike again. "Now, go for another Poison Sting!"

"Just to be sure, are you sure you're not the weed?" The Sandshrew, now full of health and energy, asked the Cottonee once again.

[Pixel]

<I am the furthest things from a weed! I protect the flowers~ I make gardens grow!> The impish little cotton ball replied, watching as the sandshrew was healed. Oh how neat! It promptly snuck over and dumped more paralytic powder over the sandshrew's head. Tee-hee. "You removed my pollen! There, that looks much better, yeah? Oh, and look, I can make my pollen travel far and wide too with just a little..." It created a faint wind that whisked and whirled, scattering leaves as it lifting them from the ground. And said wind suddenly jabbed into the sandshrew like a sharp stick being poked into its side. 

The playful guide might have continued its antics except the sandshrew, now feeling more restored, sent another volley of poisonous stings its way. The cottonee yelped, assailed by the barbs and then suddenly...fled! Wait. You were supposed to guide them through this totem trial?! 

It vanished down a path between the hedges. 

One that would lead to yet another chamber if followed.

Wild Encounter

---

Weather: Clear

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

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn"]
Guide Cottonee LV 12
HP 0% [0/35]

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

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

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn"]
Sandshrew LV 16
HP 85% [39/46]

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

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

Guide Cottonee [Prankster]: Fainted
Sandshrew [Sand Rush]: Paralyzed

SP+ Full restore used!

SP24+ Cottonee used K8kRhgapp_1-4 Stun Spore! (acc 85%) p_1-100 Hit
SP24+ Cottonee used p_1-4 Fairy Wind! p_1-16 p_1-16 [-7]
SP2211 Sandshrew is paralyzed (33%) p_1-100 and uses Poison Sting! p_1-16 p_1-16 [-16 HP]

---

Sandshrew gained +2 LVs and grew to LV 18
Sandshrew is trying to learn bulldoze. Forget a move?
+1 happiness

1-4·1-100·1-4·1-16·1-16·1-100·1-16·1-16

[Tiki]

"Making the garden grow? You're not sunlight and water, what are you talking about?" The Sandshrew replied before the attacks were exchanged. Even though the ground type was covered with yellow dusty pollen that would send his body into paralysis again, but his resilience aided him to fire another Poison Sting that led to the Cottonee's defeat.

Then, the grass type opponent quickly flopped back up and quickly hopped away. Alex didn't have time to thank his Pokemon and return the Sandshrew before running after that hoppity little fluff of ball, or even yell wait up. When he finally finished running down the foliage corridor like he was in some mysterious dungeon, he stopped to look around for the Cottonee, and wondered where it had gone or hid. Was running after it part of the challenge? Was the trial testing how fast he could run or how strong his Pokemon were?

Bulldoze over Mud Shot

[Pixel]

It sure seemed like this trial had a lot of finding the guide rather than the guide doing any guiding. They were now in another chamber, surrounded by hedges, the air rich with the cloying scent of flowers. Huh.That was rather intense. Perhaps they were part of the trial? After a little bit of roaming he would find himself at a diverging path, where small signs hung over the top of every possible next turn—each had the picture of some kind of silhouette. Pokemon? Yes. Those looked like pokemon. Straining his ears, he wouldn't be able to hear anything down those paths, but if he learned anything from the last trial, there was a trick to this.

But which path to go down?

If he looked around longer for guidance, he would spot an unusually arrange spot of flowers. Did they spell... EVOLVE? Huh. Interesting.

 
Which path will you go down?

[Tiki]

Following the Cottonee, Alex found himself at yet another clearing with multiple paths, but this time, each path have a sign with a shadow figure of a Pokemon. Within the clearing, he also found flowers growing on the ground, spelling the word "Evolve" with their blooming petals. If he wasn't in the middle of this trial, he probably would have appreciate this randomly spelled out words with flowers in the middle of the clearing.

He was wondering it this simply meant the evolution of the Cottonee he had just battled. If it was, then the clue was super easy and not at all difficult. The only reason someone would fail this would be if they didn't speak the language or dyslexic. After sniffing the flowers one more time, he went down the path with the Whimsicott image and prepared himself for another battle.

[Caramell 🍬]

The silhouettes were simple outlines draping the once known Pokemon into obscurity. They remained a test in one’s capability not only to recognize the Pokemon they once met, but to be able to distinguish similar traits and deduce which path evolution would take them as well. Alex remained vigilant in his test, easily coming to the right conclusions between the arrangement of flowers and the different signposts.

The path carried him through a gently sloping tail of mostly sand and small shrubs. Small flower petals littered the ground in various hues, marking the pathway forward. Even if Alex noticed smaller trails created more naturally by the wild critters that inhabited the area and accidentally took a wrong turn, the sudden lack of flower petals would be the only reminder he’d need to retrace his steps.

The path ended at a circle of trees. Their branches knotted together, blocking out most of the sun and wind from penetrating through its layers. Thick, green vines wrapped around the trees tightly, leaving only one point of entry that Alex could squeeze through between two mighty oaks. There in the center of the makeshift den stood a strange looking sheepish looking sentient ball of cotton. Whimsicott turned to Alex and smiled brightly, before flexing his fingertips in a ‘come at me, bro’ manner.

Time for Alex and his team to truly test their skills! Just before the battle would begin, the guide Pokemon would rush over to Alex's side and hand him a small Cheri Berry. It nodded knowingly as if to suggest that Alex may want the berry for his battle. Hmm?

Totem Whimsicott has appeared!

Level 15 & +1 Sp. Def. What will Alex and his team do?

+1 Cheri Berry added to Alex's inventory!

[Tiki]

Roselia HP Fire x2 on Whimsicott

Alex followed the blossoming ground, and he was surprised at how decorated the walkable ground was. He really didn't think the elder couples would travel to Johto to do it, nor would he think the Pokemon themselves would plant the flowers strategically like that. His wandering mind stopped when he came across a circle of trees. Standing before him was a cheeky looking Pokemon that appeared quite mischievous.

Before he could send out his Pokemon though, the Cottonee appeared and gave him a Cheri Berry. Heh, Alex put it away, as he knew he wouldn't need that now. He grabbed a Pokeball and hurled it into the grassy ground. "Come on out, Roshineu, use Hidden Power!"

Greetings, The duo type Pokemon spoke, keeping it brief. She looked around the area to assess the surrounding, and when she was ready, she put her hand-flowers together to create a Hidden Power.