Shady Glen

[Venominon]

Having completed his third Alolan trial, as well as his second go around in the Bug Catching contest, Shinya ventured back to the Ilex Forest. This time, however, he wouldn't be turning around. Nope. This time, it was Goldenrod City or bust. Of course, that meant trudging through practically the entire Ilex Forest all in one go, and the dust storm that was currently ravaging the entire forest certainly wasn't going to make this an easy task. But then again, that's just how Shinya liked it, grinning, putting on a pair of sunglasses to protect his eyes from the incoming sand, and beginning his hike through the biggest forest in all of Johto. And on the other side, his third gym battle and the next leg of his journey to revitalize Team Skull awaited him.

OOC: Heading over to the Dense Thicket from here 

[Caramell 🍬]

ZAIDEN KABILA Aspiring Champion Bike Mode: On | Time: Day Feet that once rushed across the ground slowed to an amble. Zaiden finally managed to push and prod his way through the ensnaring landscape whose wild foliage made traversing nearly impossible in many stretches back to the same location where he’d managed to meet up with the young raven-haired boy. Sylvester was surely somewhere in the area, eyes erratically searching for his feathered fiends whose wanton need to escape him must have frustrated the young fellow at every turn. Why was his father consistently sending Sylvester out here with the two Pokémon when they refused to heed the commands of Sylvester in the first place? Was Sylvester so afraid of his parent’s disappointment that he would forego ever letting his father know? Long green vines snaked around wild brown feathers, ensnaring two wings pinned against the wily duck’s sides. Large muted brown irises glared angrily at Zaiden though he dared not struggle against the trainer so long as its crazed nugget of salt hopped along at the young teenager’s side, diligently following him wherever he traveled. “He doesn’t even have what it takes to lead us properly!” Farfetch’d scrunched up his bright golden beak in disgusted and huffed angrily. Why was it such a strong necessity that he be returned to the incapable hands of the nervous twit who probably jumped at every shadow? Though, if Farfetch’d could convince the stupid child to give up their trek in Ilex for the time before for wood, then perhaps he could convince the raven-haired lad to return to his father’s while the storms raged on. “You do not get to decided unilaterally what you will do.” Shio huffed, jumping up in the air due to his lack of feet to make walking easier. During particularly thick roots and tangling vines, the small brown salt rock would shuffle and wiggle between the bright green foliage, using his hardened edges to carefully cut through the plants and crawl out on the other side. “You must always remain at your trainer’s side like an obedient Pokémon, ready to do exactly as they instruct. Especially a child! You cannot neglect them or put them in endangerment by leaving them all alone! What were you even thinking?!” Shio growled angrily, fumes raising off his rocky edges as though he might catch fire in an instance. Farfetch’d huffed angrily, fluffing up his feathers. Was Shio serious?! That sniveling bundle of human flesh, barely old enough to be sent to the forest alone to begin with, was far from qualified to be called his ‘trainer’! “That is my trainer’s child! Not my trainer! They have no jurisdiction over me! Why should I concern myself with their safety?!” The loud fowl demanded to know obnoxiously. Zaiden searched as he neared the spot where he’d originally met Sylvester the first time, though he wasn’t able to readily spot the young boy in the moment. Hopefully he was still around somewhere? “Hey! Sylvester….I have one of the birds for you…are you around here still?” He called out hopefully. “That is your trainer’s child?! Think! What would you want your trainer to do if you ever had an egg that needed care and he were left to care for it in your stead? To abandon it in the woods carelessly because he lacked some strange requirement by your standards to ‘control’ it? You should be protecting your trainer’s child because that child is part of your trainer, in a sense. Not just leaving Sylvester to wander around here all alone! If he had gotten seriously hurt while you were off on your own? Mangled by a wild canid Pokémon or something? Could you live with yourself then?!” Shio snapped angrily, those fumes definitely raising like smoke trails from his lips, as he demanded an answer from Farfetch’d. OOC: Coming from Luminous Vale with 1 of the Farfetch'd! Looking for Sylvester! Words: 638 | Speech. Thoughts. | Pokedex Shio | Mandoru | Tako | Kiji | Goshikka | Cho | Zaiden Sprite by Redwerecat!

[Pixel]

Sylvester was still there. Without his dad's pokemon and currently very embarrassed and harassed, he was huddled against a tree to shelter from the sandstorm as it kept raging. However, as Zaiden approached, spotting the younger boy in his hiding spot, he would see that the kid looked extra miserable. Why one might ask? Having been blown out of a tree by the wind, a singular silcoon sat on the ground about a yard away from Sylvester's feet. It sat there. Menacingly. Doing...nothing. One could easily football punt kick the cocoon away if one was so inclined. The kid was in no danger nor was there any need to act.

But man.

Not even the helpless local wildlife seemed to respect this kid.

"Oh?" Sylvester said, upon hearing Zaiden. "Yeah, I'm here. You have one of them?" he grimaced. "Er. Thanks... Hopefully it will stay asleep for a bit. I don't have their pokeballs..." And if it woke up, it would probably run off again or bully him like before. SIGH.

[Caramell 🍬]

ZAIDEN KABILA Aspiring Champion Bike Mode: On | Time: Day The young teenager paused in his steps as he heard something through the storm. Sand and dust whirled around him angrily, causing a strange white noise effect that drowned out most other sounds. The rustling of the leaves now screeched from the pain of harsh winds tugging at their ends as though to snap them in half. Trees groaned, their long stalk-like bodies twisting and turning in protest at the mighty winds. “Sylvester?!” He called again, hands cupped around his mouth, before dropping them back at his sides and closing his mouth to keep from swallowing the sands swirling in the air. Where did he go? Zaiden pressed his back against a wide live oak whose long branches curled around and created a barricade against the storms and waited. The winds picked up, howling in anguish as they slammed sharp rocks that bounced off the sturdy branches. They hissed in retaliation and shook wildly against the winds. Zaiden gulped, eyes watching in horror as the ancient looking tree struggled against the mighty storm, and wondered which would remain victorious. Could he survive if one of these branches snapped with him trapped underneath it?! Eventually, the winds died down though the storm persisted, allowing Zaiden to traverse through the terrain once more. He moved quickly and stopped only after he managed to find the cowering child seemingly incapacitated by a single cocoon. The small chrysalis sat there, its one lone maroon eye staring at the raven-haired boy though with what emotion it held it was impossible to say. “Are you…afraid of this little guy?” Zaiden shrugged to the little cocoon, scooping it up in one hand and placing it on the branch of a tree. He was sure it must have fallen in the heavy winds and would appreciate the boost back up. “It’s not asleep?” Zaiden asked confused before glancing over to the brown avian. It’s eyes swirled about, its tongue sticking out the side of its beak. On the side of the wily avian’s head was a large knot where something sharp and hard must have collided merely moments before. The harsh storms had slapped Farfetch’d upside his head with one of its many sharp rocks, simultaneously knocking the duck out just as quickly and easily as possible. Oh, well…oops? I guess it is sleeping. It was probably for the best, truth be told. That thing was quite the difficult bird to keep wrangled and under control. There remained one more lost somewhere within the large expanse of Ilex. Zaiden hurried off once more, prodding his way through large brushes, around towering pines, and battling against ensnaring vines that tried to sprout up as obstacles along his path. Zaiden sighed in slight annoyance as he battled his way through the harsh terrain, grateful that there was a long section of woodlands unclaimed by mankind and annoyed in equal measure that he had to struggle just to get a few feet in any one direction. There were sections impossible to travel through, as well, that made Zaiden wonder how anyone managed to make their way through the wild forest. OOC: Headed to Gloomy Ravine! Words: 638 | Speech. Thoughts. | Pokedex Shio | Mandoru | Tako | Kiji | Goshikka | Cho | Zaiden Sprite by Redwerecat!

[Caramell 🍬]

ZAIDEN KABILA Aspiring Champion Bike Mode: On | Time: Day Towering trees shuddered quietly in their roots as the young boy passed by underneath their canopy. Their long branches knocked against their neighbors, chasing after the ragtag team with spooky sounds that caused a strange chill to crawl down the base of your spine. Soft eyes rich and dark in their cocoa-infused hues studied the tangle of vines and scraggling limbs protruding in every direction, and carefully navigated the way forward as Shio fought to keep Farfetch’d at bay. We have to be near the place by now! How far would he have wandered off? Zaiden questioned quietly to himself in exasperation. He pulled one stray limb whose many branches clawed at the open air feverishly to rip and mangle at delicate flesh that might pass base its sharpened edges withered away and stripped of its once luscious leaves. Shio passed through, slamming his skull against the back of Farfetch’d back, causing the angry bird to waddle close behind. “When you get back to your trainer, you need to confess to your crimes and apologize for your wrong doings! Understand?” The angry collection of salt snapped firmly. There was little chance he would let Farfetch’d conveniently forget about his transgressions and act as though nothing happened. There needed to be swift and divine retribution for this terrible wrong. Farfetch’d wiggled as he waddled, angrily eyes glaring from the mess of vines that ensnared him. He looked like the victim in this narrative, with his wings tethered against his back. “You’re a crazy lunatic! Do you even hear yourself when you speak? Or are those just random syllables to do?! You’re making absolutely zero sense!” Farfetch’d insisted with a loud squawk. “Just, what crime did I commit, anyways?! Name them! Explain them to me like I’m just a hatchling!” This was getting beyond ridiculous. Why wouldn’t Shio drop the act now that they’d finally managed to get Farfetch’d to accept his defeat and follow them through the densely packed forest?! “One count of child abandonment! It is considered abandonment when you leave someone under a specific age completely alone in strange, unfamiliar, or dangerous situations. And jurisdiction would book you and your accomplice when you both flew off together to ditch the kid you were with. One count of child neglect…” While Shio prattled on like a broken record, Farfetch’d rolled his eyes with a loud sigh. None of that even made any sense for him. He was a POKEMON! It might make sense for his parents….Oh, no! “You better not try to insinuate that my trainer is neglectful or putting his son in harm’s way by sending him in Ilex with us, you here?! He’s just a stupid boy we abandoned, but he’s plenty old enough to know better by now!” Farfetch’d snapped firmly. OOC: Coming from Enchanted Orchard. Waiting on Sylvester, please! Words: 467 | Speech. Thoughts. | Pokedex Shio | Mandoru | Tako | Kiji | Goshikka | Cho | Zaiden Sprite by Redwerecat!

[vartio]

"Oh god, thank you so much." Sylvester stated, rubbing sweat off his brow with a brush of the back of his arm as he raises from a stump he was on, feeling exhausted from searching here the best he could. He got up and walked on over and knelt in front of his dad's Farfetch'd.

"Thank Lugia you're safe. What would my dad say if you got hurt?" He then stood up and looked at Zaiden, a smile beaming on his face.

"And once again thank you so so so much! You don't know how much I was worrying how I'd need to explain to my dad how I lost his Farfetch'd! The excuses were as farfetched as their name." He said, trying to casually crack a joke to ease things up as he shuffled a hand into his bag and pulled out a Disc-like device, handing it over to Zaiden.

"Here, the least I can do. May it help you get through this forest and life!"

Once the disc was taken, he'd turn and lift the duck-like Pokemon. "Come here you, we're going home. Farfetch'd come!" he called to the other one, that was acting a deal more behaved than before. As he walked away, he stopped and turned.

"Oh, oh right! Hey be careful, there's some really scary things that happen deeper, and there's a few places you might need that move to move on! Good luck!"

[Caramell 🍬]

ZAIDEN KABILA Aspiring Champion Bike Mode: On | Time: Day Howling winds sputtered to a whisper. The sands that once slashed at everything furiously once more collected idly on the ground. Wildlife slowly crawled out from their burrows; large eyes peering through the tangle of emerald, green blades. There were several hundred glowing orbs. They studied Zaiden and Sylvester, before slowly crawling out from the tangle of grasses and returning to their average, mundane lives. Some small orange insects clawed at the roots of towering trees, while pinkish-red caterpillars chewed cheerfully at tasty leaves in the canopies above. With a quick blink, Zaiden thought he saw a red-and-green centipede shoot through the thick overgrowth and disappear past a troupe of wiry bushes. “You’re…welcome…” Words were difficult for the teenager. He found himself struggling with his words, though they should have been simple. Was it because he’d recently failed Sylvester? He came back swinging, with Pokemon that made quick work of the two avians to get them back in line. Still… Zaiden’s chocolate brown hues turned to the ground and glared quietly. The failure burned and reminded him that this wasn’t the first fluke he’d made along his journey. “Think nothing…of it…” He muttered, turning away from Sylvester with his own team. Sylvester turned to his Pokemon and pampered them with attention, causing Zaiden to smile warmly. Then the boy stopped him before Zaiden could walk away. Stopping him where he stood, Zaiden swiftly spun on the tips of his feet to face Sylvester once more. He wasn’t expecting to be thanked. Especially considering how he botched it the first time, how did he earn the right to such a gift? Zaiden raised both of his hands up and waved them with a shake of his head. “Thanks but….I can’t…” He tried to choke out, though Sylvester remained steadfast and firm. He reminded Zaiden that there would be places within this forested region where he’d need the Hidden Machine just to get by. Zaiden nodded with a half-smile and a sigh. He quickly plucked the HM out of Sylvester’s hand and placed it up inside of his backpack. He wasn’t too sure who he wanted to have learn this new, useful move. Would Shio be able to learn such a move, considering the region of Paldea quietly boasted how they no longer needed to use ‘Hidden Machine’ moves to traverse their region? Maybe Kiji could learn it as well? “Thank you for this. I appreciate it.” Zaiden spoke to Sylvester genuinely before shaking the other teenager’s hand. They would part ways, leaving Zaiden with more questions as he headed to the Dense Thicket. OOC: Headed to Dense Thicket! Adding HM01: Cut to Zaiden's inventory! Words: 436 | Speech. Thoughts. | Pokedex Shio | Mandoru | Tako | Kiji | Goshikka | Cho | Zaiden Sprite by Redwerecat!

[Hunter]

Tristan. Do you not know you've likely just jinxed yourself making mention of it being quiet?

Tristan, Nami and the now under-tow Farfetch'd had made their way back to 'Shady Glen', the location seemingly a great spot to return to in order to figure out one's bearings and make their next move. Sylvester wasn't anywhere to be seen for the time being so Tristan and company kept on moving in search of the second normal-typed duck pokemon. Thankfully the Farfetch'd that was already in custody had not yet tried any cheeky escape attempts, it seemed wise enough to know that the consequences would be painful. Tristan couldn't help but make note of how quiet the 'Shady Glen' was upon his return to the area,

"It's eerily quiet here at the moment don't you reckon?"

GRAYE'S MARINADES

Arriving from 'Gleaming Hollow', will take on a wild pokemon encounter for Lolong the Totodile!

[Marchbaby]

As Tristan started to look around the area for the second duck Pokemon there was no sign of it anywhere. Unbeknownst to him however a different Pokemon had been watching him from a nearby bush daring the human to get too close. The small Pokemon was not known for it's aggression but that did not mean it could not become a nightmare in other ways. As annoying as the creature could be it was lacking in the mobility department so unless it received some help getting around it was hard to put it's annoying skills to use. Luckily a nearby WUrmple decided to offer said help as it started to push the Silcoon from out of the bush.

Once it was in plain view of the trainer the Silcoon tried to bounce up and down to get Trsitan's attention as the Wurmple sped off wanting nothing further to do with the young bug type's plans. As far as it was concerned even pushing the Silcoon into place was looking like a bad idea and it was not sticking around to push it's luck any further.

Silcoon (Level 8) appeared. Please battle it here.

Amulet?rEjWVv2sp_1-10
Uncommon?p_1-3
Which Common? p_1-3
Level?p_5-12
Shiny?p_1-421-10·1-3·1-3·5-12·1-42

[Hunter]

At least Tristan tried to help if that counts?

Lolong's latest attempt to maneuver the Silcoon off the beaten path was a successful one, however it was abundantly clear that the bug type pokemon had experienced enough trauma for one lifetime. Lolong glanced back at his trainer with a questioning look etched on his face, querying the blonde haired teenager on what he wanted to do next. Tristan shook his head from left to right, the message clear enough for his partner pokemon to understand that despite their best efforts, things simply playing out like they had hoped. Tristan was apologetic to the now drenched chrysalide pokemon, he took full responsibility for how events had played out,

"Damn my bad little one, I for sure thought we'd be able to help you out, instead we've left you a soaking wet mess"

The captive Farfetch'd could be heard laughing hysterically at what it had just witnessed, it had definitely got a kick out of the situation. Nami pulled the comedic-enjoying Farfetch'd back into line with a quick thwack to the back of the duck pokemon's head. Farfetch'd was less than pleased at the way it was being treated, but the power advantage was indefinitely in Nami's side of the court and the duck pokemon knew this was not the time and place to test his luck once again at escaping the scene. Tristan motioned to Lolong, Nami and the captive Farfetch'd to walk ahead of him as they made their way out of the 'Shady Glen' and towards a direction where the sun's rays were beaming.

GRAYE'S MARINADES

Leaving 'Shady Glen' and onwards to 'Luminous Vale'

[Avalon]

Matthew had spent enough time in this forest-encircled tourist trap. The Gym had been a necessary stop on his journey, but now he found himself forced to trek through the maze-like forest that would separate him from the next trek of his journey. There were no doubt countless secrets to be found within the forest, what with its dark recesses and ancient history. Locals seemed to believe it was protected by some guardian spirits, including a strange Pokemon that could supposedly wander through time itself. Pokemon were already weird enough so one being able to pass through time wasn't the most outrageous of possibilities, but Matthew figured he would only believe it when he saw it.

Not that he was likely to see much of anything, given how much of this forest seemed to be devoid of natural light. Using what little light shined through the overgrowth, he navigated through the brush and the small dirt path that winded through the trees. He had heard talk that the deeper parts of the forest, the ones closer to the gate to Goldenrod City, were so thick and dense that Pokemon capable of Cut were a necessity. Unfortunately, he had no such way of teaching that particular move at the moment, so his best course of action was to just try and push through until he could find a suitable path.

Matthew had rotated out his Pokemon just in case, prepared for an inevitable fight that would come through. No telling what kind of insects he would end up upsetting with his traipsing through their homes. But rather than a Bug or a plant waiting for him, he heard the sounds of a person. A boy complaining about lost Pokemon had earned his attention. Matthew approached the panicked young man, squatting down on the ground to rest for a moment.

"You seem kind of troubled. Something wrong, kid?" Matthew asked the young man, unaware of the mess that he was about to get himself into.

333 words
Starting Wild Goose Chase, switched team around. Deposited Sentomaru and Rhaegar, withdrew Eleanor, Winchester, Adonis, and Aladdin.

[Tarlar]

"This is bad! This is really bad! Papa's going to kill me! What'd I do?!" The boy whined to himself as he writhed his hands and looked like he wanted to pull his hair out. It wasn't old, just a bit over 10 perhaps, and wasn't he a bit too young to be in Ilex Forest all by himself with no pokemon to protect him? Perhaps he had screwed up at home and had run to hide here?
He was lost in his own little world as he was walking in fruitless circles of worry, the grass had been stomped flat already, and it would be worn off completely if the kid continued.

The boy jumped when Matthew talked to him and he fought the tears which welled in his eyes by the kind words. "I.. Papa sent me here to cut trees, he's.. he's busy today and I'd show him I'm big and could myself. I.. I.. I promised to take care of.. of his birds but.. but now they're gone!" He sniffled and a single tear escaped and ran down his cheek.
"They ran off! And I don't know how to get them and Papa needs them for cutting or we won't have any money and we'll starve and lose the house and it's all my fault! I did tell them to stay and to cut but then they just.. they just flew off!" The boy rambled with a trembling lip. "Papa always says to keep your head clear and think! But I'm thinking! I'm thinking all things go wrong and its all my fault!"

Sylvester took a deep quivering breath, "Have you seen them?" He asked suddenly hopefully, "The fat one really likes to eat the bugs and loves the place where they are at the brook. The other like berries and its a wonder its not as fat as the other," the kid said without a trace of amusement in his voice. "But they'll be gone before I get there, and how to get them down from the trees? They don't listen to me!" He wailed and sat down crouching in hopelessness.

Sylvester is distraught over the loss of his Papa's farfetch'd, will you help him, from the good of your heart, to get them back?

[Avalon]

Matthew sighed, getting a grasp of the situation at hand. The kid and his dad used their Farfetch'd as part of their business, and the kid had taken his dad's Pokemon to try and be helpful. But without a Gym Badge to his name, Sylvester had no way of controlling the two duck-like Pokemon. Too many people forgot about the fact that without Gym Badges, Pokemon were wildly difficult to control. Even with two badges under his belt, Matthew was likely going to have to fight these Farfetch'd into submission before they were willing to return to this greenhorn kid.

"This was really reckless of you, kid," Matthew said, shaking his head. The kid was lucky that the Pokemon didn't turn their leeks on him before they flew off, but maybe they had a bit more training than that. If these Pokemon were capable of cutting down trees, it was no doubt that they would be wildly strong. He'd have to try and track them down one-at-a-time, subdue them, and bring them back to Sylvester.

An idea popped into his head. Rumors said you needed the ability to slice through the trees to get to the deeper parts of the forest, and these birds had that capability. And this boy's family apparently had the ability to teach this skill to their Pokemon. He might be able to kill two birds with one stone, if he hung around enough to help. Besides, he was going to have to explore the forest for a bit anyway if he wanted to find any of those old shrines.

"Wait here and try to stay out of trouble. I'm gonna go out and look for your birds," Matthew relented. He had little choice but to agree to this, it seemed. He'd just have to keep an eye out for some places with lots of fruit or lots of bugs. In a forest. A forest full of fruits and bugs. This was going to be his entire day, he could tell already.

336 words
Proceeding to Gloomy Ravine.