Gleaming Hollow

[Pixel]

Fortune (or perhaps Arceus itself) smiled down upon Zaiden.

Perched on a log was one of the missing avians. It was dozing in a sunbeam, looking quite content with itself. In theory, it should be very easy to just grab the bird and go. But alas, the tricky creature was more clever than one might assume by its appearance alone. As Zaiden neared, he would spy scattered sticks all around the ground. They weren't just stray bits that fell from trees, but rather, they looked purposefully cut. Nearby, there was the stump of a sapling. The picture was easy to complete.

This master of CUT had chopped up a small tree and spread the little sticks around on the ground so that it could nap in peace. Anything that approached risked stepping on and snapping the twigs, which meant it would be alerted. Zaiden would need to figure out how to get closer without startling it, or that darn bird might just up and flee!

---

One of Sylvester's [LV 20] Farfetch'd has appeared!

Continue this encounter here.

[Pixel]

"Do you hear something?" Freya asked aloud as she entered a new part of the forest. 

<Other than the annoying screech of insects?> Frigibax complained.

"Oh, you're right! Bugs! There are lots of bugs here," Freya exclaimed excitedly. "Just like the hint. But that wasn't what I heard...It sounded like someone is battling nearby. I wonder if someone else is out here? Wouldn't that be fun?"

<Not really. You wanted to get through this forest, but here you are playing fetch for the child.>

"Aweee, Baxy, he needed our help. Don't be such a grumpy gus!"

Frigibax huffed and there was some sort of noise that made all the insects fall silent. Freya whipped her head around just as Baxy decided that she had enough of her trainer's patronizing. She could battle just fine! She wasn't grumpy! She just did not have time to cater to the whims of fools! Urg. HUMANS were the worst sometimes. The little dragon puffed up and summoned a series of frozen shards of ice and flung them with force towards the source of the sound.

There. 

"Woah! Baxy! Careful, you could have hit a small child! What did you just attack?!"

—

Word Count; 000 | OOC:

Arriving from Luminous Vale!

Using Frigibax's Icicle Spear x2 on encounter
Frigibax is holding loaded dice.


On wild goose chase quest

[Caramell 🍬]

Life was not the kindest thing to Farfetch’d. The angry bird whirled his bright green leek around in his wings like it was a baton and smacked the trunks of a few trees, knocking them down in an instant. He only wanted to find a nice, quiet place where he could settle down and rest without having to deal with annoying trainers and their foolish wants of his skills in peace. Yet, he’d already had to deal with one trainer, who Farfetch’d expected would never show his face in this forest again after he’d finished with him. Now, finally, maybe he could get some rest?

After he cleared away more chunks of trees blocking the perfect spot. With another loud whack that could nearly shake the earth itself, a small conifer tree toppled over with ease. Farfetch’d turned to his next target, then jumped back as a shower of ice came showering down upon him out of nowhere. What in the world was that?! He quacked loudly and hopped up onto a sturdy branch in a nearby tree he hadn’t yet attacked and spied the little troublemaker with ease. “You stop that at once!” The wild duck screamed, leaping out of the tree and knocking Frigibax upside her head with enough force to cause her to drop her dice.

As though fate wanted to be especially cruel, a whirlwind of dirt and sand scraped at them from all angles, instantly engulfing all of Ilex in the storm. Frigibax’s last two shards sliced into Farfetch’d cheek and shoulders, causing the bird to stumble back from the pain. He whirled around, using the strong winds to his advantage to slice at Frigibax’s soft belly, and smirked as the small dragon stumbled about on her hind legs with heavy, labored breaths. Uh-huh. That’ll teach ya! When the small ice machine sprayed Farfetch’d with even MORE ice…well…he just toppled plain over in the now dirt-covered grass and gave up, waving an invisible white flag with one wing. Ok…ok…

Freya Found Farfetch'd!

But nearly lost Frigibax in the process! Click here to see!

[Pixel]

From nowhere, the farfetch'd sprung out and slammed his leek so hard upside Baxy's head that the frigibax staggered, absolutely dazed, dropping her loaded dice as she did so. The little dragon saw stars, vision blurring harshly as she tried to stay concious. She was only absently aware of the whirling debris as nature started to turn harsh. Tiny little granules chipped at her hide as that leek slashed across her again, swift and sharp and leaving her hanging on by a thread. Loss right now would be devastating. A glaring gash on her pride that would fester with humiliation. Her, a dragon that endured a lifetime upon the harsh mountain tops, bested by a BIRD? A COMMON WATERFOWL? Nay. Never. She would not bow.

She would stand firm.

Even as the sand whipped around them, cruel and blinding, she sent another series of ice shards at the bird and this time, her strike had him floundering with surrender. Right. That's right. She was...superior...

Frigibax swayed and collapsed, unable to continue battling. And it stung. But she had won! HA! She had won! Even if she could not continue the fight, she had not lost this war. 

To her mild surprise, Freya hurried to her side and scooped her up into her arms, holding her close. She sheltered frigibax against her chest, face down and too shadowed to see properly.

"That was so stupid, 'Baxy," Freya whimpered, her breath catching, damp with unshed tears. What a foolish human...getting all worked up and weepy when the battle was won. "You got really hurt."

<I was victorious. Hmph. Stop blubbering. What kind of dragon tamer are you if you hopelessly coddle everyone who gets a scratch.> 

Freya hiccuped and pulled 'Baxy in for a hug. Squeezing tight.

<Okay, okay, quit it. Enough.> BITE!

"Ow! You little..." Freya eyed her wounded hand and laughed at herself. "Okay, hint taken." She sniffed. "Let's grab this farfetch'd and try to get through this forest. This sandstorm will make things tricky...I may have to leave the forest and get supplies before I make my final push. I'm not sure if my team is really set up for this sort of weather."

<A little suffering will do them good.>

"You're so mean." Freya smiled. It was nice to see Baxy battle for the first time, even if it didn't exactly go very well. "C'mon, let's get going."

—

Word Count; 400 | OOC:

Heading back to luminous vale.

[Frigibax HP @6% before LV up]

On wild goose chase quest

[Caramell 🍬]

ZAIDEN KABILA Aspiring Champion Bike Mode: On | Time: Day Zaiden ran through the tangle web of overgrown vines and prickly bushes as fast as he could. Fear clawed at him from the inside. He could feel its cold, sharp nails scratching from below the surface. Small goosebumps traced the length of both arms as Zaiden ran breathlessly through Ilex, his feet pounding in a blinding rage to get as far away as fast as he could. Why was he such a waste of space? His incompetence cost Kanja her health and could have fatally wounded her. Zaiden scolded himself inside of his head, letting his own inner voice scream at him and mentally slap him around. It was no wonder those vague memories of some maculine hand slapping him around flooded the back of his mind. He…Zaiden stopped running for a second, hands pressed on top of his knees. His rough denim jeans felt surprisingly smooth in the moment and helped relax his racing heart. I’m not a trainer. I’m a mistake. Tears pooled in the corners of his eyes as the shaky film played like a daymare haunting him with his eyes wide opened. “You get rid of that mistake before I do!” The voice screamed as the sounds of glass shattering echoed inside of his mind. “This should have never happened! You should have never happened!” Something wrapped its grip around his arms. Too tight! Stop! It yanked and pulled Zaiden in different directions, causing his feet to slide across the slick linoleum floors of the past. He couldn’t break from the moment. He couldn’t break from the memories. Those same rich chocolate brown irises searched through sturdy branches and thousands of bright green leaves for something…Anything…that would make him feel better. Small bugs crawled along the rough barks of tall oaks. Little sparrows darted through the canopies with twigs and straw that they whittled around their nests as they continued to build. Everyone would be much better off without me… Zaiden choked, shaking his head before curling up on the ground. He pulled his knees into his chest and wrapped his long beige arms around them. They didn’t need him. He only held them back. The tears covered his face as he buried it in between his knees. I can’t do this. I can’t save my parents. I can’t help Kogasu become stronger and better as a Pokemon. I can’t even help Sylvester recover two simple Farfetch’d. Why did I think that I could? The words hushed into a simmer, like a pot being put on low heat on an eye. Would his father have sold Charizard, Zaiden wondered, if he never existed? Would their only home they’ve ever known be put in jeopardy? Would they….tears flowed like rivers from the corners of his eyes down both cheeks. Would they…be better off? Without him? The thoughts were intrusive. He tried to shut them up. He screamed and hollered mentally in his head, reminding them how mean and unhelpful they were. Were they honest, though? Was the screaming that rang throughout his head honest? Even if his family was well-meaning, they would never deliberately tell Zaiden to his face that he was the cause of anything. “Of course not, how could you be?!” He could hear them say as he wiped the tears away and slowly rose back up on his feet. “You were only a child. And it’s our job to take care of you! Not the other way around.” Oh but mother dearest…how could he not wonder and worry so? How could he not get involved?! Charizard was HIS BEST FRIEND! HE GREW UP IN THAT HOUSE! That was his whole world…his EVERYTHING! OOC: Headed back to Luminous Vale! Words: 611 | Speech. Thoughts. | Pokedex Cho | Moyashi | Tonbo | Kanja | Goshikka | Kemushi | Zaiden Sprite by Redwerecat!

[Caramell 🍬]

ZAIDEN KABILA Aspiring Champion Bike Mode: On | Time: Day Their trek would carry them all the way back to the strange and wondrous glen. Zaiden nearly collapsed in his pursuit of his Pokemon who seemed ready to fly off the handle. Shio was new to the team and only recently joined them after some large event where new Pokemon never seen before in Johto were brought off a ship for trainers to purchase or win as prizes within the stalls. He’d managed to collect a few for himself and knew that they would require work and diligence if he hoped to get them into proper shape. “Slow down, Shio! Please?” Zaiden stretched one hand out vainly in the air and grasped at the darting figure with a regrettable sigh. Maybe…he bit off more than he could chew with these Pokemon? Shio eventually slowed and turned around with wide, curious eyes that took in the thick vines shooting out of the ground and wrapping around the nearby trees. They were eating away at the other plants health like vampires, sucking the very life-force out of their competitors by ensnaring them so securely that they couldn’t escape. “Come out here and face swift and just punishment for your misdeeds!” Shio shouted at the top of his lungs. He hopped out, spinning around with eyes that searched through every leaf and twig expectantly. Zaiden smiled softly as he watched his Pokemon finally come to a stop. The chase was over! Thank goodness! The young teenager wiped a bead of sweat from the top of his forehead as he watched small bugs busy about their simple lives. Fuchsia hued caterpillars chewed happily at bright emerald leaves in various shapes and sizes, while small brown caterpillars with poisonous barbed affixed to their heads quietly peeked out of hole drilled into the sides of the towering trees. Small ladybugs whose bright red shells were decorated with large black splotches hid in the shadows, their large eyes scarcely able to stare back at the quiet stranger. “Let’s hope…our friend…is here again…” Zaiden wheezed, barely able to catch his breath. Goshikka giggled to herself as she approached the two quietly from behind. Shio was a gullible mineral who seemed easy to provoke and manipulate with just a bit of pushing. “You sure you can handle it on your own?” She raised a single eyebrow and turned to stare off through the dense thicket towards some greater unknown. “I’m pretty sure it ate a couple trainers! I saw some…troubling signs on the ground. Tattered clothes and lost items that were broken. Can you even rehabilitate that?” She questioned. Shio scoffed, eyes furrowing together in anger. “Absolutely not!” He grimaced. He detested the idea of letting hardened criminals have a second chance. “We’ll just have to lock it up and throw away the key!” He explained firmly. OOC: Coming from Luminous Vale. Looking for an encounter! I am on WILD GOOSE CHASE quest!! Words: 475 | Speech. Thoughts. | Pokedex Shio | Mandoru | Tako | Kiji | Goshikka | Cho | Zaiden Sprite by Redwerecat!

[Pixel]

<Oh you're back.>

That was the only response that the farfetch'd gave when Zaiden re-appeared the next day, this time accompanied by a different pokemon than that wimpy ralts it beat up. He would see the bird was lounging lazily inside of a log, hiding from the sandstorm like any sensible bird would do. It was quite comfy in here, wings all tucked in, leek at its side. 

<Look, you should just leave before I show you how strong I am again. That kid is just a pitiful little weakling that just whimpers and whines all the time. And you're just as bad! I can tell. Bah. You all should just leave him behind and have a nice nap. That's what I've been doing. The brat thinks he can boss us around and have us cut down trees. He's luck I don't cut off all his hair! And besides, day in, day out, cutting trees. I just want a break, okay? It's storming. Hardly good weather for dealing with nonsense. So just move along and let me be.>

He didn't seem too motivated to leave his log.

---

One of Sylvester's [LV 20] Farfetch'd has appeared!

Continue this encounter here.

[Caramell 🍬]

ZAIDEN KABILA Aspiring Champion Bike Mode: On | Time: Day The scuffle echoed through the forested region, causing massive branches spiraling in erratic patterns as they clawed at the heavens above, to shudder. Their leaves rustled against one another, bright emerald serrated hues bunching up against sinuate and undulate shapes of muted and softer greens. Needle thin leaves broke away in bundles and fluttered separately from each other, spiraling wilder onto the ground and adding to the plethora of leaflitter all around them. Shio smirked, rich amber eyes narrowed firmly on Farfetch’d, as he bent the wings back and pinned them together. “You’ll never terrorize another soul as along as I live and breathe!” The small salt rock boasted confidently. “I’m not….UFF…terrorizing…OUCH….ANYTHING. Can you stop that, it really hurts?!” The small avian kicked and screamed, struggling underneath the weight of the crazy nugget of salt. Feathers ruffled against each other with weaker one breaking from the herd. They mixed in with the sea of green and brown leaves bundled over each other, though the squirming and wiggling bodies would push and kick them all about as the two sentient creatures fought against each other, completely at odd. “I cannot stop what I am doing. You are a wanted criminal who ran away from your post and must be stopped. On top of this fact, there were concerning signs that you may have cannibalized a trainer.” Shio continued with a snap. A trainer? What? How could a bird who wasn’t even part of the homo sapiens group cannibalism what wasn’t one of their own? The strange rock whose ambitions sounded less like a normal Pokémon simply doing the bidding of its trainer, and more like some deranged creature with grandiose dreams far removed from the capabilities of its species, spoke in near gibberish. “I didn’t eat anyone! I swear! I just wanted to rest here in peace, before YOU and the STORMS arrived!” The bird squawked, managing to break one wing free temporarily. It grasped wildly for its leek. Shio easily kicked that out of the way, aggressively snapped the wing back in his grasp, and pinned it back behind Farfetch’d back once more. “Save it for the judge, bucko! You won’t be hurting anyone else so long as I’m here!” He scoffed. Zaiden shook his head as he watched the scuffle unfold, before Farfetch’d finally just gave up, slumping in an exhausted heap. Shio pulled at some nearby vines and twisted them about Farfetch’d wings with his handless body, hopping and jumping about sporadically to make sure they were securely tied. “I’m pretty sure that’s enough, Shio.” Zaiden laughed nervously. Warm beige hues sharpened into thick palms with long fingers snatched the little salt rock up into the air. Shio wiggled and squirmed angrily, those same warm amber hues spinning wildly in their sockets. “Unhand me at once, trainer! This wayward criminal must be set on the straight any narrow! How can we do that, when you’re actively preventing his arrest!” He complained loudly. Zaiden would return him to the ground only after they’d reached an understanding. Then the teenager would turned to the dull brown duck with his large yellow beak and webbed feet and scoop it up, defeated and completely tuckered out, into his hands. They had to work quickly if they wanted to return this small fowl back to his trainer, who seemed inept at keeping them at his side for long. Was Sylvester’s father that dense? Or, was his father so desperate for the help there was little else that could be done to make sure they were able to complete the tasks needed to keep their operations afloat? It was quiet a puzzling picture to say the least, and somewhat made Zaiden feel less alone in his own insecurities. OOC: Moving to Luminous Vale! Words: 629 | Speech. Thoughts. | Pokedex Shio | Mandoru | Tako | Kiji | Goshikka | Cho | Zaiden Sprite by Redwerecat!