Running with the pack [F]

[Kataya]

Joey’s apology did not fall on deaf ears. Sneasal gave him a greatful stare as it once again felt the harsh sting of the whip. Hades decided to end this quickly, firing a round of embers onto the Sneasal, knocking it out. Travis grunted and returned the Sneasel, Holding out another Pokeball.

“Things like bonds and friendship are clutches for the weak. They don’t know what to hang on to, so they just choose any silly ideal. Me? I’m a realist. I believe that only pure strength will get you through.” He commented. The ball was tossed into the air, revealing his Zubat, which fluttered around wearily. Hades snuffed. This thing would be easy, and she could say that whether it was her or some of her other teammates facing it.

Carefully, Hades sat and waited for Joey's next move. Travis seemed to not to object to letting him switch, despite the ***** he was, and she didn't really care either way.
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Info

Sneasel was defeated!

[img src="http://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/f/f9/Spr_5b_228.png["]

Hades grew to Level 17 and gained +1 Happiness points! Hades wants to learn Bite, but already knows four moves. Delete a move and make room for Bite?

Hunter Travis sent out Zubat (Level 10)! Will you switch Pokemon?

[The REAL Joey]

The grateful stare imparted from the Sneasel to Joey tore at his heart strings. He winced painfully at seeing some emotion in the weasel's face aside from that of negativity. No matter what, he had to make sure this poacher was stopped at all costs. "Don't you dare try lecturing me on your sickeningly twisted view of the world. Huh. A realist you say you are? I bet you're just suffering from angst because your mother never hugged you." The poacher's words of the concept of strength were enough to push Joey over the edge. His eyebrow twitched manically. "Believe me, once this is over you'll have to reconsider things. So far your attempt at relying on pure strength has got you nowhere, whereas my tried and tested bonds with my own group has just pasted one of your team into submission."

Joey was trying his absolute best from losing it. All it would require is one more little provocation from the poacher and he would forfeit the match to launch his fist right into Travis' ugly mug. The inclusion of another Pokemon by the opponent angered Joe. "Don't you know when to quit? Your Sneasel could barely scratch me and I made sure to give that some rest by fainting it." As the flying bat Pokemon fluttered around half heartedly, Joey jeered at the poacher some more. "Look, that thing can barely even flee. Use your Pokemon like tools and not as individuals and you get nothing." With Hades now looking more ferocious than ever, Joe decided it best to continue using her. After all, it was the group of Houndour in the tree that seemed to be causing concern for the dog itself. "Let's keep the fires burning Hades, use Ember! I won't rest until i've stolen every Pokemon from you and torn up your trainer's card!" Joey yelled at Travis.

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OOC: Feel free to remove Leer for Bite thank you. There also seems to be a Roar there in brackets from when Nada didn't have time to update so if you could kindly remove that too i'd be really appreciative. Thanks!

[Kataya]

Travis listened as Joey continued to talk about his mistreatment of his Pokémon. He considered pointing out that he wasn’t the only one with a dirty job, but from the look on Joey’s face, he knew better than to carry on and on, or else it would have literally turned into a trainer battle. Instead he sneered at Joey, laughing a bit because he couldn’t help himself.

“I don’t really see the difference between trainers and poachers you know. You take them from their homes and families, do you not? Who knows, that probably had a whole family it had to leave behind because of some greedy-“He couldn’t finish as a snarl erupted from Hades. She was tired of this freak going on and on about his twisted version of right and wrong.

Hades didn’t give him any more leeway to speak, and threw her head back, letting the embers smolder in her throat before firing them at Zubat. The bat spazzed out, but soon was back where it could easily launch an attack at Hades.

“Leech life you damn Zubat!” Travis called, running the whip along the bat’s back. Zubat screeched and fired a needle that embedded itself into Hades skin. Hades let her claws dig into the ground, not finding the pain as horrible as it could have been. She watched the needle fall out and then waited for her next order from Joey.

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VS.

Travis's Zubat |Level 10|
Health: 52% (21/40HP)
Status: I'm a leech alright;Normal
Attack: A Successful Leech Life.

VS.

Joey's Hades |Level 17|
Health:81% (38/47HP)
Status:That you are...;Normal
Attack: A successful Ember.

[The REAL Joey]

It seemed the two had reached a mutual understanding. Both were so set in their ways that nothing the other said would change their deeply ingrained ways. Realising that talking to Travis about morality was exactly the same as talking to a brick wall, he sighed and looked at him. He was still angry, his expression more than made that clear but there was a small hint of pity in Joey's eyes. "How could anyone be so... So... Cruel? Maybe he's the kind who responds to being beaten violently... Argh...!" No matter which way he sliced it, there would always be some technicality Travis could use against him. His age old stance of the means justifying the ends was ringing ever clearer in his ears. "...Maybe I need to SINK to his level in order to set right his wrongs." Attacking Travis head on may not have been the morally right thing to do but perhaps a forceful persuasion was needed. He let out a resentful sigh at the complexity of the issue and realised the battle was not over.

The Zubat certainly had a trick or two up its wings and Leech Life was testament to this fact. What should have left the bat Pokemon on its last wings was waved off by the ability of siphoning the life out of Joey's own Pokemon. Slapping his forehead at forgetting the Zubat's mastery over such an ability, he looked down to his Hades as the needle used to suck the life out of her fell to the ground. "You still in the fight girl? Hang in there, just a little bit more..." His loyal hound gave him a curt stare into his eyes but proceeded to bark at Travis as the besieging cries of the trapped Houndour unnerved her. Joey flinched back a little at seeing the size of her fangs. "Daaamn..." It was upon then he realised there was another attack at his disposal. "Okay girl, I want you to Bite the Zubat when it becomes fatigued and flutters near to the ground. You can do this!" Joey looked over to Travis and smirked. "You forget, Pokemon aren't machines. They're living, breathing creatures. You can't just have it repeatedly perform the same task. You need to allow for rest. Which, might I add... Your Zubat desperately needs." He yelled out to Hades. "NOW HADES!"

[Kataya]

OOC: Normally for this, I would have Jenny show up, but since Joey is a Thief and probably doesn’t need the run in with the cops, I decided to let you stop him how you wanted, if that’s okay.


The Houndour that was trapped with her pups watched as Joe ordered Hades to bite. She was happy to see that someone was ready to help her and her pups, even if she had attacked him before. She hadn’t knew what came over her. The need to protect her children, that was possible. She finally relaxed in her crying out and pulled her ears back.

The battle was over the instant Hades sunk her teeth into the Zubat. The Zubat struggled but eventually went limp in Hades jaws. Hades had some pity and dropped the Zubat, giving it a break from her sharp teeth. Travis was sweating now… he was out of Pokemon.

“Agh…Stupid Zubat…” He recalled it quickly, and began to take off. The Houndour in the net eyed him and tried to get out, but she still couldn’t do so. She barked loudly, trying to tell Joey what he probably already knew. He had to do something to stop the poacher from escaping.

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Info

Hades has grown to Level 18 and gained +1 happiness,and you have received £1000 for winning, (Which Travis dropped in his haste to escape,) but besides all of that, you'd better stop that poacher!

[The REAL Joey]

OOC: Much obliged! I must admit, in the recent group RPs i've been in i've focused quite heavily on the whole being on the run aspect and this scenario actually offers something different. It also seems to fit in a lot better with what I envisaged happening.

BIC:

The next few moments unfolded in what seemed like mere nanoseconds. Joey's faithful Hades had skilfully subdued the flying Zubat pest and it had meant the end of the match for the duel between Joey and Travis. Not one to be naive about things and in believing that a horribly uncouth person like Travis wouldn't stick around, Joey darted off the moment the Zubat fainted and followed in Travis' wake. Although from years of honing his sprint from escaping from the long of arm of the law, this Travis seemed just that much faster. In a decisive twist, Joey realised that no amount of running would allow him to catch up with the poacher. For one, he was faster but the man seemed to know this dense forest like the back of his hand from working in the area. If he made it into the bushes Joey would lose all track of the man and that was something he could not and would not allow. This poacher needed to stand up to the severity of his actions.

As he came to a halt running, he instinctively looked around for something to bring the poacher to a halt. There was his truck but Joey had an inkling it was unusable from the state of it. There was a round cylinder in the back but that would nowhere reach in time. He about gave up when the opportunity presented itself as clear as day. On the floor was the whip Travis had used so ferociously when ordering his Pokemon. During his speedy exit he must've dropped it in haste. As Joey examined it, the tool seemed to be just the job. The reach should be far enough, there was only one way to find out. He grabbed it and took aim. "This better g'damn work...!" He launched his arm forward and with it the length of the whip as an extension of his arm. The whip lashed out and successfully accomplished what Joey had hoped for.

He pulled it back with all his might and let out a pretty smug laugh. "Hah, you ain't escaping. It's kinda ironic you'd be stopped by the one tool you came to rely on. C'mere!" Roared Joey as he gave the whip a brutish tug. At the other end of the whip was a certain poacher named Travis who had his arms tearing in futility at the whip which had coiled itself around his neck. Spluttering and turning alarmingly red, he submitted and came closer to Joe, lest he tugged any harder. Joey began leading him around like an animal. They moved around in a circular motion with Joey giving a good firm tug every now and then to make sure Travis was still with them. "So, what do you say? Not a very nice position to be in, huh?" He turned to face him directly. Travis was now wheezing from his neck being choked so thoroughly.

Joey grimaced slightly but managed to turn it into a rather disgusted smirk. "So... For everything you ever inflicted upon Pokemon..." He dashed himself forward, his spare fist now clenched as tight as possible. It came into collision with the poacher's jaw and sent his head flying off in the opposite direction. Joey then followed up with a one two motion of both of his fists, causing the man to fall to his knees. Tugging his face up with the whip Joey looked down and was seething with unbridled rage. "If I was a real heartless *****, i'd cut loose that net with all those Houndour you poached and let them savage you like the worthless worm you are but y'know what? I'm a real nice guy. So you'll have to deal with me instead." KLUNK. That was the only sound that could be heard as Joey launched his knee into the man's chest, knocking the wind out of him entirely.

With the poacher now lying bruised and beaten on the floor Joey loosened the whip's caress off the man's neck and stood back. "Here's a few lashing from your own Pokemon too." He sent the whip down like a mighty bolt of lightening; it struck across Travis' back in the same manner he had done to his Sneasel and Zubat. After two more strikes, Joey chucked the brutal tool to the floor and looked to Hades. "Burn it." His Pokemon obeyed and it wasn't long before the whip was up in flames from the use of Hades' Ember attack. Averting his gaze back to the pathetic man lying broken on the floor, he moved down to his level and picked him up by the scruff of his shirt. Joey moved in real closer and sternly looked into his eyes. "I hope for your sake we don't cross paths again. Unless you take heed of my little switcheroo experience for you and reform into a quaint little Pokefan of a trainer." He shrugged him back to the floor, confident he had gotten his point across. Resulting to violence was never his first choice but there were times when numbskulls like Travis where you had to speak to them on their level.

Turning his back to Travis, Joey straightened out his leather jacket and dusted himself down a little. "Sorry you had to see that kid." Murmured Joey as he approached Jimmy who had been witness to everything that had happened. The way Joey spoke was filled with the obvious regret in his voice. "Listen mate... I don't want you turning into that. Like he said... I'm..." He thought about Travis' words carefully. As similar and yet different as they were, the poacher had some ground to speak on. "I'm arguably just as bad as he is. But at the end of the day, i'm using my skills for the better. You're different you. You're just a kid, you're malleable, you have the best damn ability anyone can have. You're at an age where you can be ANYTHING." Joey let out a single laugh to himself and continued. "Make sure you follow something good y'hear?"

He nodded and proceeded to look up to the Houndour which had been tied up for so long. He was about to order Hades to burn the netting when he noticed a plump yellow figure at the top of the branch where the netting had been tied. Joey's face crumpled up as he realised who it was. "Awww Tubs... Get yer flabby rear end down from there. If you fall..." He turned to Jimmy and whispered jokingly. "Nah, he'd be fine. Just bounce back up." He shook his head and moved closer. "You untie the pack and i'll try to catch... Three, two, one... GO!" The Makuhita had somehow undone the knot and the group of Houndour landed in Joey's arms, causing him to fall on his back as he grabbed them. They began making their way out of the netting and seemed to be relieved at their new found freedom. Joey let out a sigh but was happy to see them free.

The group of Houndour all seemed so thoroughly happy to be out of that horrible trap and amongst one another once more. Joey stood back and took in the sight. It was these sort of moments that made his outlaw methods worth continuing. If he could rescue Pokemon from abusive trainers and hand them back to somewhere they could be happy with, it made everything okay in Joey's mind. The doubt planted by Travis of how similar they were seemed to almost blow away like dust in the wind. With the Houndour pack now safe for the time being Joey turned to Jimmy. "I think now the bee's out of their bonnet you won't be preyed upon for supper." He gave the kid a pat on the shoulder and smiled warmly. "You'll be ok heading back yourself right? I'm pretty much done here and feel like drifting about these parts." He recalled all of his Pokemon and slung his arms over his shoulder. As he walked off into the distance, Joey gave Jimmy a friendly thumbs up before disappearing out of sight. Another job well done.