ITT: We are all Pokémon Trainers

Shall we head out, then? -looks over at Katie, who is still asleep. Her other Pokemon have let themselves out of their balls, and are currently just chilling out on/around her and Lifealope-

- Nods -

Yeah, let's go.

-leaves a note for Katie, saying that we'll be back, then heads out with DS-

So, where do we begin?

Perhaps we should walk the route system, so we can check everyone. We can fly home at the end of the day, then fly back in the morning.

- Nods -

Sounds like a plan to me!

-smiles, takes her hand, and sets out-

- Follows Wolf -

Pokémon Battle Simulator A-2 - PEFE HQ

Upon hearing that the PEFE was equipped with a state of the art holographic Pokemon battling simulator (Based on technology developed in the Orre region), Flare was eager to give it a try, and had convinced Wulfric to come and see it with her.

However, the Lucario was far too busy to worry about his pack in Unova to watch as she fought against a holographic Alakazam. Although he was slightly worried that it would prove too difficult for her to handle, the Blaziken had told him that "It wouldn't be any fun if it wasn't a challenge", and had proceeded to set the AI on the hardest difficulty.

That being said, she was equally matched with her holographic opponent, despite the type disadvantage.

Holographic Alakazam♂: Playing file: Taunt4.OOG: <You fight like a Miltank farmer!>

The virtual Alakazam's eyes glow as it prepares to assult Flare with Telekinetic force. However, he finds himself being kicked hard between the eyes by a High Jump Kick from his much more real opponent, disrupting his concentration.

Flare: <How appropriate, you fight like a Miltank.>

Quickly executing the Recovery.exe file, the Alakazam raises his spoons and launches a Psybeam at the flaming chicken, who easily dodges by leaping several feet into the air.

<One spicy chicken leg, coming up! Hold the Onion Rings!>

Smiling to herself, the Blaziken sets her leg a-blaze, then swings it down at the Alakazam, only to have it blocked with a hastily erected Reflect.

<Oh, you are crafty for a bunch of zeros and ones...>

Flare could have sworn she saw the holographic Psychic type smirk at her as he grabbed hold of her with his Psychic power, then flung her away, the Fire Type chicken slamming against the arena's far wall.

<...Ow...>

Dropping down to the floor, the she winched in pain before turning her attention to Wulfric, who was watching in the stands at the edge of the arena. Or at least, she thought he was. Instead, he was slumped over, not paying much attention.

<HEY!>

The canine Pokémon jumped, startled at Flare's voice. Quickly realizing she had seen him barely paying any attention, he lowered his head to avert his gaze from the bird, seemingly very embarrassed.

With a sigh, Flare shoots a glance at the Alakazam hologram, who appeared to be preparing another attack while she was distracted.

<Okay, time out!>

Reacting to her command, the virtual Pokémon froze in place, seemingly suspended in time. Now sure that she wouldn't be ganked while her back was turned, the Flare trots over to Wulfric, a somewhat concerned look on her face.

<What gives? I thought you wanted to watch?>

Wulfric continues to stare at the floor for a few more seconds, then finds the courage to meet her gaze again, before speaking to her in a small, seemingly rarely used voice that would have been almost inaudible had the two not been in close proximity.

Wulfric: <I'm sorry...I was...just thinking about my pack...>

Flare: <Oh, you mean those mons in the Challanger's Cave where Luke caught 'ya?>

Wulfric nods, a frown crossing his face at the thought.

Wulfric: <I'm worried that they might not be able to cope with the cold weather...>

With a sigh, he slumps over, resting his head on his paws as he gazes into the middle distance, a concerned expression etched onto his face.

Flare shook her head at this, pressing a talon up to her forehead as she shut her eyes briefly, trying to think of how to cheer her friend up. Emotional issues were not a field she excelled in.

Flare: <Maybe they'll be fine? I hear it gets really cold in Unova during the winter, after all.>

Wulfric turns his head slightly to look at the Blaziken, still looking rather downcast.

Wulfric: <This is completely unexpected, though. They wouldn't have had time to prepare being caught off-guard like this.>

Flare: <Oh...I see.>

Not sure how to proceed from that statement, she goes over and sits down next to the metal jackel, reaching down to pat him affectionately on the back with a talon.

<Come on, it can't be that bad. Your pack's probably been through worse, AND they have a lovely warm...dark, dank cave to hide in.>

She couldn't help but feel disgusted at the thought of this. Eurgh, who in their right mind would want to live in a dump like that?

Wulfric: <...I can tell what you're thinking, you know.>

...Drat. She kept forgetting that he could do that. To try and save face, Flare quickly tries to change the subject.

Flare: <Come on, you know as well as I do that you Lucario's are tough stuff. It would take more than a bit of unexpected cold to take you down, right?>

Wulfric bit his lip, mulling the thought over. He had been through some harsh winters when he was a pup, but they had always pulled through, if not without a little bit a trouble.

...Perhaps he was getting worried over nothing?

Wulfric: <...I suppose you might be right.>

Smiling to herself, Flare rubs the Lucario's head affectionatly, happy to see him feeling better, if just a little bit.

Flare: <There, nothing to worry about. Now, how about you come down and practice with me? Kicking things in the face always makes me feel better when I'm down in the dumps.>

Wulfric sits up and rubs the back of his head with a paw, not if violence would really make him feel better...and slightly worried that was how Flare dealt with her frustrations.

Wulfric: <...I'll pass, thanks.>

Flare shrugs in response, then hops over the railings, striding back into the arena to continue facing off against the still frozen Alakazam.

Flare: <Suit yourself, I guess.>

Twinleaf Town (?)

Rex: *sleeping*

Sunyshore City

Kim: *also sleeping*

Canon!Rex: *has left for other parts*

Cherrygrove City

-Has been walking around with the team-

-Remaining quiet-

<Andre: "...">

-Aside-

<Iggy: "... Is he doing alright, Tracer?">

"... It doesn't look like it... And he doesn't want to tell me why..."

<Bottles: "Hey... What's going on?">

<Andre: "... I'm just not feeling that good today...">

<Bottles: "Maybe training a bit would help you?">

<Andre: "... No. What could I possibly do that anyone else can't?">

<Bottles: "Oh... So you're looking to pick up some things out of the ordinary... Well... I can help with that...">

<Andre: "... You can?">

<Bottles: "Yeah, with Sarge, I was always teaching others how to do new things... I mean, what good is hitting like a train if your moves are as predictable as the moon's cycles?">

-Thinking-

<Andre: "... Huh? Predictable? But... Isn't being strong what matters?">

<Andre: "... I'm not sure I understand...">

<Bottles: "I've always had a knack for be able to teach things when I was with Sarge, even if he didn't like me much. And I'm pretty sure that I'd be able to do the same for you... In return for a few things.">

<Andre: "... Like what?">

-Sketching a pair of musical notes into the dirt-

<Bottles: "These.">

<Andre: "... Dots and sticks?">

<Bottles: "No, notes. They're the building blocks of every song that you can think of. Bring me some of these, and I'll teach you a few things that you might find useful.">

-Thinking-

<Andre: "... This is dumb... What on earth could I possibly learn from him?">

<Andre: "... I'll keep it in mind.">

PEFE HQ - Battle Simulators

-A certain female Lucario has come in-

<Audrey: "Oh! There you are! Should have figured that you'd be here, since it's where Flare is all the t-">

-And notices the frozen battle-

<Audrey: "... Isn't pausing the battle simulator like that to get an edge defeating the purpose of using it? Not that it's not cathartic sometimes...">

edited 14th Apr '12 1:21:49 PM by TracerBullet

-Can hear Tracer up ahead-

I think that's him.

At the accusation of pausing her battle to gain an edge, Flare shoots Audrey a glare.

Flare: <Hey! I only had it on pause to talk to Wulfric! Sheesh, you try having a conversation while you're getting thrown around with Psychic...Okay, RESUME!>

The Alakazam hologram returns to life, it's eyes beginning to glow as it attempts to pick Flare up with Pyshic again. Wulfric, however, is uninterested in the battle, instead getting up to go and talk to Audrey, a-bit somewhat shyly.

Wulfric: <Hello, Audrey. Haven't spoken to you for a while. Um...did you need me for something?>

Schrodinger's Street Corner - Cherrygrove

<Shaun: "Oh! Hello, Tagg!">

"... Wait, Dr. Tagg i-"

-And turns around to notice Tagg and company-

-Waving-

"Oh! Good afternoon!"

PEFE HQ - Battle Simulators

-Noticing Flare's match in the background-

<Audrey: "Hmm... I would have thought that it was a better idea to play ranged against mons you're weak t- Oh, sorry about that, Wulfric... I was a bit distracted. I was looking for you because I got signed up to lead some shenanigans in Sinnoh by Tracer for some reason and was supposed to look for mons that would be helpful.">

Wulfric: <Oh, I see...>

The Lucario raises a paw to his chin, rubbing it thoughtfully.

<Well...what is it that you need help with? Did Tracer give you any information about that?>

Meanwhile, in the background, the Holographic Alakazam holds Flare aloft with his Psychic powers. Seemingly not finding this an issue, the Blaziken takes the opportunity to kick him in the face.

Flare: <What's the matter, pal? Don't have the programming to keep hold of me?>

-roaming-

PEFE HQ - Battle Simulators

<Audrey: "Oh that's going to turn out well... If she could, that would be the perfect opportunity to use Dar- Right... So apparently Tagg wound up promising some Lucario in Sinnoh some new packmates, and Tracer needed some mons to fill in for that temporarily while he tries to get ahold of others to stay there permanently...">

-Shifting a bit-

<Audrey: "It's not something that I ever would have signed up for especially since Shaun won't be around to serve as a field generator, but it apparently needs to be done... And I was wondering if you'd happen to be interested in it.">

Hey Tracer. I came down here to ask how the whole Lucario thing is going.

Pica: -Looks directly at Andre- <Wait a second, I remember you.>

- Walking around with Wolf, holding a notebook and a pencil so I can make some notes as we check up on things -

So, should we just knock on doors?

Wulfric: <Oh, a pack in Sinnoh?>

Now this was relevant to his interests. Perhaps they might have some knowledge of how to survive in cold conditions that he could share with his own pack?

That said, it sounded dangerous. Sinnoh wasn't the most pleasant place to live. What with the cold weather and rough terrain...

<Hmm...I don't know. It sounds a bit rough for me. Even in the coldest winters, things were never as rough for me in the wild as they were in Unova...>

In the background, Flare finally manages to break free of the Alakazam's grip, before blasting it with a Flamethrower attack, finally managing to defeat the artificial Pokémon.

Holographic Alakazam♂: Play file: Defeat7.OGG. <ARGH! I've been bested...> Terminating program: Alakazam♂.exe

The Pokémon plays an over-dramatic fainting animation, then disappears with a flash of light. Felling rather proud, if slightly warn out, Flare jogs over to the two Lucario, grinning proudly.

Flare: <Ha, did you see that? I totally thrashed him on the hardest difficulty!

...

...You weren't paying attention, were you?>

Wulfric: <...Sorry...>

- Shrugs -

I suppose.

Cherrygrove City - Shrodinger's Street Corner

<Zoltan: "He's been playing with a lot of papers! They fly around if you flap your wings near them!">

"... It's been a bit of a mixed bag, Dr. Tagg... The good news is that I'll be able to get some mons up there fast..."

-To Pica-

<Andre: "... Huh? Oh wait... I think I've seen you before...">

-Thinking-

<Andre: "... Isn't this the jerk who went on and on about how perfect she was?">

-Quietly shuffling a bit, responding in an earnest manner that he will probably come to look down upon in a few hours-

<Andre: "... Um... How have you been doing?">

Oh great.

-Notices Bottles-

I see you have a new teammate.

Pica: -To Andre- <Fine.>

-Sniffs Andre for a second-

<I see that idiot who used to have the lisp is around here too.>

-Growls-

<I ought to be evolved by now, then I could easily vanquish that monkey.>

Cherrygrove City

Eskay and co. wander around the city aimlessly. After an indefinite amount of time, Wilbur has chased his pearl down 2 separate streets, cars have sent mud into the group's faces at least twice, and Alli got a DVD of the complete first season of Valiant Knight Skarmory.

edited 14th Apr '12 2:33:22 PM by Eskay64