<3
"Yes! Finally. let's....... GO!!" Seemingly at the same time, Adelina and Ciel's ears attuned to the near deafening roar, and recognized it immediately to be, (surprise surprise) Tai's voice. As the duo almost immediately awakened from their snooze, oddly at the exact same instant, Adelina peeled open a single golden iris, whilst both of Ciel's large, Chocolate eyes shot wide open. Turning to his trainer, he began to earnestly lap his tongue across her face, thinking her still asleep, and attempting to awaken her so they wouldn't be left behind.
<Wake up, sleeping beauty. Nap time's over. Mr. Boss over there says it's time to head off to the Viridian Forest..>
Adelina just emitted a soft groan, rolling over on her side, so that her slender back was to the tiny Eevee, and she was facing the high back of the worn-out Couch.
"I'm awake, Ciel.." She muttered, but her face portrayed otherwise, as her drooping eyelids again fell shut, and her mouth fell partially open to expel a quiet snore, a thin ribbon of saliva already beginning to roll down her chin. Ciel just sighed then, rolling his large eyes back into his head as quietly, he crouched down toward the cushion he was standing on. Baring the top of his head, he leapt into the back of his trainer, colliding with her in what was a gentler version of his "Tackle" attack, resorting to the only means he knew would really awaken her.
"HEY!" She cried out in an obvious instant rage mingled with surprise, leaping clumsily from her position on the Couch and stumbling uncontrollably across the hardwood floor, struggling to catch her balance, but failing miserably as her feet intertwined unknowingly with one another, and appearing as helpless as a lassoed calf, she toppled for what was the third time to the wooden floor. In one motion, Ciel arched his delicate little back, jumping and landing lightly upon the Pokemon Center floor, prancing over to stand above his trainer, lips curled upward in a playful smile.
<Come on, time's a wasting! I thought you wanted to catch another Pokemon for the team! Tai and Rin are leaving. You don't want to trek through the Viridian Forest, now do you?!>
At the mention of the Viridian Forest, Adelina broke instantly into a cold sweat, her forehead perspiring abruptly as her large, golden eyes shone with an eminent fear. Slowly, she shook her head back and forth, pulling herself up to her feet and quickly straightening out her mussed Sundress, murmuring to herself as she began to feel around for something. Carefully pulling Dexter from "his" squeezed postition in the tiny pocket, pressed tightly against her chest, she flipped him open, face shifting to display an obvious look of concern as his screen remained black, not shifting to the customary white squeen as he should have when she activated him.
"Ciel, I think you broke him!" Adelina exclaimed in obvious worry, rapidly beginning to press each and every button the Pokedex contained, not really knowing (or caring) what they were or what they did, just desperate to evoke a response, any kind of response out of the device.
<Oh darn.> Ciel responded with a bit of a bemused grin, short tongue poking out as snidely, he turned away from his trainer and her Pokedex, jealousy evident as he bent down, waggling his thick, shaggy tail at the little red device.
"Dexter!! Say something!" Adelina cried out, eyes swimming desperately with tears of confusion as furiously, she shook the device, holding him up to her face in what appeared to all the trainers watching her a dramatic gesture.
"You really need to consider moving me to a new location." The device spoke shortly, flashing green once as the screen finally appeared white, fuzzy at first, but then beginning to focus inward.
"I was practically suffocating! Can't I like, stay in your backpack? Or better yet, you can carry me around!!"
Adelina instantly relaxed then, shoulders untensing, loosening up, as she glanced back down at Ciel, flashing him the same playful smile he had flashed her before, rolling her eyes up in her head as she emitted a tiny little sigh, cocking her eyebrow upward to stare down at 'Dexter'.
"You don't even breathe!" She laughed, but choosing to respect the Pokedex's wishes, kept him in hand, strolling off toward the other two trainers who had paused in waiting for her just outside the Pokemon Center. There was a bit of a peppy bounce in the petite girl's step as she walked abreast with Tai and Rin, Ciel loping eagerly after her. A short walk later, and the three new trainers were lingering at what was the mouth of a particularly eery bug-ridden forest. Tai and Rin seemed to hold no hesistation in starting down the single dark, winding path, the only trail that would dare to sneak through the overgrown undergrowth of the forbidding forest. A sick feeling of dread embedded itself in the pit of her stomach, and as she made a face to match the sudden indecisiveness she was feeling. As Tai and Rin made their way down the narrow pathway, Ciel, who had already started after Rin, paused to look up at his halting trainer.
<What's wrong, Adelina?> He teased, winking down a chocolate eyes as again, his tongue wormed it's way out of his grinning mouth.
<Not scared of the little buggies crawling around on the Forest floor, are you? I thought you wanted to make some new friends!>
"Y..Yes." Adelina responded, clutching at her stomach as a bit unsurely, she took her first step onto the official dirt path. Her golden eyes swam with insecurity as the Forest, that seemed to her to be teeming with maliciousness and scheming unseen life, beckoned to her.
<You better hurry, before we're left behind! The only thing worse than one of those creepy-crawlies inching up your skirt is a creepy-crawly inching up your skirt with no one around to peel it off!! Now come on, they're leaving!> Ciel barked, bounding up to Adelina, arching his slender little back at the same time in preparation for a leap. Jumping into his trainer's slender arms, he stared up at her as she cast one final forlorn stare in the direction of Viridian city, then turned back toward the Forest, where Tai and Rin were moving rather rapidly down the trail, just turning around the bend as she started after them. Inhaling a deep breath, allowing the warm air to completely inflate her lungs before dispelling it in a slow, thin stream, Adelina tossed her head once, twin pigtails falling silently behind her bare shoulders as she broke into a sudden jog, hurrying after the other two trainers. Her two companions, unlike her, seemed enthralled with the mystery and beauty of the emerald forest. For awhile none of the three spoke, Tai and Rin taking in the beauty of the ancient towering trees, some old as time itself, crawling with moss and various other plants and fungi. Adelina, however, did not share in their delight. She walked, arms crossed securely around her thin chest, constantly wary of any bugs dropping down on here and touching her bare skin. It was dark, so physically locating the bugs with just her naked eyes was quite a task. In fact, for a Forest supposedly crawling with bugs, Adelina had only managed several glimpses of a couple of Weedle and Caterpie herselves. None of the bugs she had caught sight of had stayed around for long, though. Upon sight of the foreign Human beings, looking nothing like the Bug-catching trainers they were so accustomed to seeing, they had crawled away, obviously and rightfully fearful for their lives. Bug-type Pokemon, sadly enough, were unfairly judged by many trainers as being creepy and gross. Sadly, Adelina was one of these trainers guilty of it. Suddenly, caught off-guard in the midst of her thoughts, Adelina flinched harshly as one of these Bug-type Pokemon crawled out in their path.
"UGH!" She cried out without meaning to, golden eyes growing wide in dimension as she clapped two hands over her mouth, stumbling backward away from the creature, doing her best not to scream. Neither Tai nor Rin seemed fazed at the least, however, as the worm wiggled up to the trio and flashed them what appeared to be a friendly grin. Ciel earnestly peered forward, ducking between Adelina's folded arms in an attempt to get a better look at the little creature. He stretched his mouth open, the corners of his lips twisting upward into a transfixed little smile, inhaling a deep breath in preparation to call out to the creature, that is until Adelina clapped a firm hand over his mouth.
"Ciel, don't talk to it!!" She hissed quietly, seemingly paranoid that the repulsive Pokemon would hear her. To anyone watching, the sight was quite a humorous one, as while her left eye twitched uncontrollably, giving her an almost 'criminally insane' appearance
"It may.. look friendly.." She mumbled, eye continuing to spasm of it's own accord.
"But as soon as you get close enough, it'll completely.. TURN ON YOU!! You'll be encased in all that sticky gross white goo, and won't be all to escape. You won't be able to BREATHE, much less move. Then it will rob you for all you're worth, and leave you there.. stranded in the middle of the dark, lonely forest.. TO DIE."
Ciel squirmed desperately away from his frantic trainer, leaping from within her arms before she could lock him in another one of her death grips, and once landing upon the ground, darting a safe distance away from her. Swiveling fiercely around to face her, he cast Adelina an irritated glare.
<He's a Pokemon, for christ's sakes!! What use would he have for your stupid green paper money! And not only that, but they're not fierce bloodthirsty creatures, like you clearly think. Either SOMEONE has been giving you false information..> Ciel paused momentarily to avert his glare to the silent red device still clasped tightly within Adelina's frail hands..
<Or better YET, no information at all! Why don't you set her straight, Dexter?! We all know you want out of here ASAP, but unless you want to listen to her senseless rants ALL through the remainder of this trip, I SUGGEST YOU TELL HER THE TRUTH!!> Ciel barked loudly, to which a large sweatdrop rolled immediately down alongside Adelina's face. Her little pint-sized companion was ticked about something, most likely his trainer's obvious ignorance and predjudice on the subject of Bug Pokemon, and she hated the thought that anyone, much less her best friend be upset with her.
"Alright, Dexter. Serve me up.." She muttered feebly, offering Ciel a tiny smile, a signal of a small peace offering, and the little Evolution Pokemon nodded curtly in approval. Dexter flashed once, green.
"Caterpie: The Worm Pokemon. It is covered with a green skin.." Dexter began matter-of-factly.
"When it grows, it sheds the skin, covers itself with silk, and becomes a cacoon. Its short feet are tipped with suction pads that enable it to tirelessly climb slopes and walls.."
"Lovely.." Adelina laughed extravagantly, wearing a plastered-on smile that was way to big for her face, all the while nervously staring at the Caterpie. Her ivory skin had since become coated in a thin film of cold sweat, and wiping it from her brow, she hesitantly began to approach the worm Pokemon. Before she could extend her slender hand more than a few inches, however, the Caterpie raised up, opening his tiny maw, spraying forth what was an enormous pile of sticky string shot all over Rin and Adelina.
"Cowyee?!" The thing laughed, and as it did, Adelina let out a shrill shriek. Clawing desperately at her now masked face, sticky with white goo, Adelina completely lost it when the gunk only stuck that much more, clinging to her skin and preventing her from seeing.
"See Ciel?! What did I tell you?! That Demon Pokemon. It.. IT..It SPRAYED ME!! I won't be able to last much longer.. Just go on without me!" Adelina collapsed to the ground then, wildly pawing at her face as her tiny Eevee then bounded worriedly up to her, jumping into her lap and clamping his teeth firmly upon the clinging mask, trying unsucessfully to pull it off of her face.
"VEE!" He roared at the Caterpie, mouth stretching wide open as he glared disdainfully down at the Bug Pokemon.
<What'd you do that for?! Now never hear the end of it!>
Meanwhile, Tai was going into hysterics. And whilst Adelina was trying to pry the sticky goo from her face, he burst into laughter, practically rolling in the dirt as the two girls struggled with getting it off of their faces.
"Charco, Gee, help them out!" He finally ordered, inbetween laughter, and Adelina practically fainted with relief when the tiny Lizard-like Pokemon waddled over and began using a gentler version of his "Scratch" attack to try and pry the web off. When that proved unsuccessful, the Pidgey sweatdropped, deciding to take matters into his own hands. Letting loose a powerful gust directed in the girls' direction, Adelina could barely keep herself rooted on the ground as the powerful wind attack blistered past she and Rin. The attack did do the trick, however, and finally, they were both rid of the dishusting bug mucus. Unfortunately, though, Adelina's hair hadn't fared as well. Her long, shininh mane of silver tendrils, previously tucked neatly down against her thin chest, now stood up at all ends, all seemingly trying to escape their common root, Adelina's head that held them bound to it. Random, stray strands and locks had escaped her satiny ribbons, and Adelina couldn't do a thing besides sigh, and gingerly extract them from the matted mess her hair had become.
"Tai, I WILL hurt you! You can almost GUARANTEED that!" The girl barked, and remembering his delight in their obvious distress, Adelina chuckled lightly to herself in the slightest. In a rage, Rin then whirled around to direct an accusing index finger at the Caterpie.
"I will make sure.. that you have a nice LONG rest at the Pokemon Center."
At this, Adelina's grin only widened at Rin's fury. She hung back, half-hoping that the girl would do something interesting, hurl a rock at the two culprits, or even better, finally throw out the Bulbasaur Adelina had yet to catch sight of. Did it now Sleep powder? Maybe Stunspore.. Either attack would be a quick fix to the girls' current "nuisances". That would show them for making a mockery out of her one true fear..
"Hey there, big trainers!" A voice sounding just slightly less than matured, caught somewhere between childhood and adolescence announced, and forgetting immediately about the previous situation, Adelina clutched plucked Ciel from her lap, holding him gently against her chest as she rose from the dusty dirt path. With a blink of her wide, golden eye, she stared curiously at the creature.. Er, person, standing just feet before her. He appeared to be Human, but camoflauged in earthen tones of browns and greens, accompanied by a wide straw-brimmed hat, his outfit topped finally off with a trademark pair of horn-rimmed glasses and butterfly net, he appeared to be a morph between the Pokemon he caught, and a typical person.
"Big?!" Adelina exclaimed, self-consciously eyeballing her thin figure.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Hey." Tai spoke. "You one of those Bug Catchers?"
<No, he's quite obviously a giddy little School girl, can't you tell by the knee-long shorts?!>
"Ciel.." Adelina laughed appreciatively at the Eevee's words, though after she called out his name, she wondered why she had even said it in the first place. It wasn't like any of the others could even understand what he was saying.. A shame they couldn't.
"My name is Bug Catcher James.. But heck, that's not why I came here. I wanted to ask you three if you'd like to battle with me and my friends, we've been watching you for awhile now-"
"So you're a stalker?! I should report you to the Police!!" Rin exclaimed, launching into yet another of her rants. Adelina chuckled, seemingly amused for the time-being, keeping quiet in hopes that the girl would continue on.
"Oh, Mr. Policeman.." Rin started in a saccharine voice laced with sweetness, and a tad of mischief. Her pastel eyes sparkled as they danced playfully, locked on the now nervous-looking Bug Catcher. He shifted, and this was all the inspiration she needed to continue.
"Bug Catcher James was stalking me! Please put him in jail!" Rin whined, and the younger boy began to look edgier and edgier by the second. Adelina laughed aloud, clapping her pale hands together in applause for the short performance. She and Rin exchanged brief glances of amusement with one another, before James again spoke.
"No. But I see you're friends here are Buggers.."
"Buggers?!" Tai and Rin demanded in unison, their jaws simultaneously dropping, one right after the other as James only crossed his arms and smirked.
B..Bugger?! Adelina thought warily, thoughtfully bringing a slender pinky to her plump lips as an image of the Bug Catcher popped into her mind, a finger enlodged within his pdgy little nose. After wiggling it around for several minutes, the boy finally pulled it out to reveal.. two miniaturized slimy, green versions of Rin and Adelina.
Agh! Adelina thought inwardly, a sweatdrop rolling down alongside her face as warily, she stared at the Bug Catcher. Her face had turned red with obvious humiliation, and raising a slender hand to wipe at her brow, she found that her entire skin had suddenly developed a thin film of cold sweat atop it.
"WE ARE NOT BUGGERS!!" She roared, more out of embarrassment than anger, or anything else. Ciel just let loose a tiny sigh at his trainer's ludicrous assumption. Obviously, she wasn't informed on the subject of Bug-Catcher lingo. But then again.. who actually was?
"Vee." He replied testily to James' accusation, narowing his chocolate eyes at the younger boy as he bared his sharp, pearly canines, a low growl emitting from his throat.
"They're one of those people bugs take an instant hating toward.." The Bug Catcher explained, a snide smile twisting across his lips as he cocked a bushy eyebrow at the two girls, who had just seconds ago been sprayed by one, seemingly proving his harsh accusation true. He was right for the most part, about Adelina at least. She couldn't stand even the thought of bug-type Pokemon, and they in turn had always made sure to cause trouble for her when she was anywhere around. It was practically a curse. Adelina just smiled good-naturedly, shrugging her shoulders at the brash boy. If he thought that he was going to get her goat by telling her that she was hated by all things slimy, he was sadly mistaken. He had had a better chance of luring the girl into a rage by calling her snot. Unlike Adelina, Rin seemed obviously offended by his thoughtless remarck. Surprisingly enough, even though this had not a thing to do with him, Tai seemed upset by the comment as well.
"Joy." He snapped, eyes narrowing just seconds after the crude statement erupted the obnoxious boy's mouth.
"THAT'S IT, KID!! YOU'RE GETTING ON MY NERVES!!" Tai shouted, seemingly out of the blue. Adelina sweatdropped. She understood now. Tai hadn't really cared, and Adelina suspected hadn't really been paying attention at that, to anything James was saying. He was just itching for his first battle.
With a smile, the Bug Catcher waved him off.
"Okay. I'll battle you, while my friends battle your friends."
Oh great. Adelina sighed. There's more of these creeps lurking around this Forest? Tugging at the hem of her pastel shirt, the girl glanced uneasily around, searching for these so-called "friends" of James'. Not far down the winding dirt path that the trio had traversed all the way through the Viridian Forest up until this point, stood two trainers, appearing almost identical to James in appearance save for slight variations in clothing and hair styles.
"God, I hope their Pokemon have more variety than they all do.." She thought, letting out a heavy sigh as reluctantly, she trudged up to the last trainer in line, one who was dressed in a Khaki vest and short trousers, a red bandana sporting a strange Butterfree silhouette design on it. Unlike the other two, he wore a wide-brimmed hat, though the Bug-catching net and thick, horn-rimmed glasses were still evident features.
"Okay, Ciel! I choose you!" Adelina squealed, the sparkle finally returning to her being as she came to the sudden realization that this was her first official battle. Tai and Rin hadn't wasted time, and were progressing nicely through their own individual fights, so Adelina figured that it was her time to shine.
<Duh, you choose me.> Ciel barked as he leapt daintily from the slender girl's arms, winking a chocolate eye down at her playfully, and then whipping around fiercely to face the likes of Bug Catcher "Rick". Adelina wouldn't have known his name this early in meeting him, had it not been stitched clearly across the front pocket of his tight Khaki vest.
<It's not like you have any other Pokemon to choose from, silly!> Ciel laughed, his chuckles ringing out loud and clear across the meadow in which the three were now battling.
"I know, I know!" Adelina hissed, momentarily spitting out frustration at him.
"But i've always wanted to say it! Just roll with me on this one, okay Ciel?!"
<Aye aye, Captain!> The Eevee responded, ducking low to the ground, crouching as his back simultaneously arched in a battle-stance, signaling his ready for battle.
"Cute Pokemon." The trainer laughed, and as he tossed a glance for the first time over to Adelina, the sunlight beaming directly down upon the two glinted off the metal rims of his glasses, and shone into her eyes.
"Too bad it's going to get crushed. Pokemon like your Eevee aren't meant for battle. They're just pets. They may look good and all, but they can't stand up to real Pokemon like my Metapod! Go, Wormy!"
"Gawd, Do all nerd trainers name their Caterpies Wormy?!" Adelina retorted, a smirk of her own passing over her pouty lips. A bit bemused, she folded her arms across one another, staring the opposing trainer down as he tossed an enlarged Pokeball out into the air, the spherical device twirling rapidly as it hung, suspended in thin air for a brief moment, before it plummeted to the ground, bursting open in a flash of white light as the silhouette of a new Pokemon appeared.
"Metapod: The Cocoon Pokemon. Even though it is cased inside the sturdy shell, the body inside is tender. It can't withstand a harsh attack.."
"That's it, Ciel!" Adelina cried out, practically glowing down at the little Eevee as she momentarily forgot about Dexter, though he had been barely halfway through the Metapod's data.
"AHEM!" The device cried out loudly, much to Adelina and Rick's astonishment.
"Wasn't finished here? There's more on this weird-looking thing, so just hold your Ponytas.." Dexter explained.
"Okay. Sorry..." Adelina smiled apologetically, patting the Pokedex lightly. "Proceed."
"Hey, what do you mean by weird-looking?!" The Bug Catcher shouted across the distance seperating the two trainers, his face contorting into what was an expression of obvious anger.
"Metapod is practically normal compared to that freaky-looking thing. What is it supposed to be, anyways?! Is it a dog or a cat?!!"
"This Pokemon is vulnerable to attack while it's shell is soft, exposing its weak and tender body.." Dexter finished, exhaling loudly at the end of his little speech. He had practically been drowned out among the combined shouting of both trainers.
"Why do I even bother?" He muttered aloud to himself.
"Okay, Ciel! You heard Dexter! All we have to do is attack him while his shell is soft, and we have this battle in the bag. Not much he can do besides-"
"Harden!" Came the surprisingly calm, collected command of the other trainer. Barely revealing any emotion upon his long face, the Metapod just squeezed his eyes shut, seemingly concentrating on whatever it was that he was being ordered to do.
"Hey! I didn't say the battle was starting!!" Adelina shouted out angrily, obviously peeved that she (and Ciel) had lost valuable time.
"Shouldn't have been standing around chatting. First rule of battling: Keep your mind on the battle. Nothing else going on at the moment is important. Even just a few seconds at the beginning will cost you, as you're now going to learn the hard way.."
"Oh yeah?!" Adelina inquired, pointing a finger down to her little Evolution Pokemon.
"Ciel, Tail whip now! Hurry and lower his defense!" Adelina ordered, and was pleased to see her little Eevee sprinting toward the Cocoon Pokemon long before the words had even left her mouth. Turning his rear toward the Metapod, Ciel rapidly began waggling his large, bushy tail in the face of it, grinning ecstatically over Adelina's way as the Metapod crossed his eyes in surprise, beginning to grow dizzy from the unexpected movement.
"Wormy, Hard no-"
"Quick, tackle him Ciel! Go for his heart! Remember?! That's where he's weakest!"
"Vee!" The Eevee nodded obediently, lowering his head, and pausing for only a split second to stare into the eyes of the Metapod, locking his liquid irises upon the Cocoon Pokemon's own, savoring the fear the other Pokemon held in them before lowering his head and delivering a powerful tackle attack to its chest, sending it sliding across the meadow grass. The Metapod scuffed up various plants and flowers as his body slammed ever deeper within the dirt, scraping harshly against it before he collided against his bewildered trainer, sending them both crashing to the ground.
"Not bad for just a little powderpuff, huh?" Adelina asked, the corners of her lips twisting upward into a surprised little smile. That had actually been.. fun! And not as difficult as she had expected.
"Come here, Ciel!" She called out, kneeling to the ground and holding her arms out, wide open to the little Eevee.
"Vee!!" Ciel squealed, letting loose a tired little sigh before lowering his head, and sprinting across the meadow to eagerly leap into the arms of his trainer.
"You were amazing, Ciel! We won!! Can you believe it?"
<Actually, yes, I can..> Ciel giggled, making no attempts to be modest whatsoever.
<I knew we could take 'em, even before I knew what Pokemon he was going to throw out!> The little Eevee nuzzled affectionately against Adelina's face, and she in turn burrowed her beaming face deep within his fur. Adelina arose then, standing from her crouched position on the ground, and brushing away several stray blades of grass that had fallen upon the fron of her skirt. Standing around and scanning the area, she noticed Tai and Rin standing just a few feet nearby. They had been watching the battle. Blushing just a bit for making them have to wait, Adelina scurried over to the duo, eager to find out if their battles had proved just as successful as her own.
OOC: Finally, Fin! Which means that this RP won't die now. Woot. >D If you want, GP, you can post sometime later in the week to catch your Caterpie. We'll just take turns posting every once in awhile I guess, until Charizard can take over again. ^^;
