[PKMN FULL] Yet Another Pokémon Story - A Johto/Kanto Adventure [T/IC]

Johto. A land of adventure, history, and promise. Home to beautiful landmarks and scenery, Johto is a popular tourist attraction and an enjoyable place to live. There's even the nearby Kanto region, where you can explore as well.
The most popular attraction in not just Johto, but in most regions, is the Gym Challenge. Many trainers aspire to be "the very best, like no one ever was" as the legendary Kantonian pop singer, Jason Paige would say. But some trainers take a different path, whether it be Contests, Breeding, or just exploration.

But there's also evil in this prosperous country. Ever since two months ago, the infamous Team Rocket has risen from the shadows; stealing and selling Pokémon, even going as low as using them for experiments or for forced labor. No one really knows what their ultimate goal is.

ImMrRoboto as Jason Lake Sharp

FireSnow as Tony "Shadow" O'Shea

LinearAxel as Harper "Harp" Leon

Strikit as Arden Daley

Jegretis as Garrett Brown

dud190 as Gordon Aranash

Disclosed as Emberlyn Noirceur

ShaymieTheShaymin as Rowan "Ro" Carson

Royal as Rayne Visceron

Cobalt XIV as Acelin "Ace" Noisetier

Welcome to Ecruteak City. Home to many historical attractions such as the Kimono Dance Theater, The Burned Tower, and what most trainers come here for, The Ecruteak Gym. Sadly he's not here at the moment, he went to go take care of some business. In the meantime, you can go and train in the nearby routes if you like?

The Ecruteak City Gym - While the gym leader isn't there at the moment, you could still scope the place out, right?

The Burned Tower - The ash and remains of a burned down, once-majestic tower, said to be the resting grounds of the legendary Pokémon Lugia and where Entei, Raikou, and Suicune were created.

Bellchime Trail - A relatively short trail connecting Ecruteak City to Bell Tower. With it's beautiful Autumn leaves that stay like that year round, it's a nice place for some people people to relax.

Bell Tower - A copy of The Burned Tower, but completely intact. It is said to be the resting grounds of the legendary Pokémon Ho-Oh. It is considered a place of high sanctity among people in Johto, and not everyone is qualified to enter it.

The Kimono Dance Theater - Where the Kimono Girls battle and dance. They put on shows every other night. Their graceful moves make them a famed group in Johto. Speaking of the Kimono Girls...

The Kimono Dancers are giving out an Eevee to trainers who can beat all seven of them in a row!

Reward: I already said that it was an Eevee. (Level 5)

The Gym Leader is away? Someone should go look for him and bring him back to the Gym!*
Reward: None. Deal with it.

And back to the Kimono Girls. Sakura (not the anime one), the youngest and eighth Kimono Girl is missing! According to her sisters, she's been gone for hours.*
Reward: Heal Ball (x2), ¥500

*I think it would be best if you guys claimed the one man/one group quests in the OOC. The Eevee event is available to everyone.

Route 36 is a pretty small route with an abundance of unique Pokémon. Connecting Route 37 to Ecruteak, many trainers stop by here.

Fire! For an unknown reason, fires are constantly starting throughout the route. We need someone to get to the bottom of this.
Reward: Red Apricorn, Blue Apricorn, Black Apricorn, ¥100

Sunny, a young girl, wants to partake in a double battle with two other trainers, but her Plusle isn't strong enough. Help her out, would ya?
Reward: Magnet, ¥100

Jason stuck out his toungue as he concentrated on the computer screen. Inputting and programming. A function here, an array there.
Rose, his sister, and Riley, his Riolu, are already sound asleep in the bedroom; and here he was, clacking away on the keyboard. "Almost there" he told himself for the thousandth time, but this time he meant it. He was almost finished with what he called the PokéGauntlet, a tablet-like item attached to a long, fingerless leather glove, covering his entire forearm; when activated, the tablet displayed a holographic screen that displayed the data that he recorded. He looked at the clock at his timer.
Gosh, it's 1:30 already? Time really flies. he thought to himself. I really should get some sleep.
He shut everything down and climbed into bed and fell asleep instantly.

The next morning wasn't really eventful. Jason got up, made breakfast, packed his backpack and left for work.
On the way to Professor Elm's Laboratory, Jason heard rustling in his bag.
"What's in my bag?" he wondered. He opened his bag and there was the Riolu.
"Riley?" said Jason. The Riolu climbed up his arm and perched himself onto Jason's shoulders.
"Looks like I'm gonna need to make a trip to the Mart," he said.

Jason walked out of the Pokémart with a new Pokéball in hand. I've never had one of these before, he excitedly thought. He lightly tapped Riley's head with the Pokéball. Riley's glowed and transformed into a mass of light that entered the Pokéball. It shook in Jason's hand.
*shake*
*shake*
*shake*
*click*
Jason felt a sense of satisfaction and glee at the last click. He strolled along and absentmindedly glanced at his watch. "Oh no. I'm late!" he exclaimed.

Ten minutes later he arrived at the Lab, sweating and panting.
"You're late." Elm said.
"Yeah," Jason gasped, "I lost track of time."
"Well luckily for you, there's no field work today."
"Really?"
"I need you to head to Ecruteak City."
"How come?"
"I need you to retrieve an egg for me from Morty."
"The Gym Leader?"
"Exactly. As you know, I'm currently studying the Amorphous Egg Group. So I called and asked for a Gastly egg. Hmm..." the Professor checked his watch, "I believe the bus arrives in two hours? You should really get packing, and no dilly dallying this time!"


Jason and Rose took their seats in the bus headed for Ecruteak City.
"The ride should be about a couple of hours." mumbled Jason, fumbling inside his bag.
"Isn't there a Gym is Ecruteak?" asked Rose.
"Yeah. That's where we're headed actually." Jason replied.
"You gonna do the challenge?"
"Sadly no, I'm gonna pick up an egg for the Professor."
"I think you should try. It'll be fun!" she replied. She pulled her book out of Jason's backpack and started reading.
Should I? pondered Jason, I guess it wouldn't hurt to battle him? We're gonna be in Ecruteak for a day or two anyway.
"Hey Rosie, wake me up when we stop, okay?"
"Mmkay" she grumbled.

"Ah, Ecruteak." Jason said. He breathed in the cool air.
"Wow!" Rose marveled, "It's so pretty here!"
It was beautiful indeed. All of the buildings were made in a traditional Johtonese style, a bell tower chimed in the distance. The odd thing was that most of the trees were green, but some were an autumn brown, as if it was Fall.
"Alright. Lets head to the Gym." suggested Jason.

Jason pushed on the doors of the Gym, but they didn't budge.
"Aw... It's closed?" Rose whined.
"Looks like it." reckoned Jason. "Well, I guess we have time to kill until it opens?" Jason checked his map. "How 'bout Route 37?" he suggested.
"Okay! I'll race ya!" she yelled and she ran off.
"Rosie!" Jason called, but she was already gone.
Jason rolled his eyes and went after her.

<< Ember and the Center Situation >>

---

Location :: Ecruteak City
Starting Time :: 8: 45 PM
-------The Center was bustling still since the moment the sun had floated up into the sky and stained it alice blue. The nurses clambered up and down the first and second levels with bundles of decoration in and under their arms, scrambling to line up the tinsel, ribbons and streamers. Added to the fray were the early bird Trainers, having already managed to get their partners injured to the womens' dismay, and the poor, bumbling Chansey, trying the best they could to help with their pink, protuberant figures and nearly nonexistent limbs.
-------Chaos truly ensued when a particularly irritable Murkrow snaked from their Trainer's absorption and sent one of the younger Chansey barreling across the florescent-lit room out of fear. The rotund assistant met the legs of their owner and they grabbed onto their uniform for dear life as the poor woman teetered off balance and, somehow, with her went the entire right half of the 'Welcome New Trainers!' paper display.
-------It was ridiculous, hysterical, almost cathartic: the loud rip of paper ornaments from their perch on the wall above the front desk. The main poster itself with the painted slogan even drifted down over the aghast expressions of the nurses. That moment alone was enough of a welcome for Emberlyn than any flamboyant decorative display. She wasn't yet used to waking up so early but the animated catastrophe around her failed to aggravate her. Rather, it invigorated her, kept her enthralled and not drifting off with a worn novel in her lap.
-------She let go of her pent-up laughter, passing it off as one made out of pity as she surged up from the guest seating area with two other young Trainers to pry the paper off of the nurses. Their collective response amounted to sounding irked and undoubtedly non-apologetic as they were quick in shooing the adolescents off and away to "get their Pokemon, they should be ready by now!"
-------This was true for the two other girls whose Marill came sunnily rushing out from the back. However, Emberlyn, confusedly, was left to watch the siblings leave with their things, their partners and pamphlets stuck into their hands by a timid Chansey at the front door. But then, suddenly, she heard a powerful scream resonating from the back area where the two Water-types had emerged.
-------Out of curiosity and concern, she ran down the hall to meet the utteration and was in the doorway of Room 32 before any others of piqued interest could trail her. Standing before her, then, was a scrawny woman in white uniform whose face was almost as warm as her pink ringlets as she stood there, mouth greatly agape, screaming and screaming. They were screams of utter turmoil and the woman herself had gone rigid with her lanky arms clenched at her sides. Barely visible, then, were the twiddling claws clasping her sides, and inevitably Emberlyn observed there was a shadowy creature holding on to this ailed lady for dear life—
-------"Kelly Hops!" At the pronouncement, the Sableye obediently popped her head out from her perch, tilting her gem-like gaze past the nurse to eye her Trainer. "What are you doing?"
-------The rhetoric question was laced with mirth. Emberlyn shook with amusement at the little Ghost-type's antics as Kelly gave a grunt before sliding from the pink-haired woman's back onto the laminated floor. She'd always done this, the clinginess as a sign of gratitude. It was like a spontaneous hug from a touchy stranger, her way of affectionately saying "thank you".
-------With the Sableye off of her, the uniformed lady snapped back into action like an animatronic. "Great Kabutops, keep that thing under control!"
-------Emberlyn was taken aback by the severity. "She didn't do anything during her check-up, did she?"
-------"Climbing on me…" The question went practically ignored. The nurse busied herself now with her blanched white clothing, tugging the form-hugging dress with shaking hands and murmuring fervently, more to herself than the Trainer standing there. "Nasty… gnarled-looking thing!" It was to be assumed Kelly had done little, if anything, at all.
-------Ember wafted at the front of the room for a while as her Sableye casually ambled up, seemingly unfazed by the nurse's meltdown, though her upset was too subtle for a young Pokemon like her to read anyways. The violet-haired Trainer in her black beanie was the opposite as she bit her lip, eyes ringed with shadow jetting about awkwardly, as she just drifted there in her low-cut, lace tee showcasing a plethora of stone-like necklaces and choker.
-------"What are you doing, girl?" A corpulent nurse squeezed past her abrasively, a Sentret cradled in her portly arms. Emberlyn's eyes glossed over the little creature as they passed swiftly by. Their breaths came shallowly, shakily. The poor critter had a prominent burn plastered on its brown belly. She caught a whisper as the one nurse passed them onto the other: "Another one from the fires."
-------They caught her watching, clearly gaping, and roughly shoved her out with the written report. Emberlyn read as she walked, the bangles of her boots tinkering with each stride, her Sableye waddling behind in an effort to keep pace.
-------"Condition is good… Status is good… No additional effects… Overall, healthy. Well!" The doors slid open and they were out on the city. "Looks like we're in business." With that, Ember peered down warmly at her partner, but the loving look was soon accompanied with a sigh as the girl looked away, squinting off into the light of dawn.
-------Emberlyn's voice was tart. "Interesting wake-up call, huh?"
-------The heavy feeling was not returned as she looked upon Kelly once more. The Sableye was following her earlier look out over the horizon but soon her interest turned elsewhere, namely on the pavement, and they doddered out to finger loose gravel along the road. Emberlyn thought it admirable, the attitude, that unrelenting curiosity that prevented Kelly Hops from ever dawdling on silly human emotions. Though Ember herself was stumped sometimes by the behavior, for she could not understand how much the Sableye absorbed from the world around her. Yet she wondered how life seemed when your eyes had facets and aspects.
-------There was one thing Kelly hadn't missed and it made itself known as a wintry breeze, twined with the blossomy, spice-like scent of the city, threatened to blow a piece of creased paper from her claws.
-------"Oh, hey!" Emberlyn rushed to entangle her Sableye's finding. "Pamphlet."
-------She unfolded it, the neat, three-fold sheet with a proud, full-color image of Clair on its front. The leader stood regally, arms crossed, back-to-back with her noble-seeming Kingdra, and underneath them both was the title: Calling All New Trainers: Becoming the Next Johto Champion!
-------The League itself had organized this opportune, region-wide trip. According to gossip, their ranks hadn't been very busy lately, especially with the Training boom in Alola sapping interest in the Johto region or the neighboring Kanto. Emberlyn thought all the information crammed onto the first page to be nice but unnecessary. She was a long-time graduate of Trainer's School, after all, and was positive she could tell the difference between a Pokeball and a Potion if both were handed to her, implying she didn't have plenty already hidden away in her bag. Much more appreciated was a map of Ecruteak, the "starting city" as it was. Though she herself had placed a token for the mystic city of Blackthorn, from what she'd seen since a quick trip to the Pokemart and booking a temporary room at the Center, Ecruteak was, without a doubt, interesting. Home of the Kimono Girls and two of the region's great towers.
-------"One of them's pretty much burned down, but we can still visit it, apparently? That's cool." She shut the booklet and put it in her bag for safekeeping. "It'd be like a really creepy museum. Who knows what we'd fine, huh, Kelly?"
-------The Sableye stared up attentively.
-------"We get a special pass inside since I've got a Trainer's license. D' you think you'd protect me if a zombie came at us?"
-------Kelly looked as if she were deeply considering it. This made Emberlyn laugh. "Naw, you'd probably just book it, right?"
-------Kelly Hops gave a mirthful grunt. Her pointed purple face broke into a jagged-tooth smile.
-------The ringing of the Bell Tower's namesake; adventure's call. The town was bursting to life now. The strewn-up lanterns and window-side candles of yesternight had long been blown out. Now doors were opening and folks in home kimonos were staggering out to tend to their lawns, retrieve the mail from the domestic Taillow coming in with the breeze or simply greet the approaching day. Some kids were already out, kicking about a ball with a painted Voltorb's face. One called out to Emberlyn—"That's a cool Pokemon!"—before racing past with the plaything at his ankles.
-------"Hey, let's explore," Ember expressed brightly. "This place is really cool! We don't really have anywhere to go." It was especially so with the route south of there being so particularly hazardous, as the burned Sentret had signaled.
-------Kelly appeared especially perky at the notion of exploration. Her crystalline eyes shone eagerly and almost hungrily she hunkered forward down the road with Emberlyn gathering up her leather shoulder bag to join her.
-------"Maybe there'll be some other Trainers out. I can't remember the last time you got some battle practice, Kelly." The two set off afterwards, heading in the center of town where activity had quickly risen, almost as quickly as the sun had made itself comfortable in the very middle of the alice blue sky.

<< Ember and the Playground Throwdown >>

---

Location :: Ecruteak City
Starting Time :: 9: 32 PM
-------Ecruteak smelled of hickory wood and cinnamon. There was a striking impression of homeliness that Emberlyn felt the city gave, imbedded in every groove of each timely house, a feeling that floated in the wind.
-------By half past nine, the people were putting out the lanterns in their doorways. A Poliwhirl spat at a few along the road to quash their dimly-burning fires. Curiously, warily, Kelly approached them, regarding their plump, blubbery form with unfamiliarity and intrigue. The Water-type peered down confused though made no motion to her and neither she to it. They were completely at a standstill, the Sableye staring absently into its mesmerizing stomach swirl…
-------Emberlyn quickly caught Kelly Hops by the wrist and, with an apologetic look in Poliwhirl's direction, hurried along again, before her Sableye could get sick.
-------But the blanched look gone in the Ghost-type's crystalline eyes, the two went free along the Ecruteak roads, returning kindly waves from onlooking locals, observing warm-leaved trees, tranquil ponds, Bellsprout statues and signs painted with a language of both ancient and present times: 'れきしが ながれる まち; The city where history flows.'
-------On their tour, the two came across a schoolhouse on the eastern end of the city, a grey-walled, red-roofed building not unlike all the others with an expansive, fenced-off stretch of land to also call its own. It was the commotion in that area that attracted the two. Kelly immediately lost interest in what lay beyond the fence, being out-measured by it by many a foot, instead turning to chase an evasive autumn leaf caught in the tumultuous breeze. Emberlyn, however, allowed curiosity to consume a bit of modesty, peering out into the schoolyard where a great bunch of children stood estatically bounding around one another. There were hundreds of them, and it was implausible that they all went to this same school. Emberlyn even pinpointed the signature tanned complexions of far-off Hoenn and coastal Unova amongst the group. All the kids looked about the same, however, but certainly weren't her own. Strange to Ember, as she regarded the balloons, the certificates rolled up in each little hand, the banners strung up in the trees and the overall energized atmosphere. She'd come across a ceremony. A graduation? Of predominantly ten-year-olds? For a Kalosian teen it was such a surreal thought.
-------Her own presence was caught very quickly by a little girl lingering by her side of the fence. Just tall enough for her forehead to be perceivable, the girl stood on the tips of her toes to make her eyes just as so. They went wide as she regarded Emberlyn. The child froze.
-------"Hi!" She rushed out a beaming welcome as to hopefully prevent the girl from outright panicking. Her smiling face, however, went ignored as Kelly sensed the appearance of a stranger and made a mad dash from the leaf, scrabbling her claws at wooden planks instead in a vain attempt to scale the fence.
-------The little girl pulled herself up to see the little, determined Sableye and cracked a smile. She turned to Ember now: "Your Pokemon's really cute. Are you a Trainer?"
-------Relieved at the comfort, she responded. "Yeah, I just got my license a few days back. Kelly here's my first."
-------At the mention of her name, Kelly Hops perked up, peering straight up and ogling the girl's amused face.
-------"Lucy, who are you talking to?"
-------The sound of yet another newcomer made Kelly antsy. The Sableye scrambled into her Trainer's awaiting arms, being lifted up to a level more suitable for greeting humans.
-------This particular woman had a patent atmosphere to her that screamed "mother", particularly to this little girl who quickly disappeared behind her. She was one of great presence with a highly expressive face splotched red from the passing chills. Her eyes were slight and sparkled with wary. "Who are you? You're not from here, are you?"
-------"No, I'm from Kalos. I'm a travelling Trainer." Ember had her fingers running along the wallet in her jeans pocket, fully outfitted with a license for proof.
-------Fortunately, the woman was not too suspicious, as a flitting look of acknowledgement over the Pokemon in her arms was enough for her to allow her daughter to stand beside her and not behind. "Alright. Kalos, hmm? I've been hearing a lot about it recently. Where in Kalos, exactly?"
-------"Geosenge City."
-------"Oh! The place with all of the rocks, right." She gestured to Lucy and the girl ran off to reunite with the jubilant children in the schoolyard. Interestingly, her mother gestured to Emberlyn as well. "Why don't you come on in, introduce yourself to all of us? I'm sure everyone would like to know how life in Kalos is like, and how your journey has been going so far."
-------It was a bold and unexpected offer that Ember pleasantly obliged to, and the woman unlatched the gate to abide her entry. It was not something she was used to, being so kindly invited into the presence of complete strangers. Habitually it was her responsibility to be the hospitable one but charisma like that did not come characteristically to her. A lucky moment like this was so greatly appreciated by Ember, even if she was just answering the questions of curious moms. Of course it couldn't have all been fortuitous; the word "Kalos" had evidently sparked something. The word "Trainer" too must have inspired Ms. Ling's decision—she soon introduced herself as Ms. Ling, anyway. As Emberlyn pondered deeply, however, as best she could under the constant interrogation of these thoroughly-intrigued mothers, she made a connection. Her greatest role models aside from family were all Trainers. The most revered people of their generation had all participated in the League. There was a certain adoration the public was bound to give anyone who possesses a license; she realized this now and felt a sudden, satisfying revelation that she had a license, that she was in that category of head-turners. Gleefully she whisked through, almost irresponsible, a plethora of the things she might be able to get away with now that she had such a power.
-------Meanwhile, Kelly had slunk from her grip and out onto the grass where she was immediately swamped by the youthful newly-grads, all gaping with a storm of different emotions bubbling up in the immediate crowd. It was attention the Sableye could accept, until one lousy boy with his cap turned back and a tooth knocked out took up a stick and made prodding motions at her eyeballs. "Why's its eyes look like rocks?
-------Assertively, Kelly Hops acted on instinct, surging towards the provoker with teeth bared and claws extended. The crowd leaped back at her gurgling hiss, a number of its members turning tail and fleeing, including that one boy, squealing with horror.
-------"Kelly!" The Sableye whirled around to meet her pale-faced Trainer, though they both knew the retort was instinctive. Emberlyn predicted misunderstanding and she ran to gather her Pokemon before the moms could get to her. The girl could feel their collective vehemence glowly hotly even with her back turned.
-------Fortunately, another one of the moms who had not joined her peers at the refreshment table came crossing the lawn, drawing attention off of Kelly and to her chipper self instead. "Hey, girls! So sorry I took so long but I got the extra chips! I got another bag too, just in case! You know those boys love potato chips! I know Patrick would eat an entire bag by himself if I let 'im alone!"
-------There was indeed a little boy just barely keeping pace with her, his beaten hiker boots dragging across the yard with every sullen step. He had glasses clearly fastened tightly to the sides of his head as they maintained from sliding off even while the kid kept his head firmly down. He glowered down at his muddy shoes with his muddy-colored hair just hanging past the nape in his neck while his mother implicitly dragging him from the schoolhouse.
"Who are you, now?" the mother piped to her. The inquiry brought the boy's head up and, though he would not meet Ember's eyes, he felt a sensation of being critically watched from a distance as she formed an answer.
-------"Uh, 'm Emberlyn. I'm a Trainer from the Kalos region—"
-------"Kalos!? Oh my goodness! Why would you ever leave there!? It seems so dreamy! So many places to go and so many things to see and do… It's definitely no boring ol' Johto, that's for sure." She gave her a jesting wink. "Ha! But maybe that's 'cause I've been everywhere in Johto. It just gets kinda same-y after a while, you know?"
-------Emberlyn just smiled and nodded.
-------"Ooh, but you're a Trainer too? That's so great!" She wasn't talking entirely to her now. The woman also sent an expectant look in the brown-haired boy's general direction. He was conveniently wiping his lenses with the rim of his sweatshirt.
-------"How long have you been training, Emberlyn? My that's a spectacle of a name."
-------"Just for a day or two so far, and… thank you."
-------She gave a theatrical gasp. "Oh my gosh, you're just starting out, that's perfect!" Another glance shot towards the boy but he deflected her enthusiasm with his utter disinterest, studying the seconds passing by on his wristwatch.
Emberlyn saw the frustration imminent in the mother's stare and decided to deliver aid. "Is he a Trainer too?" She gestured towards the boy and he sensed this, standing to full attention immediately and with utter bewilderment.
-------His mother was, as expected, overjoyed and grateful as well, evident in the passing look she exchanged with Ember. "Why, yes! Yes he is, Emberlyn! Patrick just filled out all his paperwork this morning so his license is all ready to go and—"
-------"And I've told you at least four times today not to call me 'Patrick', Trina. It's Pots."
-------The child finally spoke and he did so with stunning animosity alight in his tone, regarding Ms. Trina Leveve with a gelid glare. Emberlyn had never been intimidated by an eleven-year-old before until that moment.
-------Trina herself appeared obviously stricken but with an undertone of dread too that implied what "Pots" had said was not unpredictable of him.
-------"Patrick—"
-------"Pots."
-------"—i-it's the name on your Trainer Card—"
-------"Then that's the wrong name." He stood obstinate against the woman's hysteric, half-uttered arguments. "And I bet you put it on there yourself, too. Good on you for stepping in for things like that. It'll make a big difference when I'm a Trainer and don't even live with you anymore."
-------The words worked a black magic on the woman. Her mouth clamped shut and she was drained of all passion aside from a deeper, sadder emotion that shone like water in her eyes. But Pots had turned away and now to Ember he said this: "You don't have to ask about me. It's for the best if I'm left alone anyways, to be honest."
-------"Why do you say that?"
-------"I dunno. I'm alone most of the time anyway."
-------"It doesn't have to stay that way." Emberlyn spoke before he could follow up with what were likely to be parting words. Suddenly, within her, surged a feeling of panic at the thought of this boy departing to go and sulk on his own. Perhaps he'd busy himself in the world of a book or blame the others around him for their lack of understanding but, either way, he'd be alone, he'd be isolated. She would know.
-------But the connection was thusly drawn and it dried out her mouth when she reached the conclusion. Pots had felt something as well, face whitening with bewilderment once again as he gave her the most intrigued of looks. In his face she saw both youth and maturity, the latter subdued but ever present, though she couldn't place how or why. It was how he carried himself, she was left to ultimately deduce.
-------"So… you, um, just became a Trainer today, huh?" She broke the bit of silence and forced upon herself a modest smile.
-------"Well, yeah. I thought Trina just said that."
-------He certainly had a lot of snark. "You don't seem too excited."
-------"I am. I'm just being subtle about it." He accentuated that word; subtle. Emberlyn helplessly cracked a further smile, a humored grin now, just at the concept of an eleven-year-old being subtle. Would he claim next to be… sophisticated? Socially aware?
-------Pots was an acute little boy. She did not need to laugh for him to scowl and promptly call her out. "Yeah, go ahead and smile like that. You look like your hobgoblin."
-------His caretaker had drifted out of the exchange but re-entered now with a stern utterance of his preferred title: "Pots!"
-------"Hey, she's the one about to laugh at me," he defended.
-------Kelly H. had also gone to do something or other with some pebbles on the ground as the humans involved in a complex conversation involving tones, expressions and implications that soared straight over her. However, she could be extremely acute when it involved her in-particular and the term "goblin"—used by her Trainer's insensitive mother in the recent past—struck enough of a chord to get her bounding over to the perpetrator.
-------Pots made a grimace as the Sableye's eyes met his own, glossy eyes betraying nothing, panting mouth open and revealing lines of gnashing teeth.
"Jeez, why'd you choose such a creepy Pokemon?"
-------Emberlyn, looking grimly non-amused, bit back bitterly. "She's only something to be scared of when you say something bad about her Trainer."
-------"Oh." Either Pots had believed the implicated threat or felt apologetically about what he'd said before as he flashed a look over Ember, then down at Kelly, and eventually shifted to his bottom left as he peered at the bulging pocket of his slacks. "Well, if your Pokemon wanted to beat me up, they'd have to get through mine first."
-------Emberlyn felt something within her flare up. Had she developed the "Trainer's instinct", as it was called, already? For Pots' message reeked of a challenge; so much for his apparent subtly.
-------"I'm sure she would manage." Either way, she wanted to see what supposedly non-creepy Pots had chosen for his partner. Whether it was one of the traditional Johtoan-bred Pokemon sheltered in the laboratories or some creature he'd found out in the woods.
-------Pots glowered up at her. "Oh, sure, fine, whatever. I'll battle you. 'I challenge thee,' I guess."
-------And thusly, she and Kelly were thrust into their first Trainer battle together. It came a startling surprise how suddenly it had happened and how easy it had been to find themselves feet away, adjacent from his determined-looking, glasses-wearing schoolboy in the wide, rolling yard. The other children did not have a battle cry to guess what was bound to happen between them and with stunning obedience they flooded around them, forming a rectangular border of anxious kids. Trina had obligingly stepped inside the "ring", wrestling for berries and Potions in the depths of her purse, in case things were to take a messy turn. Astonishingly, however, Ember did not believe they would. Her nervousness, inevitably there, manifested itself into resolatuon. She'd studied, she'd prepared, she'd traveled here, and she was more than ready to win.
-------However, Pots must have felt about the same way. They'd be pitting their resolves against one another to determine the prevailer. "Sequoia, I choose you!"
-------From a Pokeball burst a looming, quadruped figure, sharp-hoofed and mounted with jagged antlers, pelt a rich auburn shade and speckled with occasional spots of cream. She was a beautiful creature, the Big Horn Pokemon assumed, for the drooping jowls characteristic of her species added such rugged detail to her that she may as well have been a show 'mon. Undoubtedly, one the other hand, they made her appear more intimidating. Her neck was pridefully arched, her eyes were closed as if meditating in the young crowd's absorption. Only her horns were concerned with her competition. Golden in shade, eye-like in structure, their beady black centers glared down at a poor, gawking Kelly who fought to find her bearings in the presence of Pots' treasured partner.
-------Emberlyn was running through her essential handbook in her head, racking her brain for any semblance of what she knew about whoever this Pokemon could possibly be. Bouffalant? Tauros? Sawsbuck!? None of those names sounded right. Dolefully she deduced it to be one of the particular Pokemon she decided were too unmemorable to bother memorizing facts on. She had to go reluctantly go without prior knowledge, instead studying what was in front of her. Her eyes, as well as Kelly's, immediately went towards those horns, gleaming brilliantly in the ten-o'-clock sunlight. When she blinked, however, she saw they were far less scintillating than before, or at least she swore so, for the effect returned immediately. Had it been an illusion?
-------Regardless, she recognized the eerie stillness Kelly Hops had adopted and made an immediate connection to the Poliwhirl from earlier than morning. She called a warning to her Sableye: "Don't look at her horns! Look at the face!"
-------Kelly snapped away, looked around to see where her Trainer was pointing, and returned to Pots taking advantage of their moment of hesitance.
-------"Tackle it, Sequoia!" The Stantler flew forward, head thrust out in front of herself as she threatened to plow right across the Sableye. Her expectations were, to a point, met as she ended up plowing more so through the Ghost-type than squashing her. The utter bizzarity of seeing her opponent vanish before flashing a cheeky grin behind her as they returned to tangibility did bemuse Sequoia enough to have her halt her charge prematurely and tumble onto her side. She became a fitful, frightened mess, kicking up dirt and grass and giving deep, gasping grunts of indignance.
-------A deeply troubled Pots mumbled, "That thing's a Ghost type?"
-------Emberlyn cackled greatly now, losing propriety for the sake of the show. Kelly having essentially swapped places with the other Pokemon, she ordered: "Leer! Lower her defenses!"
-------Kelly Hops' flashing, faceted eyes caught those bulging from the flabby face of the floundering Stantler. For a few seconds, they went rigid. That was the time to attack and Ember called for a full-force Zen Headbutt. Compliantly, Kelly's head dropped downwards. She went motionless, like a doll, but only for a second, for she gave a few jerky, prickling movements, and then, without warning, she flew at Sequoia with impeccable speed. The headbutt was a direct hit that knocked the wind out Pots' Pokemon, connecting just as she was struggling to rise to her feet. The blow sent the Stantler catapulting into the earth again.
-------The audience was reaching deafening levels of excitement now and Kelly was left a dizzy wreck. Putting all possible effort in a head-centric attack was more than enough to cause a young Pokemon like herself to sway and stagger about. Emberlyn let her enthusiasm ebb as she watched the little Sableye fight to regain her composure. She felt irresponsible, ordering a move that took so much energy to perform. The girl bit her lip. We have some serious training to do.
-------Pots, surprisingly, had nothing else to add as he watched his partner's pained struggle to rise again, only appearing more darkly determined than before. Clutching his fists, he wailed encouragement in Sequoia's direction: "C'mon, girl, get up!"
-------The Stantler leapt to her hoofs, the rage reddening her muzzle. From her throat arose a great bellow—a war cry—and pawed at the ground, simmering, waiting for Pots' order so she may carry out her vengeance on her impudent opponent.
-------"Bite it!"
-------Sequoia rushed Kelly down, lashing forward with teeth extended to gnash right where the Sableye's arm had been. Kelly's Naive nature came paired with added reflexes that were just enough for her to evade, lashing herself back before scrambling to get away. As she turned, however, she was caught in the back with Sequoia's horns and, just as Pots called "Astonish!", she was violently thrown high up into the air. Like a ragdoll, she fell in a crumbled, violet mound at the base of Emberlyn's boots.
-------"Oh, damn." Sequoia was a heavy hitter and irascibility only accentuated that fact. However, to Ember's surprise, her Pokemon bounced back almost immediately. As she clambered to her feet once again, Kelly's eyes stood out with a muted but unmistakable red hue rather than the everyday colorlessness. Creeping uncertainty gripped Emberlyn as she noticed it but, conveniently, overlooked it as a reflection of the scarlet leaves surrounding of all of Ecruteak mixed with her own anxiety getting to her. Regardless, she knew the battle needed to end quickly.
-------"Okay, Kelly… We're going to lower her defenses again, okay? Can you do a Leer for me, girl?"
Hunching more than she instinctively did, Kelly Hops' not-at-all-colored eyes gleamed as she carried out the act.
-------Sequoia took it head-on with arrogant nonchalance as she prepared for her Trainer's succeeding order. "Rush in and hit it with all you've got!"
She was off again, tearing up turf with those sharp, sharp hooves. Emberlyn felt her stomach clamp together like a Cloyster shell, her throat go arid, but miraculously she spoke up, stridently: "Zen Headbutt, head on!"
-------Kelly must not have been thinking minutely either for she took the command and ran recklessly with. The Sableye broke into a lightning-quick pace with her thoughts not even collected until her collision path with Sequoia was at its very shortest. Inches away—Emberlyn could've sworn it was inches away—was when the signature blue glow blossomed from her skull, like heavenly light, and the Sableye thrust that pent-up energy right into the Stantler's chest.
-------BOOM! Like an explosion, they were both flung apart, Kelly falling onto her back, Sequoia collapsing out of anguish, and the crowd went utterly wild. The children were hooting, hollering, cheering, chanting. The battle was over and the rousing, celebratory callings were all given in Emberlyn's favor. The visitor from Kalos and her scary little goblin; they'd did it. They'd won their first battle! With that thought, Ember's stress melted away like butter and she smiled.
-------Pots looked sick, dropping to his partner's side as she struggled to get off the ground, but she soon proved to be well enough, though thoroughly petulant. Sequoia sent a parting, loathing glass in Kelly's direction as Trina massaged Potion into her fur. She only turned away when Pots fed her an Oran berry and which she appeared reluctantly satisfied.
-------Emberlyn, in a surge of appreciation, turned to her own Pokemon still sprawled out on the dirt. She wanted to feed her berries, coo to her how fantastic she'd been, but the feeling vanished with a rising chill replacing it instead. Kelly was groaning. Kelly snarled and hissed and spat, she hummed and chirped and cackled… she didn't groan, out of disorientation, out of agony. The Sableye always made jagged movements but, as she fought hard to regain her balance, Ember was certain she was entirely lost. The world must have been a great revolving blur to her and what her head felt like Emberlyn couldn't begin to surmise.
-------"Well, guess you were right after all." Pots suddenly popped up in front of her and she was forced to snap her attention towards him. He carried no evident sullenness in his expression though of course he did look overall pleased. At the very least, he approached her pleasantly.
-------"I'm not the kind of guy who makes excuses when he loses. You're a pretty decent battler, Emberlyn. I bet your… little Pokemon… will get even stronger in the future, so I wish you the best of luck." He shot a glance himself at Kelly Hops, rocking left and right in an apparent spell of dizziness. "Uh, you should call back your Pokemon. They look like they need to recover a little."
-------"No duh." The venomous retort was inspired mostly for an inner disappointment in herself but, alas, it ended up being voiced to the boy instead.
-------He took the opportunity to go sour himself, frowning and replying with, "Excuse me for giving a heads up. What's your problem. You won."
-------Emberlyn was silent. Her eyes drifted in a space between the schoolboy with his knit brow, awaiting a reply, and the stumbling Sableye she'd been so heedless with.
-------"Hey." He summoned her attention. "All Pokemon get hurt, okay? It's not like animals. See, if I threw a rock at a bird, that'd be a dead bird. But if threw a rock at a Pidgey, it'd recover in, like, an hour. And be incredibly pissed with me on top of that. Pokemon are all energy and battling's coded into every single one of them. They're used to this."
-------"Yeah, I know all of that, but…" Her voice trailed off. Kelly was grimacing, holding her head. "Jeez…"
-------"'Things are only gonna get tougher.' That's what my mom used to tell me. 'You just gotta get tougher too.' Remember that."
-------Emberlyn gave a shocked, hard blink at the implication. The sharp-witted Pots caught on and immediately cleared his throat, signalling a change in subject.
-------"Right, so according to tradition, I'm supposed to give you money, but screw that, honestly. You can have this instead." From his swelling left pants pocket he produced what appeared to be a fist-sized berry or nut, purple in color. "It's an apricorn. I collect them, but only the green and black ones."
-------"Why those?"
-------He shrugged. "They look the best, I guess. I don't really have a favorite color but purple definitely wouldn't be it if I could choose. But, hey. Your hair's purple so you might appreciate this more than me." Thus, he tossed her the apricorn.
-------"Well, if Sequoia's alright with it, we're probably just gonna head down to Route 37. I think I've had enough of Ecruteak for a while."
-------"No, wait," she stopped him. "I'll give you something too." Before he could make a humble refusal, from her own pocket she produced a small, milk-white stone. "Catch!"
-------It landed in his hands. The boy gave a critical appraisal, ultimately deducing, "I suppose you collect rocks, huh?"
-------"I do. My parents go nuts over rocks so I guess I got it from them," Ember informed.
-------"Could you tell me what kind of rock it is?" Pots asked.
-------"I might be but…" She shot him a playful grin. "I don't really feel like it."
-------Pots responded with, "That's a fitting enough excuse in my book," and stuffed the stone into his pocket before turning back to her to say gallanty, "Thank you, Emberlyn. For the battle and for the keepsake."
-------"You're welcome, Pots. And you don't have to call me 'Emberlyn' all the time. Ember and… yeah, Ember's fine."
-------"Alright then, Ember." He gave her a conclusionary nod. "I'll be going now. See you around?"
-------"Definitely! Oh, but be careful! I heard something about fires on Route 37 earlier."
-------"Oh, right." The familiarity drove the boy to roll his eyes. "The fires. How disastrous for someone like me who doesn't have a decent Pokemon to protect them from harm!"
-------Instantly his Stantler whirled around to stare stupefied at him.
-------"That was sarcasm, Sequoia! I was joking!"
-------He rushed to join her at the school yard's entrance, laughing and running an affectionate hand over her neck. The Stantler feigned a hurt expression before ramming him playfully in the chest, then running through the unlatched gates, Pots following close behind.
-------"Bye, you two! ...but how would you fight off fires with a Stantler?"

-------After bidding farewell to the mothers at the ceremony, Emberlyn and her partner were once again walking the Ecruteak streets. Kelly reappeared from her Pokeball, clear-eyed and seemingly well-off. Nonetheless, the grey feeling of self-disappointment and regret fell upon Ember again as her Sableye materialized before her.
-------"I'm so, so sorry, Kelly. I don't know what I was thinking, making you use that move twice in a row! That was crazy stupid, I'm so sorry! I swear we'll get to training you as soon as possible so you get stronger, okay?"
-------The onslaught of relayed emotion visually bamboozled poor Kelly Hops as she tried to make heads or tails of why Ember was apologizing and pleading forgiveness. But, eventually, she ceased being taken aback and simply accepting whatever had gushed from her Trainer's mouth, making a meaningless gurgling noise—an "I suppose, I don't really know, nor do I care"—before settling on wrapping herself around Emberlyn's leg.
-------"Aww, Kelly! Stop it! You're too adorable! And that kinda hurts… ow!" Laughing regardless, she shook her leg gently, unraveling Kelly's knife-life grip. "Alright, we should get going."
-------They turned the corner to a faceful of flashing blue-and-red lights and the scream of sirens. Kelly hissed and shielded her eyes at the barrage of iridescence and Emberlyn herself took a step back as not to overwhelm herself. From a more suitable distance, she observed and quickly placed the cause of commotion: a number of fire trucks, a few police cars and, on the horizon, a great billowing cloud of ash-colored smoke.
-------"The fire… Holy—"
-------"Young lady."
-------She jumped. Spinning around, she identified the chiseled man behind her as a police officer immediately from the signature blue uniform.
-------"Can you inform me what you're doing at this end of town?"
-------"O-oh, officer! I was just…" She reconsidered telling the truth, thinking a white lie might end the exchange quicker, but ultimately felt obligated to take the earnest route. "I was about to head onto Route 37 with my Pokemon…"
-------The policeman gave a jerky nod as if it'd been just as he'd suspected. Lowly he chuckled too. "Heh. Thought your license could get you through, eh?"
-------"What? No, sir. I-I just didn't know the fire had gotten so bad…" She stiffened up. Johtoan officers may not have been as cutthroat as Kalosian ones but testing with too much audacity was undoubtedly not worth it.
-------In the distance Emberlyn could hear excerpts of poorly hushed conversations between frustrated firemen and other officials. "God, it feels like Moltres' anus out there! When do the rangers get out here to evacuate people so we don't have to go back!?" "Calm down, Blastoise. That wildfire's not gonna hurt 'cha from here, boy." "Where's that damned hippie Morty!? He's supposed to help with this type of emergency, ain't he!?"
-------"Well, now you know." The policeman that'd caught her came back into full focus. "What's your name, miss?"
-------"Emberlyn Noirceur."
-------"Alright, Ember Blackheart. This is your warning: stay away from the arch. We can't afford to have anyone leave in case that fire spreads to more than just the very back of the route. It's already making the whole place hot and humid like crazy. You can save whatever you wanted to do with your Pogeymans 'til later, okay? You won't be able to handle those kind of conditions, especially if that thing"—he made a rude jerking motion down at Kelly Hops—"is your only means of defense.
-------"Have a nice day." That finalized everything. Not a single utterance in retort could be given, especially when Emberlyn had not the heart to. Biting her lip and sending a guilty, fleeting glance over towards the route's entrance, she silently stalked away, Kelly trailing behind.
-------"C'mon, girl. We wanted to check out that tower anyway, right?"

<< 3: Ember and the Very Scary Field Trip >>

---

Location :: Ecruteak City; Burned Tower
Starting Time :: 10: 30 PM
-------The Burned Tower was a place so inconceivably ruined that awestruck mentions of its former glory came across as myth. Like the shed skin of some beautiful Bug-type that was once a lowly Metapod; there it strained to stand, holding an active brawl against the autumn chill, its walls too withered to stop wind from snaking in through cracks in the cindered floorboards. This miserable remain of incinerated ancestry was entirely black—for no flame would ever touch this place again if anyone could help it—with the only light cascading in through the sad semblance of a ceiling. A cover hung limply to the side overhead, exposing them all to morning: the treasure-hunters, the risk-takers, the hopelessly misplaced, the respect-payers, the tourists. They all took to their separate concerns in the consuming, solemn silence of the shrouded temple's cadaver.
-------Emberlyn was completely overtaken herself with a tingling sensation that wrestled in her chest and clawed up her throat. But, by seventeen, she was far too accustomed with the fabulous feeling of fear to un-clamp her mouth which was already twisted into a little smile. She looked mad—she knew she must have looked mad—, staring out aimlessly, her gold eyes possessing a blank giddiness, a hand layered on top to shield them from sun. Of course she went disconcerted, for she was entirely consumed in her element. The tower may as well have been a mansion. More accurately, a movie set, the eye-catching setting of Shauntal's newest novel. The scenario was already playing out in Ember's head: A girl like her, unsuspecting. The darkened corner possessing, to her imminent misfortune, sentience. From its depths, an arm grabs her own. She…
-------"AI-EEE!" A lass launches backwards into Emberlyn and the two girls crumble. Their possessions spill across the floor, their released Pokemon look startled down at them. The lass is up immediately, fervently tugging at the hem of her miniskirt. Her Minun is gathering her possessions up from the ground. Ember feels ash on her tongue.
-------"Oh my Luvdisc I am so-so sorry, I was looking down like really dumb and I'm just, we're so lost right now and I just came in the wrong place and I was just with the map here and I just looked up and I swear. I saw something. I-in the corner… u-up there—"
-------"It's fine, really!" Emberlyn interrupted with an apology so urgent its sincerity was lost in her blatant impatience.
-------The lass, taken back, glued a wild, accusatory expression onto her as she fumbled for her bag, neatly filled and shut by her obedient Hoenn-native 'mon. From her mouth came nothing more, though her eyes seemed to be spitting leagues still—Well, it certainly doesn't seem like it's 'fine', 'cause you reacted like that and…—, and she punctually took her Minun's paw and stalked off. Ember was left in peace to wallow in the shame of being so sharp with the other girl's babbling evaporated to nothingness as any meaning that could be drawn from them went entirely overlooked.
-------Kelly Hops watched merely with interest as Emberlyn drew open her bag with one hand and scooped fallen objects inside with the other. Plenty of Pokeballs and Potions, an Antidote, Awakening and Paralyz Heal, a "berry bag" (really a small drawstring bag with two Sitrus berries inside), her cellphone, her Pokedex, the giveaway pamphlet from the Pokecenter… something distinct was oddly missing.
-------Ember jerked up to see Kelly's teeth daring to enclose around a Dark Gem.
-------"Kelly Hops!" She confiscated the item immediately, wrangling it from the Sableye's razor grip. "C'mon, you know I want to keep this! Even Sycamore said normal rocks were better for you. You don't need to eat raw gems. It'd be like if I stuffed my face with galettes all the time." She'd expected for her explanation to register as dumb rambling but, interestingly, at least some of it seemed to resonate with the Sableye. She must have heard a familiar phrase, maybe had taken in account Ember's exasperation, or it could be an entirely different reason altogether. Kelly, either way, hissed, bunched up her shoulders for a bit, then slunk away to scour the blackened floorboards for a, Ho-oh forbid, healthy snack. Emberlyn felt frustration rise, considering still how much work was cut out for her, especially if she did not yet understand her very first partner. She found herself thinking back to Steven Stone. Her father and her curled up underneath the television set, he would send out his Aggron or his Cradiliy or even his ace, Metagross, and all of them would respond to him unconditionally. His orders were so clear and confident, evenly uttered, and he and his partners were always on the same wavelength. They completely understood one another, you could tell from the cocksure glint in each of their eyes as they one-by-one demolished that poor opponent's unprepared party. Ember wondered how that sort of control felt.
-------She found herself inspecting the stone in her hand, tracing the facets with her fingers. The Dark Gem was obsidian, so black only the slight reflection of sunlight prevented it from looking like a rhombus-shaped void. To her, that was what made it too mesmerizing to waste. This was one of the many gems her mother's team had dug up in Reflection Cave, one Kelly had latched onto. So thin when they brought her back to Geosenge, the poor Sableye must have been desperate for a meal. Kalos was so jam-packed with Pokemon in some places, competition amongst many species grew to hazardous extents. Emberlyn knew things were quite different in Johto. She didn't want to consider how traveling Trainers maintained themselves back home. She put the Dark Gem back in her bag.
-------Kelly Hops was dragging a desperate tongue across the ground, the gritty taste of ash seeming interesting to her for about a split second before she began hacking and spitting impassionedly. Ember shook with stifled laughter, still offering a comforting and quieting hand to Kelly. The two returned to their scheduled look-around, Ember seeing what have must been a window and rushing over for inspection. They nearly collided again with a dirty-faced mountaineer prodding around a support beam. He beamed up at Emberlyn. "Plenty of things to find around these parts, eh?" She turned away, nose scrunched in disgust. An ancient landmark as significant as this and people were already scrambling to promote themselves, digging ravenously through piles of soot like scavengers for nuggets and shards. Ember wondered how the monks must have felt. They too, few and far between, were dipped low to the ground in ceremonious gestures, the dark, lolling sleeves of their traditional garb dragging. At their feet were little stone statues, all lined against the wall, and there they placed a multitude of things: sweet-smelling flowers, berries, apricorns, dolls, money even.
-------Emberlyn came across one of these effigies at the very back on the Burned Tower's visitor-admitted floor. Concrete-grey and clearly worn, from a minute distance she estimated it was just around Kelly's slight size. The Sableye she expected to be tantalized by the pure rock figure but, again, she curiously seemed to be in full understanding, standing just before her Trainer, solemn and still.
-------Around the effigy was a sea of flowers, pale pink roses and white lilacs. The figure itself had an almost human shape, a carved head and neck sprouting from rounded, rocky shoulders. It even had a face, inscribed in the stone, the round eyes and smiling mouth of a little boy. And, finally, on this child's chest were the words, In memory of the youth that perished in the Brass Tower incident, still remembered after 150 years.
-------Oh Eikþyrnir. Suddenly, Emberlyn was thinking of Pots, his bright eyes as he led Sequoia through the gates out onto Route 37, the same route that brought countless cops to loiter outside as smoke poured into the sky, countless more children still amongst the trees. Oh Eikþyrnir. Where were they, that boy and his Stantler? Better yet, what excuse did she have to leave them, to at least not ask where they had gone? Even as an everyday citizen, she had the authority to ask a question, especially of that utmost importance, but as a Trainer, in that situation she could easily usurp that particular policeman. She had a Trainer card, one of the most powerful items obtainable by the everyman. She knew her rights, nailed into her head since age ten. All Trainers may force entry into any numbered route regardless of county authority. She had a clear, verified privilege… and she hadn't acted like it.
-------It weighed on Emberlyn, now, that if anything happened to Pots, it would be entirely her responsibility. The obligation held her heart in a heavy bind. She felt too reluctant to rip her eyes from the idol. "Eikþyrnir, I'm terrible…
-------She felt her Sableye at her calf, emanating with confusion and anxious discomfort that drove Ember back to non-emotional reality. The girl drug the sleeve of her night black coat over her eyes. Kelly could always sense when she was bound to come to tears.
-------It would be a sign of further insensitivity if she didn't leave the figurine a token of her own, as she saw it. Thus she crouched down, drawing forth an object from her pocket. The apricorn Pots had casually tossed her. A second, more acute observation confirmed the nut-like object was more pink than violet. In her hands, it felt abnormally smooth, but it also had a sweet, pleasant scent. She set it down next to the burned-out incense and stood up in order to take her leave.
-------Emberlyn had already turned around to begin walking but Kelly Hops, whose hand she took, did not. Peripherally seeing a hostile rise of the Sableye's hunched shoulders, she whisked around yet again to see a withered blue creature clawing its way down from the remaining rafters through the claws at the tips of its wings. The Zubat made a clumsy landing near the statue and, abhorrently, struggled towards the recently-placed Apricorn. Kelly gave a menacing hiss before charging forwards when the Bat Pokemon's pace and obstinate path proved to go unbroken despite the clear warning. The Sableye's claws threw the winged creature back just as it closed in on Ember's heartfelt offering with minuscule fangs. It had an ear-piercing scream, one that Emberlyn swore manifested itself in a Supersonic blast, but it zipped by leaving nary an effect on Kelly who swung at the Zubat once more. They plummeted. However, before either she or Emberlyn could realize, another one had bared down on her, teeth embedding temporarily in her upper back before the Sableye responded rapidly with another mercilessly Scratch attack.
-------CRITICAL HIT! Emberlyn hadn't even known her Pokedex was on. She had sworn she'd powered it down earlier in the Pokemon Center but, clearly, she was either mistaken or the impact with the lass moments before had knocked sense back into it. There was no time to correct the problem as, by the time she'd begun fumbling in her bag, two more Zubat were soaring in from seemingly nowhere. They all looked equally deprived, equally thin and bony around their middles. They must have been desperate for even the smallest bit of food.
-------"Dodge that Leech Life! Scratch counter!" She was already spitting orders, Kelly responding at lightning speeds with head ducks and flying claws. But as a Zubat fell, another took its place, like they were all part of some Hydra-functioning hivemind. The commotion was beginning to attract the bewildered attention of the other Burned Tower visitors and Ember bit her lip as she wondered why these Zubat were singling her and Kelly out. She thought as her Sableye swung and swung: That one sage brought a whole basket of berries but— no, wait! He had Repel didn't he!? Shoot! That's the one thing I thought I didn't need.
-------Served her right. Kelly had sicced a hoard of swarming, screaming enemies. Supersonic was falling like rain and her little arms were beginning to aim from all the senseless pummeling. Ember had ceased calling to her so she took the opportunity before she was enclosed by all sides by the blue cloud to make a getaway, scrambling away at the most speed she could currently muster.
-------"Augh, Kelly, no!" Emberlyn looked on with fear as the Sableye unknowingly dragged the persistent crowd along with her. They barreled towards the both of them now.
-------The Pokedex sung in gleeful cacophony. ZUBAT, THE BAT POKEMON! WHEN FLYING, IT CONSTANTLY EMITS— ZUBAT, THE BAT POKEMON! WHEN FLYING— ZUBAT, THE BAT— ZUBAT, THE BAT POKEMON—!
-------"Thank you, Pokedex, I'm very much aware of what a Zubat is," Ember spat at her shoulder bag as she backed away, hands raised in a futile attempt to not seem a threat. The right thing to do, she knew, was retrieve Kelly's ball and return her but, stupidly, it was at the very depths of her possessions, or at least it most likely was, knowing her look. This was evidently the loathsome time to be an unorganized teenager.
-------The Zubat swooped in and she gave up, turning tail and breaking into a run, crying for Kelly Hops to follow. All respect for the tower's atmosphere, all acknowledgement of anyone else but her and her Pokemon, all dissipated. In her father's words, she was booking it. In her mother's words, she was dropping everything and leaving. In her Pokedex's words, she was using Run Away. No matter what it was called, it reduced the immediate world to haze as she pumped her legs powerfully over the burned, old, unsteady, withered, splintered wood.
-------She heard human cries, a thunderous crack, and then could feel nothing but a roaring, momentum-driven wind as she was thrown into a tumultuous, obsidian void.
-------She and Kelly screamed as they dropped like stones.
-------"ZUBAT, THE BAT POKEMON!" her Pokedex exclaimed.