Breaking from the Pack

A cool sea breeze blew in from the pier, filling the port town with the salty air. A large ship sat in the harbor, its passengers on shore for site seeing. Olivine City was well known for its diner, after all. The sounds of crew members and fishermen yelling to each other indistinguishably filled the air, as did the cawing of wingull just off shore. It was this place that Makoto Reyes had called home for the past four years.

A young woman, looking to still be in her teens stood at the edge of the pier looking down into her reflection. The waters were clear, as was the sky. It was a decidedly good day to begin a journey. She brushed a bit of her red hair back over her hear, adorned with large golden hoops. Her green eyes smiled softly in unison with her lips, the reflection smiling back at her tan form.

She was slender, but clearly mature by her curvature. Her outfit was very unique, consisting of a variety of belts and plaid materials in blues, browns, golds and grey. Her top was V-cut, consisting mostly of gold and coming down further in the front with the plaid blue and brown pattern. It raised at the sides and toward the back, exposing part of her skin to the air around. In addition, she wore rather short gray shorts with brown and gold trim. Her legs were mostly covered by the strange almost stocking-like apparel she wore, her sandals being the only things to cover her feet.

Adjusting the goggles atop her head she nodded, her grin growing wider. Most people found her to be odd, but she enjoyed indulging in her "SteamPunk-Gypsy" style. A green figure appeared in her reflection, her gaze shifting to her side. It was a small muted-green creature with an orange belly, and dark diamond shapes covering its body. It had what appeared to be a horn jutting from its forehead that was made out of the same substance as its body, and eyes were red.

"Laar-vitar!" The creature charmed, nudging its trainer's leg. The foghorn blew, and people were returning to the ship. They had to leave the pier before they were forcefully removed by security, and he knew it. "Lar-lar Larvitar!" he said, hopping from one foot to the other anxiously.

"Alright, alright," Makoto said calmly with the remnants of a smile on her face. "Let's go back home and finish packing." The Larvitar nodded in agreement. His name was Roxas, and he was Makoto's loyal partner to the very end. The two headed from the water to a small cabin like house just on the edge of town. Well, technically Olivine was a City but Makoto hardly felt like it really was. It was always so peaceful and serene there. Nothing every happened aside from the tourists.

"Ma, I'm home!" Makoto said, walking in and sliding off her sandals as she walked up to her room. Her mother didn't respond, not shocking to Makoto. She had just recently lost her dear friend and hadn't spoken to Makoto much since. Makoto merely sighed, she had known that would be the case. She gathered some clean clothes, tossing them into a pack with supplies. Raiding her piggy bank, she had managed to scrounge up $6,200 for her journey. She knew it wouldn't take her far, but she was hoping to make more along the way.

Packing the last of her materials, she checked her computer one last time. The last log was from the day her mother's friend had passed away. The day she had decided it was time to leave on a journey. She sat staring at the screen for several minutes before sighing and shutting the electronic down. She wouldn't be using it any time soon, after all. She picked up the custom PokeGear off her desk, clipping it to her bag as she made her way back downstairs.

She stopped at the door for several minutes, simply staring down at her shoes. It hurt to know she wouldn't be back any time soon. It hurt worse that she knew her mother wasn't going to reply. She stepped into her sandals, tapping the toe on the floor to securely fit them as she turned the door handle. "I'll be going now..." she called, waiting another long pause before exiting, carefully shutting the door behind her.

She stared down to the ground for a few seconds when she felt a tug at her leg to break her from the trance. "Hm? Oh, Roxas...thanks, buddy." The Larvitar replied with a chant of his name. "Right, let's go." She had already said her goodbyes to the townsfolk earlier. The ones she actually talked to, anyway. Now she was headed north-east to Eckruteak City. From there she would make her way to Violet City, and take the Gym Challenge to prove herself. Taking her first steps into the wild, she looked up toward the clear sky and took a deep breath. The sea air was already fading as she headed north to route 39 and MooMoo Farm.

[[I'm gonna mod my mom and my boss. -shivers-]]

Well today looks so good for a girl called Mokoto but as usual, wild Pokémon ruins the fun all the time. Do they really do? Nah, it depends on the person's point of view. The grass behind her rustles. Even more rustling, something's moving and it moved beside her and finally jumped out in front of her. A normal person would usually think this one's doing some taunting or scaring but not really. This wild is looking at Mokoto curiously and with a little twist of fear in his eyes but his fists show he's trying to man... or girl? Up.

Cyndaquil, F, 9

[[Everyone I mod becomes lucky when encountering Pokemon in the wild. o.o Kakashi encountered a Quagsire, Atlas encountered a Gible and a Turtwig consecutively and now you get a Cyndaquil. Trust me, I'm using the RNG. XD]]

Makoto walked along, stopping at the fence of MooMoo farms to pat one of the Miltank near the fence. She often enjoyed visiting on weekends to feed them berries, moreso when she was younger. Still, she gave a hefty pat to the creature as it mooed happily before Makoto turned to walk onward. She would miss this place, but nothing was permanent. She would return one day, surely.

Roxas kept glancing to the sides of the path as he heard rustling. There were always wild Pokémon around, however they weren't always so bold as to step out in front of trainers. The young Larvitar was prepared to defend Makoto at the drop of a hat. It seemed that would be sooner than later, as he tugged on Makoto's ankle.

The girl stopped, glancing down to her partner who's face was very serious. He stared straight forward, where Makoto's gaze was drawn. The bushes to the side rustled, a small blue creature stepping out. It looked shy, unnerved as its flames sparked and burst from the pores on its back. Apparently though shy, it wanted to battle.

"Okay then, Roxas show your stuff!" Makoto ordered. She hadn't had anything aside from practice battles before, mostly just general training for Roxas while becoming acquainted with his moves and capabilities. She was a bit nervous herself, really. Roxas nodded, the small green creature stepping forward to face the opposing Pokémon.

"Tar!" The Pokémon called, announcing his intents to win the battle. He tossed his head back a bit confidently in display of his power. He had the advantage, and well knew it. Makoto however, was debating adding the fire type to her team. She knew they were rare, and the fact that this one was a female made her even more coveted.

"Start with sandstorm!" Makoto ordered, shifting the goggles on her forehead to cover her eyes safely. She knew that her Larvitar's ability would make him nigh impossible to hit in a sandstorm, the minor damage dealt to the foe being a simple bonus. Roxas nodded, focusing his energy as he inhaled deeply. His chest puffed out, exhaling as sand and dust whipped up from the ground. It seemed there was a torrent, creating a small field for the battle in which the whipping winds successfully kicked up a sandstorm. Larvitar ran into the fray, using the normally damaging storm as cover.

[[It's allowed to add something else before reacting to the mods' scenario? O.o]]
[[Also, I always turn a Pokemon's gender into the member's character's gender. Like yours is female so I will always give you a female unless it's a genderless Pokemon or a male one like Nidoking set for its default.]]

Cyndaquil was taken off her feet by the winds and fell to her stomach. She planted her paws on the soil to not be blown away. "Cyndaaa," was the Pokémon’s shout as she looked back and forth towards the dusty wind and the foe Larvitar's hard-to-see silhouette. A rock - the size of a fourteen year old's fist - hits Cyndaquil on her head causing damage "CYN," she cried.

Her foe will be hard to hit so she used Foresight EM hoping that it would also allow her to hit the foe. She knows it's for Ghost-types but won't hurt to give it a try. Her eyes glared as she waited for the move to take effect either successfully or in failure.

[There wasn't anything signifying exactly when it happened to jump out as she was walking, so yes it can be made before reacting. if you had said that it jumped out immediately as she entered the route then no, I wouldn't have been able to add much.]

The foe's moves made it a bit easier to see through the storm. It reduced the amount of accuracy loss, however Roxas' sand veil still raised his evasiveness in the mayhem. "Alright Roxas, good start! Now, use Stone Edge!" Makoto called, raising her arm over her nose and mouth.

Roxas summoned his inner strength. Using it, he pushed it outward from his body and into the ground beneath Cyndaquil. Sharp stones suddenly jutted from below, stabbing upward in attempt to strike the foe! Roxas used Stone Edge!

[[I always thought that it's a default "right away" scenario... O.o]]

Cyndaquil felt sharp stones underneath her which stabbed and pushed her upwards. She clung to a stone and while in mid-air, she jumped away only to land on the ground which dealt double damage to her. Surely, it made her weak. The flames on her back almost lighted out as she lied on her back warming her wound with her two paws. The foe's helpless now.

"Alright, Roxas that's enough!" Makoto called. The Larvitar looked up, the roaring storm dying down. "This'll be my first," she claimed as she unhitched an empty pokeball from her waist. "Alright, go PokéBall!" Se shouted, expanding the red and white orb in her fist and tossing it at the weakened Cyndaquil. She watched with bated breath to see if it would stick or not.

The Poke ball made contact with the now dying - not fainting - Cyndaquil as the ball wobbled thrice before it stopped. She must be taken to a Pokémon Center right away or the Ball will end up having a dead Pokémon inside it.

[Roxas is only level 10, it would hardly be causing the Cyndaquil to die from its attacks, even if super effective. Just sayin']

Makoto walked over and picked up the pokeball containing her new Pokémon. She wasn't heartless though, even if her fighting style was ruthless. She was just the kind of person who poured everything they have into something once started.

"She was in pretty bad shape, Roxas. I think we're closer to Olivine than we are to Ecruteak. Looks like the trip is gonna take an extra day." She sighed, turning back and heading toward town. Roxas kicked at the dirt. His first battle, and it was hardly a challenge. That's what you get when you have the utter advantage, though.

The two walked back to Olivine City, a bit displeased that half their day had gone to walking just to end up right back where they started. Still, Makoto knew that the Cyndaquil needed to be healed so she took the ball into the classic red roofed building and up to the counter.

"Hey Nurse Joy," Makoto said, rather familiar with this town's Joy having lived there for years. "This Pokémon I caught is beat up pretty bad, can you please take care of her?" Makoto set the ball carefully on the counter. Roxas stood next to her, waiting for any confirmation. He barely even got a workout, and wanted to get back on the road as soon as possible.

[[U-u... okay... o.o *shivers even more* but i always try to be realistic in modding...]]

Nurse Joy didn't say a thing and her eyes are droopy, obviously tired from all the day's work. She takes the Pokeball and puts it on whatever that machine is as Cyndaquil's wounds are healed. She takes the Pokeball and puts it on the counter looking at Makoto. "The magical healing ability of thy Pokémon Center hath healed thy precious Cynda," she said in a seemingly hypnotized-voice. She really is tired and sleepy.

[realism for the pkmn Universe is that they're strong enough to take a beating and just faint. If the beating then continues is when they're more likely in danger. Gotta think about what "realism" for that universe is before choosing realistic outcomes. :P]

"Umm..." Makoto says, taking the ball back. "Thank...you?" She stutters, wondering what was up with the nurse. She was usually very cheerful no matter the time of day. Not to mention she never spoke like that. "Is everything alright?"

She eyed the Nurse warily, clipping the new Cyndaquil's ball to her waist. She would choose a name later. For now, she felt the need to get to the bottom of things here. Roxas could sense it, and knew they weren't getting back on the road any time soon now.

[[About the nurse, that was aimed for your funny bone but I guess I missed or maybe your radars did not detect it. Therefore I judge this: Fail. Guess I'll have to make it up to you by... another battle! Oh and it's allowed for mods to be tough against players right? I mean, I wanna be this mod which is the "that freaking annoying tough little mod" type. Y'know, hard to beat and stuff like that. Of course, no God-modding.]]

The nurse stares at her seeming lifeless for a couple of seconds before blinking her eyes. "What? You've been staring at me this entire time and what were you thanking me for," she asked sounding confused and sleepy. This time, she seems to be talking in a normal way.

On the screen of the monitor beside her, it changes to a creepy and smiling face of a Ghost-type Pokémon looking at Makoto for a second before the screen returned to normal. With that quick glimpse, most people would be able to identify it as a

Misdreavus/12/F

[[Thought I'd add some horror in it. Anyway, I put the Cyndaquil in the same format that you used with your Larvitar. ^.^]]

[Feel free to use the RNG for the gender of my Pokemon.]

Makoto had been right, something was off. This theory was only confirmed when the nurse snapped back to reality. She looked drained both physically and mentally, often a symptom of possession by ghost types... The computer screen flashed the ghostly grin, Makoto's eyes narrowing as she stepped back.

"Alright then..." she said as the ghost emerged. Misdreavus...her sister had shown her some back when she visited Blackthorn. She knew their potential power was intense and smirked. She looked down to her partner, Roxas. He was her hope for now, she would rely on the new Cyndaquil as a last resort. Roxas nodded, understanding well what was happening.

Makoto slowly backed up toward the motion sensing doors, beckoning the Misdreavus to follow her. "Let's take this outside, shall we?" Roxas followed her lead, taunting the ghost to follow in stead. He would wait for her to emerge, then attempt to bite her at first opportunity.

[[Eh, I set a Pokémon’s gender the same to the character's gender as a standard. But if you want it random then no problem.]]

The Ghost-type nodded a yes. As Makoto exited the building, a cry of a Misdreavus can be heard beside her but the Ghost is nowhere to be seen.

[more substance would be nice...]

Makoto stood still. She knew Ghosts often played tricks like this. She would have to stand her ground and wait for a sign, whether it be physical manifestation or otherwise. "Stay prepared, Larvitar. Use Dragon Dance!" Larvitar nodded, choosing to pump up and prepare. He performed the mystic dance, the blue dragon flames raising from his pounding feet and fueling both his attack and speed.

Misdreavus appears in front of Makoto; enough steps away for a battle to take place. She playfully hovers left and right repeatedly.

"Now, Roxas!" Makoto orders, soon as the ghoul manifests before her. Roxas nods, rushing to jump and attempt to sink his teeth into Misdreavus with a Bite attack! He had prepared it earlier, after all. Playful in Pokémon language was often a hearty battle, after all. Otherwise, why would she have agreed to it? Makoto smirked, two Pokémon battles in one day...and if it went her way, this one would join her team as well!

The elusive Misdreavus disappears quickly into nothingness. She shows up behind Roxas as fast as she disappeared. She screams a loud and eerie one that of which Larvitar can flinch. Misdreavus used Astonish.

Roxas flinched, gritting his teeth. He should have seen it coming! "Alright then, strategy it is," Makoto said as she hopped back a few paces. She pulled the goggles down over her eyes and smirked. "Sandstorm!" She ordered. Roxas nodded, summoning the raging wind and sand that one would find in a desert. It probably looked pretty odd by now, this quickly heated battle right outside a Pokémon Center -in town, no less! Roxas used Sandstorm! The Sandstorm is raging, Roxas' evasion goes up.

Ghosts can evade and turn invisible all they want but their vision can't do magic. A chunk of rock hits the Misdreavus. She then kept hovering around hoping it will increase her chance of evasion for further attacks.

Unfortunately for Misdreavus, she lacks the Sand Veil ability like Roxas. Sandstorms were second natire to him, and thanks to his typing he would not take any damGe from them either! An excellent strategy, surely. While making it more difficult for Misdreavus' attempts to land a hit, she would also take damage!

"Roxas, use Bite now!" Makoto ordered, hoping the distraction would be enough to land a hit. Roxas rushed in, jumping toward where the Misdreavus was. He was hard to see, so the two of the, hoped he would also be harder to evade. Teeth bared, he attempted to lock them down on the Ghost type! The sandstorm continues...

Luck was on Makoto and Roxas' side. The Dark-type move hit as another rock smashes on the Ghost-type's head... body? Which is which? Whatever. Being the specie that gathers energy using fear, this situation puts her in a disadvantage. It doesn't seem that her target feels any fear at all. Knowing that she might end up fainting, she intelligently but annoyingly attempted Destiny Bond which would surely bring Roxas down if the move works once she's out.

Foe Misdreavus used Destiny Bond EM!
Foe Misdreavus | HP: 3/6 | Status: In-battle

Roxas, satisfied with his hit jumped back. He hid within the sandstorm awaiting Makoto's orders. However, Destiny Bond would mean little if Makoto's intentions were realized. She unclipped one of the four remaining empty pokeballs from her waist, expanding it in her palm. Slowly she rotated it waiting for the perfect moment. Her goggles allowed her to see rather well in the storm, so she was merely waiting for a clear shot. Finally, it presented itself and she hurled the red and white ball at the Misdreavus to attempt a catch.

The Ball hit Misdreavus seemingly from out of nowhere according to her thoughts. It is still hard to see the twitching of the Ball even with Goggles. It twitched a one... and a two... Before it burst open. The capture has failed. Misdreavus breaks free and now decides to stop playing tricks and be serious with this fight.

Caught in a sandsto-

POW!

Misdreavus again gets hit by a random rock. Now that she got damaged again, Makoto now has a bigger chance of capturing the Ghost. But Misdreavus won't let that happen as she unleashes a Psywave.

Makoto slid in, retrieving the pokeball from the ground as she ran around to Misdreavus' other side. It was risky, to say the least. But she was adventurous at heart and clearly a risk taker. Makoto made it safely, however Roxas was hit by the pshycic wave. Fortunately, Psywave is rather unreliable due to its varied power, and this time was toward the weaker end of the spectrum. He resisted countering, as Makoto had not yet made an order of attack.

"Let's try this again," she said as she turned, sliding to a halt. She chucked the ball once more to the Misdreavus, hoping it stuck this time.