2024-02-20: Going Through The Pokemotions
- Cutscene: Going Through The Pokemotions
- Cast: Xantia
- Where: Viridian Forest
- Date: February 20, 2024
- Summary: To take her mind off things if nothing else, Xantia begins to train her Pokemon in earnest... or tries to. What she comes away with is more than a little unexpected.
Facing the facts, failure to keep Azoth out of the hands of Solaris had been the expected result. Not that it made Xantia feel any better about the situation. Lacking direct ways for even attempting to do something about it was driving her stir-crazy. It was bad enough when the Wise Men were at the forefront of her mind, and so much worse after that event.
She couldn't keep going on like this. Even Xantia herself realized she was going to hit a breaking point before long at this rate. She needed something else to focus on, anything to take her mind off things. But what? She's never been particularly good at distracting herself. Attempts at vacations or hobbies tend to end in dismal failure for one reason or another.
She didn't realize the answer had been staring her in the face all along until a little Nedian boy excitedly asked if he can see her Pokemon. And so, a few days of beginner's handbooks and friendly advice later...
In the middle of a wooded area, two Pokeballs release their occupants. Xantia addresses her companions with enthusiasm. "Alright, here we are! Viridian Forest! They say this is a good place for a beginner, so! Time for training! Are you ready, Shoo?"
The Shuppet twirls in the air, answering with a cheerful, "Shuppet!"
"Ralts?"
Unlike its cheery compatriot, the Ralts folds its arms and turns away its head. "Ralts."
Xantia sighs. She knows exactly what this is about. "I know, I know. I'm thinking about it, I promise. Please bear with me for a little longer? You know this is hard for me..."
A name. It wants to have a name, like Xantia's other Pokemon has. But how does one come up with a fitting name? 'Shoo' wasn't even meant to be a name, Shoo just kind of decided it was. And when forced to come up with something on the fly...
ONE WEEK AGO
Xantia, a hand on her chin, studies Ralts thoughtfully, carefully considering, until finally...
"Marshmallow...?"
Ralts places its hand-less arms on its hips. "Raaalts..."
Xantia waves her hands in apology. "Sorry, sorry, let me try that again. How about..." Her gaze drifts from the Ralts's white body to its green hair, resembling a bowl cut.
"...Cabbage?"
The small Pokemon leans forward, angrily exclaiming, "Ralts, Ralts!"
"Sorry, sorry, yes yes, I know you're not food!"
NOW
...Suffice it to say, Xantia isn't very good at coming up with names. Realizing this, Ralts lets out a long "Raaaaaalts...", then begrudgingly nods.
"Alright then!" Xantia is quick to regain her energy and move on, scanning the tall grass ahead for an opponent to take on. She's been reading up on what her Pokemon are capable of. Now it's time to see them in action! Unbeknownst to her, two beady eyes are watching Xantia from the bushes off to the side, regarding her with curiosity as she points forward.
"Aha, there's one! Go, you two! Get the drop on that Pokemon with Night Shade and Confusion!"
Shoo's eyes narrow and glow red, before a dark purple energy blast is unleashed from them towards the indicated target. Ralts raises its head, bringing its normally hidden eyes in full view as they glow blue, emitting clear waves of barely visible mental force in the same direction. A small, multi-colored eruption heralds the attacks striking true, briefly obscuring the target area. When it clears up...
The grey-furred target mostly obscured by the grass is standing strong on all fours, head kept lowered in a threatening stance towards its attackers, growling menacingly. Xantia blinks blankly, having not expected to end up being the one confused. "What? That... was supposed to do more than that, wasn't it?"
Barking loudly, the Poochyena rushes through the tall grass, charging the surprised Ralts and bowling it over with a full body Tackle. But before it can follow up with a vicious Bite on the toppled Pokemon...
"Back off!"
Xantia herself steps in, hand crackling with electricity as she moves to give the small dog-like Pokemon a mighty shove with the flat of her palm... but holding back from striking full force at the last second. The forceful electrified touch is still plenty to prompt the Poochyena to flee, yelping in alarm. Seeing this, the figure beholding the scene from the bushes becomes starry-eyed. There is a rustling, as it prepares to go out into the open...
Xantia doesn't notice the sound as she kneels next to Ralts, quick to apply some Potion spray to help it back to its feet while Shoo watches on with a questioning, "Shuppet?" She grimaces. "Yeah, I'm sorry... I know this was supposed to be your battle. But I think I messed up, that one seemed too strong for you." She gets the sense that she's missing something. Maybe she should read up on that complicated 'types' stuff again...?
Shaking her head, Xantia rises up, recalls her Pokemon and makes to leave... when there's a sudden 'dink' noise, followed by the sound of something slowly rolling away. Xantia blinks at the strange object she hit with her foot, and moves to pick it up, examining it in her hand. It appears to be some kind of orb, with a yellowish tint and strange shapes on the inside. 'Azoth would love this rock,' she catches herself thinking, the smile accompanying the thought quick to fade when she is reminded of their recent forced parting. "...Wait for me, Azoth," she intones, clutching the 'stone' tightly.
There's something else hitting her foot, she realizes then. Without her having realized it, the Pokemon that had emerged from the bushes had approached her, trying and failing to get her attention with barely audible squeaks until finally resorting to nudging her boot. Xantia sinks through her knees again to get a little closer to eye height with the orange creature, estimating it to be about as tall as Ralts if it were to stand up straight. She's... not quite sure what it reminds her of. A small bear, maybe? Or is it a rodent?
"...Hey there," she ventures. "Is there something you want?"
The quadrupedal Pokemon extends one of its paws towards the orb in her hand. Xantia initially interprets this as, "You want this?" The small headshake would suggest otherwise, as the Pokemon then uses its paw to indicate itself, before pointing to Xantia. "Oh, I see! You're the one who brought this to me!" A hint of a smile appears on the Pokemon's features, matched by a wider smile from Xantia. "Thank you, it's really nice. But why did you give me this? ...Is there something you want in return?"
In answer, the Pokemon slowly, unsteadily begins to rise up on its hind legs. Teetering, tottering... but with visible effort, managing its balance well enough to remain upright. Bringing one paw up to its face, it rapidly rubs its cheek for a moment, the electric sac present there generating sparks which transfer to its forepaw. Then, it thrusts its pudgy arm forward, discharging the electricity with a brief, light crackle. The force of this movement causes it to immediately fall over, landing flat on its face.
Xantia, having watched all this attentively... feels something strange inside of her chest. What is this sensation? Whatever it is... it's warm. Warm and pleasant. The Pokemon, meanwhile, rises back up to all fours, and looks at her expectantly.
"...You saw what I just did, and you want me to teach you to be better at it, is that what you're saying?" Her evidently correct interpretation receives an eager nod in response.
Not long ago, she would have thought that the last thing she needed was more Pokemon following her. But, even if she still felt that way... somehow, she just can't bear to turn this little creature away. She doesn't even take two seconds to think about it.
"Alright. Come along with me then. I don't have a spare Pokeball with me, but--"
She doesn't get any further than that before the Pokemon rushes up her back, effortlessly finding its way to her right shoulder. It lets out a soft, but happy-sounding, "Miii!"
Xantia chuckles, quick to agree, "Alright, that works." It may not be what she'd expected to come out of this first training session with... but she finds herself more than ready to accept this eager Pokemon - Pawmi, she'd later learn - as part of her growing group of little friends.