Amos trudged along, a sour expression on his face. The rain that had begun about an hour earlier was beginning to die down. While he typically enjoyed big storms and rainy days, getting caught out in the rain so close to town was not helping his already tired mood. Not that it was a heavy rain. In fact it was a light drizzle. The first few minutes had been pleasant, but at this point towards Amos felt thoroughly soaked. He made a mental note to buy himself a rain jacket at the first opportunity. His hoodie was just not going to cut it.

He gave a light sigh in relief as the sun came out from behind the clouds once more, its golden light making him squint a bit until he grew used to it again. He pulled off his hoodie as the wet material was starting to get uncomfortable. He used the balled up jacket to wipe the excess water off his face, hair, arms and legs, then stopped to stuff it in one of the pockets of his backpack. He released Bliss form her pokeball once more, having recalled her halfway through the rainshower. The Pokemon cartwheeled around on her feet and tail, enjoying the fresh feeling of the outdoors after the rain.

As they got closer to the city, more Pokemon emerged from hiding to bask in the sun once more. Amos passed a tree with a Starly chirping loudly. As he moved on he kept passing trees each with their own individual Starly, its harsh singing straining his ears. He kept walking, always finding another Starly singing just as he got far enough from one to not hear it. 

[color=39b54a]"I swear it's the same one following us. It just needs to shut up..."[/color] he muttered to Bliss.

As if on cue, a Starly in a tree ahead of them launched into a shrill song. It only served to irritate Amos further. He was tired, hungry, wet, and now this bird wouldn't shut up. He groaned. [color=39b54a]"Just shut up!"[/color] he yelled at the bird. The Starly raised its head indignatly, "RRRRRRLLEEEEE." 

[color=39b54a]"I said SHUT. UP. Stop. making. noise. please."[/color]

"RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" it cried defiantly, flying out of the tree and dangerously close to his face. 

[color=39b54a]"Bliss. Let's practice our battling."[/color]

The Aipom stopped it's frolicking and quickly ran between Amos and the Starly. The Starly angrily Growled, causing Aipom to shrink away a bit. 

[color=39b54a]"Go, use Astonish!"[/color]

Bliss's characteristic smile disappeared and she jumped at the Starly. A black haze appeared around her and red angry face on her tail, as it spun around to hit the Starly. The Starly however remained unfazed and moved out of the way of the attack, countering with its own Quick Attack and knocking Aipom back to the ground. She rolled on the ground but stood up quickly. 

[color=39b54a]"Shit..."[/color] Amos muttered, realizing he had forgotten the typing of the attack in his mood. [color=39b54a]"Bliss, a sand attack! See if we can get it to stop flying around!" [/color]

The Aipom nodded and kicked up sand with her tail, only to be struck by another quick attack from above before she could hit the Starly. Following the attack that had piled some sand behind her, she once again tossed in the Starly's direction. This time it successfully hit the bird's eyes. Unfortunately that was because the wild Pokemon had been in the middle of another Quick Attack which landed immediately afterward. Bliss fell back again as the Starly flew around wildly in its blindness, rather than come down to the ground and Amos had hoped. 

[color=39b54a]"Quick, while it can't see! A tail whip followed up by a scratch."[/color]

The Aipom jumped at the Starly, turning to hit the Starly with its tail hand, followed by a scratch with its arms. It landed beneath the Starly and moved out of the way as it attempted another Quick Attack. 

[color=39b54a]"Try that again, Bliss! Sand Attack!" [/color]

Bliss swept up further sand, getting a bit more on the Starly's eyes. At a command, she exceuted a Scratch attack with her tail, managing to knock the Starly to the ground. It countered with a Tackle, making to take off again. 

[color=39b54a]"Another Scratch attack! Keep it on the ground."[/color]

The Aipom rushed forward, but was too slow and missed as the Starly took flight once more. It then turned around and hit with another Tackle. 

[color=39b54a]"Come on, another Scratch!" [/color]

Aipom made to attack, but was clearly tired. She was unable to jump high enough to reach the Starly, which used another Quick Attack as soon as she landed. 

[color=39b54a]"All right, all right! Keep singing if you want I don't care anymore!"[/color] Amos suddenly shouted. He ran up waving his arms above his head trying to shoo off the Starly. It directed a Quick Attack right at his head then flew around a bit trilling triumphantly once more before flying off.

Amos kneeled next to Aipom who had dusted herself off and was now sitting and breathing heavily. She showed a few visible injuries. [color=39b54a]"Sorry girl, I thought we were ready for that,"[/color] he said as he put his hand and head. [color=39b54a]"You did great though. I'll get us the rest of the way to Floaroma, get you healed, and we can treat ourselves to some good food."[/color] He held up the Pokeball and recalled his Aipom in a burst of red light, then stood up. He began walking towards town, the first building already coming into view. The songs of the Starly making his mood even worse. He didn't even care to notice that one of them seemed a bit off in color.