[color=hotpink][h2][center]♥ Ellanor "Ella" Beaufort ♥[/center][/h2][/color]
[color=hotpink][h3][center]Location: Stillwater -> Route to Feyhollow[/center][/h3][/color]
[@Dusksong]

After a quick lunch of a mixed vegetable stir-fry for herself and berries for her Pokemon, there was only one thing left for Ella to do in Stillwater. Noticing how the town had livened up - lights in windows, people walking along the beach, vendors displaying handmade wares - she took a detour to the mart.

Just like that, the twenty trainer points she'd earned were spent. As she left, she wondered if she really deserved to keep the Black Sludge. The shopkeeper, grateful for her actions (if they could even be called actions), had let her buy it, but she wouldn't be able to use it in a battle until she ranked up. It was strange to think she was just one Pokemon away from reaching Skilled rank. Even completing a mission hadn't made her feel the title would fit her.

[color=hotpink]"Yeah... I hope she's doing better,"[/color] she replied as she made her way along the marshy route beside Leisy. Recalling something from Darkrai's nightmare, she shuddered. [color=hotpink]"I don't know if you remember anything about this, but..."[/color] Her voice trembled. [color=hotpink]"Back there, I... I think I tried to stay behind, so he'd let everyone go. And you were talking me out of it. Saying people would miss me. I didn't think so at the time, but how messed up was it that I'd have put Vivian through that? Especially with everything she's dealing with right now."[/color]

As she gave Vivian a call to let her know she and Leisy were on their way back, that stab of guilt sharpened at the thought that she'd been close to abandoning her friend altogether, all because she'd felt like the weak link of the team.

After a two-hour walk, she sat down on a log to rest her aching feet. It felt like it would take a while to recover her full strength. Letting one Pokemon out at a time, she fed them more berries. [color=hotpink]"I didn't even know ghosts needed to eat, before I met you,"[/color] she said as Brighteye happily devoured an Oran berry. [color=hotpink]"Or do you just like the taste?"[/color]

That was when Leisy pointed something out. [color=hotpink]"Hm? What's a pumpkin doing here?"[/color] Ella wondered aloud, approaching it. This pumpkin was huge, easily over two feet tall, and capped with dark, curled leaves.

Without warning, the pumpkin jumped up and turned around, revealing two glowing, eye-like holes in its rind. [color=hotpink]"Ohh! A Pokemon?"[/color] Ella blurted, staggering back in surprise. Her shock turned to admiration. [color=hotpink]"Those are such pretty lights!"[/color]

Brighteye floated over. "Duskull! Skull!" she cried, just before disappearing into the forest. The Pumpkaboo turned this way and that in midair, failing to notice shadows creeping up until they shot forward, wrapping around it like clawed hands.

[color=hotpink]"Brighteye, leave it alone!"[/color] Ella shouted. With a squeal, the Pumpkaboo pulled free and vanished into the shrubs. [color=hotpink]"Hey, wait!"[/color] the trainer called. [color=hotpink]"It was just her idea of a prank! She didn't mean any harm!"[/color]

There was a sudden flare of orange light as the Pumpkaboo reappeared, passing right through a tree and rushing at Brighteye, its fangs bared in a grin. Watching the other ghost back away, it giggled. Ella let herself relax and sit back down as the Duskull and the Pumpkaboo continued to chase each other around the woods. They were just playing... and Brighteye seemed to actually be getting along with another Pokemon.

While distracted, Ella felt something tug at the bag on her shoulder. She glanced over to see a small purple cat darting away, her bag of Pokefood in its mouth. [color=hotpink]"Hey!"[/color] she yelled, jumping back up and running after the thieving cat.

[hider=Ella]
[b]TP:[/b] +1 +20 -20 (70)
[b]Pokemon:[/b]
[list][*]Trubbish (Treasure), female, lv8
[*]Ekans (Smiley), male, lv6
[*]Duskull (Brighteye), female, lv6
[*]Inkay (Jumbles), male, lv5
[*]Stunky (currently unnamed), male, lv3[/list]
[b]Inventory:[/b]
[list][*]Pokeball x1
[*]Potion x1
[*]Black Sludge x1[/list]
[b]Rank:[/b] Beginner
[b]Organisation:[/b] None[/hider]
[hr]
[color=springgreen][h2][center]✿ Florence Hadley ✿[/center][/h2][/color]
[color=springgreen][h3][center]Location: Feyhollow Town[/center][/h3][/color]

Florence read over the information on her Pokedex again.

[color=springgreen]"Well, they encourage catching Pokemon..."[/color] she murmured, taking out the Pokeball from her bag and giving it an unsure look, before turning her attention to Vernie. [color=springgreen]"So I guess I'd better start with you... if that's ok."[/color]

As Florence crouched down, Vernie trotted over, her curiosity piqued. The new trainer studied the capsule for a few more seconds. It looked so small. Would Vernie be alright inside it? What would it even be like for a Pokemon inside a Pokeball?

It was Vernie who took action. Extending one of the buds on her neck into a vine, she tapped the button on the capsule. It sprang open, enveloping the Chikorita in light, pulling her inside and snapping shut.

The Pokedex beeped. Looking at the screen, Florence felt some of the tension leave her as it indicated the Chikorita was at full health. Now to make sure she was alright in other ways. As the new trainer pressed the button, her friend reappeared in a flash of light.

"Chiko!" Vernie jumped up and down in excitement. Stretching out her vines, she pulled Florence into a hug.

The young woman gave a relieved chuckle. [color=springgreen]"Well, I'm officially your trainer now."[/color]

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the old lady at the counter turn around. She instantly recognised her - one of the people who ran the local health food shop. Her kindly face was creased into a look of panic. Of desperation, even. Not knowing how to react, all Florence could do was stay back, her eyes cast towards the floor. She only knew this person by sight. It wasn't her place to ask what was going on.

She did, however, hear what the woman said as she let out a Ribombee, who zipped around in a clearly agitated state. [color=palegoldenrod]"We'll make sure they get found."[/color] With that, the storekeeper shuffled from the building.

[hider=Florence]
[b]TP:[/b] +1 +5 (caught a Pokemon) (9)
[b]Pokemon:[/b]
[list][*]Chikorita (Vernie), female, lv1[/list]
[b]Inventory:[/b]
[b]Rank:[/b] Beginner
[b]Organisation:[/b] Aether Foundation[/hider]
[hr]
[hider=CP]+1 (44)[/hider]