[color=Ivory][h1][center]Jaden Locke: Route 1[/center][/h1][/color]

[i]The First of Many, but with a bitter taste[/i]

Jaden would give his battle companions only the briefest of nods, thankful for their support, before turning towards his adversaries, his frown turning into a grimace as they basically bullied the pokemon they held into fighting. He noted that the Nidoran behind him was heading up, apparently still set on fighting who he believed to be his new trainer. It was moments like these that made him dislike the concept of Pokeballs even more, as it seemed that the conditioning it imprints on the pokemon leave them without the ability to make their own choices, simply giving into the will of whoever held their pokeball. As both the Nidoran and the water-type pokemon that one of the thugs had pulled out went to attack Vix, Jaden would quickly dive to the side, telling her to do the same.

As he crashed to the side, he took a moment to breathe, focusing his mind, then got back up to survey the situation, pulling out his Pokedex in order to get an idea of what he was up against. [color=Ivory][i]Water and Poison . . . that's a really bad combination for Vix, who probably can't take to many hits to start with . . . unless I try and turn the tables.[/i][/color] Jaden's eyes turned first to the Nidoran, then to the pokeball that still rested by the two thugs feet, a plan forming in his head as he did a quick look around at the other's situation, scanning all Pokemon present in order to get a quick run down of where Vix could be put to good use in this situation. [color=Ivory][i]If she could burn the Boufflant or help weaken the Skorupi . . . but that could leave her open to the Marill . . . Damn, I don't have the time to think, so I have to go with what my instincts . . . and hope for the best.[/i][/color] Steeling his resolve, Jaden quickly shook his backpack and jacket from his shoulders to the ground, but not before reaching into his bag to take out another pair of pokeballs,taking another deep breath before bursting into action. 

[color=Ivory]"Vix, get some distance, then use Ember on the Skorupi."[/color] He'd yell out as he ran around the other two pokemon, heading straight for the thugs, before throwing the pokeballs at them, calling out the names of the first pokemon that came to mind.[color=Ivory]"Go, Fennekin and Froakie!"[/color] The balls would go spinning through the air, but instead of releasing the two named pokemon, would continue flying straight at the two thugs heads. 

Jaden hoped that this would distract them, as his next action would be to slam his shoulder into the Mohawked one, aiming to throw him off balance and possibly into his friend, before quickly attempting to kick the Nidoran's pokeball away from him, not having time to really aim. Whether he succeeded or not, Jaden would then back away from the two thugs, unsure what they'd do in response to what he did. However, this fear wouldn't stop him from speaking out to both the Maril and the Nidoran.

[color=Ivory]"Listen well, the both of you. You don't have to fight for these thugs! Just because they have your pokeballs doesn't mean they own you, that they're your trainers. They are nothing but crooks and you don't have to listen to them. They're not strong, just bullies who gang up on those who they can take advantage of. Do you really want to let men such as these be your masters? Take control of your own lives, decide your own fates, and do what you want instead of what somelse tells you to, especially when they're as undeserving of your service as this lot."[/color] Jaden couldn't look at the two pokemon as he spoke, but he hoped that what he said would at least cause them to hesitate, if not simply refuse to act. If not, then he had likely put himself in a very bad position, as he didn't doubt that this lot would hesitate in siccing them on him after what he did. He was putting his faith and, quite possibly, his life in the hands of those two pokemon that he barely knew.

[@Feisty-Pants]
[@Ashevelendar]
[@TalijaKey]
[@Shadow Daedalus]
[@Holy Soldier]
[hr]

[color=Darkorchid][center]Noibat[/center[[/color]

[color=Darkorchid]"Ugh, what's with ya and sweets!?!?! We can get all the ice cream ya want aft'a we go scam some Trainer's now on the route. Ugh, Z, ya killin' me somethin' fierce I hope ya know."[/color] Noibat complained with a passion, her face set in a rather upset frown as she glared at the Zorua for a bit as he explained his plan, though it lightened a bit as she took a second to imagine how each of the trainer's would react if they knew they got beat by a bunch of wilds. [color=Darkorchid]"Hmmmmmm . . . I [i]wish[/i] we'd do the trainer beatin' first, and take 'em down sooner rath'a than later, but I'll go along with it. But first, since we're goin' to the City, I gotta get changed. Won't be but a moment.[/color]

Noibat would then quickly shift into her Pokemon form, flapping her wings in order to get some lift into the sky, but before launching off,she would smack into Zorua's cheek, rubbing against it affectionately. After that was done, she'd zip off to where her city clothes were currently stashed. The whole process would take about 7 minutes tops, after which she'd drop from the branches to land perfectly behind Z, looking really uncomfortable at the moment as she stretched this way and that in an attempt to get more comfortable in her clothes, to little success.

[color=Darkorchid]"I really, really don't get how ya can stand dressin' up like this everyday? It feels so weird and uncomfortable . . . and it chaffs something fierce sometimes."[/color] She muttered the last bit as she scratched at her thighs, the fur from the boots irritating her skin a bit. [color=Darkorchid]"Ugh . . . Let's hurry this up, M'kay, less time I have ta spend in these clothes, the better. Lead the way, Z, show me some targets so I can work me magic."[/color]