[CENTER] [h2][Color=641E16]Zurest Town[/color][/h2] [Hider=| RIN | The Restless, Rambunctious Rival |] [Img]https://i.imgur.com/bvG1klF.png[/img] [Color=641E16]◇◇◇[/color] [Color=rosybrown]They/Them and Other Gender Neutral Pronouns for when Referring to Rin.[/color] [Color=E6B0AA][i]Thank You![/i][/color] [Color=F2D7D5]◇◇◇[/color] [/hider] [/CENTER] With a devastating, final [i][u]Scratch[/u][/i] Hephaestus fell defeated, while Anusobeket rose triumphantly in the air over her first win! Immediately Rin ran over to scoop up their precious [i]Totodile[/i] in their arms. Nuzzling their face with her snout, Rin cooed congratulations. They knew the second they saw her that she'd be the one Rin would take all the way to the top, and this was everything they'd imagined it'd be! First battle, first win! Seeing as Anu was largely unaffected by the [i]Chimchar's[/i] attack even after a [i][u]Leer[/u][/i], Rin saw no need to return her to her pokéball to rest. Besides, Anusobeket looked alive with new vitality after that fight. It looked like the last thing on her mind was getting back into that thing anyway. Setting her down, their rival walked over to them. [color=f49ac2]"Well Rin, that was exciting. I promise next time we meet, we will be stronger. I don't plan on losing again, thank you so much."[/color] She took a pen out of her pocket and turned over Rin's hand revealing their palm, scribbled her Pokedex number onto it, and let go. Rin giggled at the feeling of it zigzagging on their skin, and looked her in the eyes as she spoke up again. [color=f49ac2]"I am going to say goodbye to my mother before I leave, and I might take the scenic route through Route 1. I want to try and find some good pokemon to catch; I got one type in particular I always wanted. So call me some time if you need to talk. We might be rivals, but I think you might be my first friend ever."[/color] She winked at them, turned on her heel not waiting for a response, and walked down a path leading further in town. [Color=rosybrown]"Cute,"[/color] Rin commented in regards to her wink. They weren't necessarily flirting (seeing as she'd already left), but the thought crossed their mind, and so out it came out. [Color=rosybrown]"You're definitely my first trans friend ever,"[/color] they mentioned bluntly to themself with a soft chuckle, rubbing the back of their neck. Actually calling out to her retreating form this time, Rin told her with hands cuffed around their mouth like a megaphone, [color=rosybrown]"stay safe! I still need to [i]beat[/i] you when you get to the Elite Four [i]after[/i] me!"[/color] Turning themelf around, they pulled out their own Pokédex, and sent a quick message to the number the girl --whose name was now revealed to be [i]Liz[/i] by the screen-- that read: [color=rosybrown]Here's how to reach me if you ever want to be humbled again.[/color] Slotting the device into their coat pocket, Rin turned back to Anusobeket. [Color=rosybrown]"Come on!"[/color] They waved for her to follow as they began jogging in the near opposite Liz had gone. [Center][h2][Color=641E16]Route 1[/color][/h2][/center] [Color=rosybrown]"Let's go find some friends to fight!"[/color] Definitely not a very rosy depiction of capturing pokémon, but it was honest, and was enough to inspire Anu to run along after her trainer. Together they made a beeline for woods. All of their goodbyes were more than out of the way. Nothing was going to stop them from catching 'em all! Rin dashed into the woods of Route 1, and headed straight for the tall grass with Anusobeket prowling behind them with predatory focus. Well, with all the predatory focus a not fully (but near enough) healed First-Stage Pokémon could muster. Perhaps Rin's rushing would spell danger for them? Only time would tell as they were on the hunt. Ready or not, here they come! [@Balthazar007]