[center][color=wheat][h3]Aedre Charbonnet[/h3][/color] — Mesalon Cave Complex — [/center] If the ghastly flames that—even without wind—flickered with life hadn’t said enough as to the cavern’s paranormal nature, Rachel’s subsequent panic certainly did. Her release of her Pokemon prompted Aedre’s hands to her own Pokeballs, and a few seconds later Aedre saw what the gym leader had instinctively sensed: eyes blinking out of the darkness. wild Ghost-type Pokemon. Her breath caught in her throat, but she refused to let her fear show. Ghost-types were notorious for their whimsical nature that often turned on a dime, and anything that might change the nature of their interest, such as a sudden shift of emotion in the subject of their observation, may give them the final nudge they needed to finally spring into action. The Gengar’s Shadow Ball, therefore, took Aedre completely by surprise, not so much because she’d forgotten about the spike-crowned ghost-type—how could anyone?—than because she was newly reminded of just how much of a threat, a danger, the Gengar posed. [i]Thank Arceus he’s on our side,[/i] Aedre thought, and not for the first time, as her gaze turned from the Gengar to his current trainer, then back to Rachel when the gym leader started speaking. Her words brought both comfort and another twinge of uncertainty: would the trainers continue braving the cavern despite the clear promise of dangers they’ve seen and have yet to see? Her unasked questions, however, were quickly answered, though not without raising different ones. Lan—the gym leader of Mesalon, who, as Rachel reasoned, had to have known of the cavern’s existence—was the new mystery. His status as a gym leader coaxed trust from Aedre, but how much trust should she really have for the gym leader of a region she’d only recently arrived in, only just begun to see? [color=wheat]“Well, I don’t have too much experience myself, but I think keeping in mind that every ghost-type is different but that many are fairly temperamental is a start,”[/color] Aedre said when Amber asked about pointers on training ghost-types. [color=wheat]“Past that, I think Rachel has about as much knowledge as me, being a gym leader...”[/color] She trailed off, at a loss for words because really, how much advice had she, a fledgling trainer who only recently traded lab goggles for running shoes, to give? There was a sudden motion in the background, and Aedre turned to catch a scarlet-eyed sarcophagus rising out of the darkness, its shadowy black arms snatching at the nearest trainer, Amber, without success. [color=wheat]“Amber!”[/color] Aedre shouted in alarm, eyes wide. What might have happened had the ghost-type Pokemon made contact with the researcher, Aedre didn’t want to know. She’d done her research on the subject since Honedge were notorious for doling out adverse effects if touched, and she knew that with malevolent ghost-types, making contact rarely yielded positive—or even neutral—outcomes. Thankfully, with Rachel’s Tyranitar lending a very strong, very helpful hand, the trainers quickly made it out of the cave. Outside, they were met with, besides an enthusiastic flying football of a Pokemon, a familiar sight—one that Aedre, despite her limited time with the group, recognized. [color=wheat]“Hey!”[/color] Aedre said, grinning and waving at the familiar faces. As the conversation progressed, it became blatantly clear that Amber and the new addition to the group, Vivianne, knew each other. Vivianne’s subsequent introduction answered some questions, but the heavy awkwardness between the two, despite the ongoing casual conversation between them, was tangible. [color=wheat]“Aedre, aspiring scientist as well,”[/color] Aedre said when Vivianne introduced herself. [color=wheat]“Nice to meet you.”[/color] The roar, followed by Oscar’s disappearance towards, stirred the group into motion after him. Upon spotting the swarm of Zubats, Aedre quickly released her own Pokemon, minus her Honedge. [color=wheat]“Thea, Charm. Little, Quick Attack them while they’re distracted,”[/color] Aedre said, her Pokemon nodding and charging into battle together. [i]Them tag-teaming a few Zubat should be no problem,[/i] Aedre thought, glancing around at the other trainers. A Flash from Rachel’s Cradily sped the entire process along, and Amber and Vivianne arrived soon after to help. With the Zubat soon cleared out, Aedre’s Pokemon returned to her, Little perching on her shoulder after Aedre bent down and picked up Thea. The wild Kommo-o had succumbed to exhaustion and was being tended to, and nearby, Oscar was leaning over something on the far side of the cavern. [color=wheat]“Wow—is that?”[/color] Aedre asked, eyes widening at the sight of a small dragonling appearing from its hidden nest. Following its path with her eyes, Aedre saw Amber and Sophia crouched over the fallen Kommo-o. Amber merely looked worried, but Sophia looked almost stricken, her eyes wide and features tight. [color=wheat]“Everything alright?”[/color] Aedre asked, walking over, brows knitting as Sophia shook her head. [color=wheat]“What—”[/color] Her eyes snapped to the fallen Kommo-o as realization washed over her. [i]Oh,[/i] she thought, her grip tightening on Thea, who turned to stare at her trainer in confusion, her little arms reaching out for her trainer’s in concern. [i]Oh.[/i] Aedre nodded numbly as the conversation progressed, her eyes fixed on the fallen Kommo-o. Such was the nature of life, wasn’t it? She’d studied it, read it, learned it in articles and dissertations, yet the chilling solemness of the body there, on the floor, brought about a fresh bought of sorrow. [i]Is this what ghost-type Pokemon remember?[/i] she wondered. [i]Or do they not even recall the moments of their death?[/i] [color=wheat]“What about the rest of her clutch?”[/color] Aedre asked, nodding at the hidden nest once discussion over the bravest Jangmo-o was over. [color=wheat]“We probably shouldn’t move them, seeing as they’re probably scared enough as is, but we can’t just leave them here…”[/color] [hr][hider=Notes][u][b][color=wheat] Team: [/color][/b][/u] [list][*] Pasithea “Thea” ♀ — Togepi (11 +1 = 12) [list][*][b]Attacks:[/b] [i]Growl, Charm, Metronome, Sweet Kiss[/i] [*][b]Ability:[/b] [i]Serene Grace[/i][/list] [*] Alitis “Little” ♂ — Fletchling (11 +1 = 12) [list][*][b]Attacks:[/b] [i]Tackle, Growl, Quick Attack[/i] [*][b]Ability:[/b] [i]Gale Wings[/i][/list] [*] Decus “Dee” ♂ — Honedge (6) [list][*][b]Attacks:[/b] [i]Tackle, Swords Dance, Fury Cutter[/i] [*][b]Ability:[/b] [i]No Guard[/i][/list] [/list] [u][b][color=wheat] Bag Items: [/color][/b][/u] [list][*]Pokedex (with Kosei Region Map) [*]Smart Phone [*]Credit Card linked to a private account that houses a decent amount of money [*]Poke Radar [*]Collapsable Bike with two gears (third for bike ramps, fourth for muddy slopes) [*]Laptop & Charger for formal work and notekeeping [*]5 Pokeballs [*]Water Stone [*]Dusk Stone [/list][/hider] [@luckyblackcat] [@heckno12] [@AbysmalDemon] [@Noxx] [@fer1323]