[@Gardevoiran] Skylar and his new evolved Pokémon headed back across the desert back to Raremine Town! From here, he wandered through a town that was recovering from some recent turmoil, some builders patching up some damaged buildings and scientists helping reconstruct here and there. All that aside, Skylar and his team were heading for one place and one place alone. The Pokémon Gym… He found a huge gate, an arc held upon two pillars forming a place to walk through, and on the sign it said “Pokémon Gym” in large shiny letters, for those who can read. Except, the gate led straight out into the vast, sandy desert, from where Skylar had just come. On the side stood a little sign, as proper for a Pokémon Gym, despite the clear lack of actual building. Raremine Pokémon Gym - Minor League Leader: Kristy “The Desert Princess!” Beside the sign stood a young man in glasses, who stepped forth just in time to greet Skylar as he arrived. [color=6d80ab]‘Why, hello there, newest champ-to-be! This is about the time most new challengers ask themselves “where’s the gym?”.’[/color] he said, ready to be informative. [hider=This guy][center][url=http://i.imgur.com/6B7u7Dx.jpg][img]http://i.imgur.com/U6Kq8aq.png[/img][/url][/center][/hider] [color=6d80ab]‘Now, first, let me give you an analysis. Kristy is a user of the Ground-type.[/color] [color=f75423][i]They’re super-weak to electric types, so bring all your Pikachus![/i][/color] [color=6d80ab]… Er, they’re strong against electric, poison, rock and steel-type Pokémon.[/color] [color=f75423][i]They also make short work of water, grass and flying-type Pokémon, so better leave those at home![/i][/color] [color=6d80ab]... On the contrary, water and grass are pretty good against Ground! That aside, Kristy loves fighting in a sandstorm, so[/color] [color=f75423][i]don’t bring goggles, the sand will ruin them! Oh, and rock- and steel-type Pokémon resist the sand, so bring lots of those![/i][/color] [color=6d80ab]… True, but as I said, they’re weak to Ground-type, so, maybe not?’[/color] [color=f75423]‘Fuh, what are you even standing around telling trainers this for? Let new trainers figure out themselves what types work against each Gym Leader! That’s part of the fun!’[/color] So said a red-haired woman that stood up from behind the Gym’s sign, smiling brightly, goggles on her head, a brown jacket over an orange suit with lots of equipment stashed into it. She’d been copying the Gym Guy’s voice in the middle of his analysis. [hider=Kristy][center][url=https://i.imgur.com/yUn2CI6.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/yEonHDYl.png[/img][/url][/center][/hider] [color=6d80ab]‘Just doing my duty, my lady,’[/color] the Gym Guy bowed to her, and then stepped out of the way. [color=f75423]‘Hah,’[/color] the woman made a dismissively amused noise, before looking to Skylar and smiling brightly. [color=f75423]‘Howdy~! I’m Kristy, Leader of Raremine Town Gym! I’m happy to see you’ve come to visit my Gym! Where’s my Gym, you ask? Well, all of Isson’s deserts are my Gym~!’[/color] Kristy boasted as she gestured at the desert through the gate behind her. [color=f75423]‘So, have you come to challenge my gym? Are you prepared?’[/color] Kristy asked. This is where Skylar would be allowed to ask questions or the like. [hider=Under the assumption that he goes through with this] [color=f75423]‘Then come!’[/color] Kristy said excitedly as she spun around, walking out into the desert, expecting Skylar to follow. [hider=Route 7][center][h2]Route 7[/h2][/center] [center][url=https://i.imgur.com/JADJhVo.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/JADJhVol.jpg[/img][/url][/center] A rocky desert stretches out behind Raremine Town. Route 7 is located in somewhat of a basin, surrounded by giant cliffs that cause all the clouds to empty themselves of water before passing this single area, causing the single most potent desert of Isson, the sun eternally glaring down with heat echoing from the sand beneath. While this desert contains a lot more rocks than a regular vast desert does due to the cliffs sometimes falling down into it and the boulders rolling about, there is somewhat of an influx of air soaring down into the valley, regularly blowing sand up into the skies. Sandstorms are a semi-regular occurrence on Route 7, and one in particular is always covering up the path that is said to lead to the Mystic Oasis, which can only be reliably found through the assistance of a Vivillon, which was found out a while ago by the citizens of Raremine Town. Still, the path to the Desert Mines is usually clear and populated by miners walking back and forth, and those fortunate can pass all the way to the Old Tombs without any issues…[/hider] The hot desert spread out all around them. Kristy breathed in the air as if it was the freshest thing she’d ever breathed, and then spun around to Skylar. [color=f75423]‘So… how about we play a little game?’[/color] Kristy said, smiling as she did. [color=f75423]‘I’m going to go hide in the desert. Your job is to come find me. You may use any means available to you and your Pokémon. You start, as soon as the sandstorm sets. When you find me, we battle. Sounds good?’[/color] Kristy asked, but obviously she’d already made up her mind. She took out a Pokéball and let out the contents. A modestly large mammal on four legs and an oversized snout. [center][url=https://cdn2.bulbagarden.net/upload/a/ab/449Hippopotas.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/cntvrTA.png[/img][/url][/center] [center][color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #449 – Hippopotas, the Hippo Pokémon. It lives in arid places. Instead of perspiration, it expels grainy sand from its body. It shrouds itself in this sand to ward of germs and enemies. It can walk through sand as easily as on ground, though has to shut its nostrils when doing so. They form colonies of around ten.[/i][/color][/center] [color=D9C473]‘Hippo-pooooooooooo-!’[/color] the Pokémon sounded out as a burst of sand suddenly blasted off it, and the area surrounding it was covered in a sudden sandstorm which covered Kristy but not Skylar. Kristy grinned as she pulled down her goggles from her forehead and placed over her eyes. [color=f75423]‘Good luck, my sweet little challenger~’[/color] she said before being enveloped by the sandstorm and jumping back into it. Being rather close to Skylar, the sandstorm covered much of his field of view… not that he’d have seen a lot, but perhaps his Pokémon had been watching. The sandstorm blew for a while, and then, it eventually settled. There was no trace of where Kristy had gone… No, wait, that’s not true. In fact, there were a myriad of foot-prints in the sand, left behind despite that there had just been a sandstorm! The options were as follows… 1. Four-legged Pokémon. [i]These are the tracks of a quadrupedal Pokémon, walking calmly across the sand, out into the desert where the tracks then suddenly end.[/i] 2. Tiny line. [i]There’s a miniscule line of something having dragged along the desert. It’s too small to be a wheel. They lead to a rocky pillar randomly standing around.[/i] 3. Bike tracks. [i]These are obviously the tracks of a bike, in the desert. It leads off into the desert, towards the eternal sandstorm of the Mythic Oasis.[/i] 4. Raised from Digging. [i]Something has been travelling underneath the sand, the tracks obvious because the sand has formed a bump over the tunnel. It leads to a large rock formation.[/i] What will Skylar (and his Pokémon) do?[/hider] __________________________ [right][sub][sub][url=https://youtu.be/Ui6wp7VV9VU?t=165]Gym battle in progress[/url][/sub][/sub][/right] [@hatakekuro] [color=7192de]‘Oh,’[/color] Lorette blinked a little at the Pokémon that was sent in. [color=7192de]‘Um, Safeguard,’[/color] she quickly commanded with a calm voice with a touch of realization. Shuckle took a bit of a breath, and then a circle of protection emerged around Shuckle… Lorette resumed smiling happily at Basil. Shuckle looking on as well. Given what Jigglypuffs are famous for, this was a bit of an obvious choice. What will Basil and Aria do now?