---

^{Frozen Cave || Evening}
The blast never came. Instead, a Heracross stood, flexing over the crumpled Glalie like it hadn’t just materialized from thin air. Behind it, its trainer crouched low, a fresh Pokéball in hand and a grin tugging at his mouth.

“Well,” Eryn muttered as the last bits of Frost Breath faded, “guess that works.”

Across the room, Golduck shoved the other Glalie straight into an icy wall with a Water Pulse, its earlier fury replaced with loud, exasperated quacking. That one was down too.

Eryn released a slow breath and pulled another ball off her belt. She didn’t need it for the fight anymore, but momentum was momentum.

Eri landed in a crouch and stood, still in the shape of a Bagon. Eryn gave him a nod as she set Dei down, gesturing faintly toward the scattered Pokémon on the field. “Take it in.”

The “Bagon” stepped forward, then stopped. His head turned, his gaze sharp and slow as it passed over the trainer and their Pokemon, his whole body coiled like he was trying to decide whether to move or not.

Eryn’s brows lifted slightly. Well, this was new.

“Hey, close one! But you handled yourself well! I’m Kaz, how are you doing?”

Eryn turned. Kaz had that grin again, wide and half-winded like he hadn’t just nearly gotten himself iced.

“Doing great,” she said, pushing a smile as she glanced at the Heracross. “Thanks for the emergency battering ram.”

Her gaze drifted back to Eri, her attention drawn to his strange behaviour. The Zorua had always been a mystery, wanting to be a trainer and all, but this felt different. There was something taut in the way he stood, some unspoken charge in how he stared, like he was seeing something he hadn’t expected to see.

She glanced at her other Pokemon, and sure enough, they’d picked it up too. Peri was glancing between the Bagon and Kaz’s Pokemon with narrowed eyes, and Dei’s tail flicked as he gave Eri a quiet grunt.

“…Right,” Eryn said before turning to Kaz. “I’m Eryn. Is this your usual lineup, or just today’s all-star team?”

Movement at her side alerted her to the fact that Eri had moved closer and was now halfway between her and Kaz, still staring. Though Eryn wasn’t sure what was happening with him, she figured buying him time wouldn’t hurt, given how hesitant he seemed.

She looked past Kaz to the Glaceon still perched atop the icy boulder. “So, you impressed?” she called. The words were light, but her eyes lingered on Eri, watching.

---

@Remram

The guy watched Basil’s reactions without showing a shred of if he had pieced anything together or not. He did take a moment to look somewhere to the left of him, like if there was something that he wished to confirm or so, but then looked back to Basil. He did not show much reaction to Basil starting to advance on him, nor at the obvious rage he was displaying. Upon Basil demanding his answer, the guy considered for a moment. Then he looked up and replied.

‘If you were to hand her over, the problem would be gone from your life forever,’ he said. ‘You would not like the alternative. You are not a hero.’ So he declared, with the exact same tone of voice as before. Not a hint of feeling threatened, or being excited for having obtained a lead.

It should be noted, there are people around. This is in the middle of the streets of Stillwood Village, and people are going about their business. So any actions beyond the natural, from either part, would be sure to attract attention.

What would Basil do?





Connected areas:
Route 4. Forest route at the base of Mt. Strength leading west to Rainrock City.
Route 5. A grassy incline connecting mountains, forests, plains, Stillwood and Lakewatch.
Route 14. The waters of Dragon Lake are also known as Route 14. It connects Lakewatch Town, Highhill Town and Stillwood Village.
Mountain Valley. A passage between Mt. Strength and Mt. Chill, a shortcut to Worldedge City.



________________________

@Pirouette

Kay joined Sno and Polly in the upside-down club, where Kay announced this was her thing… the upside-down Polly scoffed!

‘I’m ALWAYS upside down, you had to flip over just now! I win!’ the little bird chirped right back, deciding she was the winner of some imaginary contest on her own.

‘Oh, yeah, don’t worry! It has never directly harmed any Pokémon that has used it yet!’ Russel said proudly. ‘Though, it may confuse them. Psychic powers are their primary muscles, so to say, and this machine will be directly interfering with that part. But just tell them that it may unlock a hidden power they didn’t know they had, and I’m sure you can convince them to use it!’ Russel assured. He had not missed Kay’s look.

‘From Cooldome, eh. Lots of action happening there, but the cold doesn’t entirely agree with my machines, haha!’ he laughed a little. ‘Yeah, that’s fine. Just bring them back when you’re done with them. Do write down your findings!’ Russel said, proudly. Then, about that Pokémon…

‘Oh, yes. That one,’ Russel immediately leaned forward, his hand going through his beard as he took his goggles to look at Erika with an excitement within his crazed little eyes. ‘A foreigner came and told me about it. Apparently, it’s a Pokémon… that is an engine! Think, think of what machinery it could pull if you put it inside a machine!? As a Pokémon, it’s not going to need gas in the usual way, and what if we can make it stronger by training it like any other Pokémon!? The possibilities are, dare I say it, endless! I want to power a flying machine with one!’ he said, clearly all excited.

‘Unfortunately, he didn’t know its name. As I heard it, there isn’t any on Isson. It is a foreign Pokémon, from a foreign land. To find one, why, you’d have to trade yourself one from someone who already has one! As for finding someone who does that, I don’t know. I’ve already checked the Worldedge Trade Station, they don’t have any. But perhaps you know someone that could know where you’d find one, hm? Maybe?’ Russel suggested, tilting his head at her.

Then, she departed, and Russel waved after her as she left before he turned to his next project.

Next, she wandered up some stairs and arrived at the Residential District. Definitely the calmest place in Worldedge City, the most chaotic things that happened here were from the games of children. Normal people lived here, coming and going as they needed to, and there was a park to play in or explore. Otherwise, it was certainly the nicest place in the city to simply take a walk. Yet, Erika ended up somewhere anyway. By a couple apartment buildings, she wandered up to the second floor. Somehow, she knew where to go. And then she found an open door, and…

An ordinary apartment, with a kitchen, a bedroom, a large lounge, and a TV with a Nintendo Switch connected to it. A computer was also next to the TV. On the wall a map of Isson was attached, with helpful information being written and notes attached all over it. There were pictures of characters hung up, of the various Gym Leaders, of the various people who had received their Pokémon from Kalmia. There were notes around each town and location, a couple around Pureplain City, a lot around Worldedge City and Bigfjord City, a moderate around just about all other places outside cities.

There were lists of Pokémon, where they could be found, all sorts of information… but it was all a bit fuzzy in Erika’s mind. She’d find she had trouble recalling it later. There were bookshelves containing a lot of video games, strange technological gizmos and the occasional books on Pokémon and roleplaying games, and photos of a man with various Pokémon.

‘Hello!’ a man stood at the bedroom door, waving a little awkwardly at Erika. As he spoke, his tone of voice was familiar. ‘I’m sorry if this breaks immersion a little. But, I am PlatinumSkink, and I made this game! I figured if Game Freak keeps putting themselves into their games, I should keep up tradition,’ he said. Note that, by necessity, Erika is not able to grasp the implications of “made this game” and should not react with that in mind once she leaves.

‘Please, have a seat,’ he offered, pointing to the dinner table in the kitchen. He went over to the fridge, and… ‘Would you like juice? Milk? Water? I, heh, don’t have much else,’ he said, and if Erika asked for any of it she would get a glass of it.

‘This place, well. I reward you for your efforts, and I can also point you in the direction you want to go if there’s such a place that you can describe to me. Like all creators, I will offer you a diploma if you catch all Pokémon, as unlikely as that is,’ he said, and chuckles. ‘Believe me, if you were to actually catch all Pokémon in Isson, I will make a legit diploma and mail it to you, wherever you are in the world. I am serious.’ For some reason, Erika felt like he wasn’t talking to her, there.

He walked over to the bookshelf, which contained several binders. The binders are, well, let’s see…



The guy took the binder called “Spreadsheets” and started leafing through it. ‘Man, it’s been so long. I put a lot of hours into writing all of this, haha. Of course, I enjoyed it a lot. I do hope you’re having fun.’ He closed the binder and placed it back into the shelf. ‘These binders are off-limits, don’t read them, hah,’ he said with a little chuckle.

He walked a step to the right and picked up a gizmo from the shelf. He inspected the item, seemingly considered something. Then he smiled, and then stepped over to Erika with it.

‘I think there was something I had decided to do when someone came here, but I forgot what it was. But since you took your time to come here, I’d like you to have this,’ he said. He held over a headgear, with some shining lights on top of it, made to be outfitted on a Pokémon.



‘It’s the Exp. Share! If a Pokémon in your party wears it, then whenever any of your Pokémon battles, half their experience will be transferred to the Pokémon wearing it. It will be like they remember half the battle, and they will get experience that goes towards leveling up. Now, since this is a roleplay, it is probably not as difficult to level up low-level Pokémon, but still.’ With that said, he then held over one more thing. It was a Pokéball.

‘This is also the place I figured is the best place to give out the most important gift Pokémon. Would you like one?’



‘Aside from that… I can answer your questions,’ he said, and now sat down in front of Erika, placing his hands together as he did. ‘Not about me, mind you. But about this world, perhaps where you’d like to go next, or about any people you’ve met, or if there’s anything in particular you want to experience. I don’t promise I will answer, sometimes things are best experienced on your own, but I could guide you in the right direction to learn those answers. And, of course, you’re free to return here whenever you feel like,’ he said, smiling.

‘So, is there anything you’d like to know?’

Or, if she was done here, she could turn around and leave back into Worldedge City again.

❄Erika Olson❄

---

---

Erika had become quiet as she entered the inviting apartment. She glanced at things with a vague curiosity that she didn't quite understand but regardless, she went with it. Somehow, she had expected this though Erika suspected there was something more behind that knowledge that went beyond her understanding.

"Hi there, Skinks!" Erika replied back but it felt like a voice speaking through her if that made any sense. It didn't to Erika but it did to those reading this.

Accepting the invitation to sit, Erika did so, resting a set of clasped hands onto her crossed legs. She let Sno and Kay play around the apartment, keeping an eye on them as if she expected them to be too rambunctious. Sno was supposed to be adult of the pair but often gave way to entertaining Kay too much. "Oh a water would be fine, thank you!" Erika replied as she settled in.

As Skinks went into the offer of a diploma, Erika smiled. While she'd enjoy the challenge, Pureplain City felt like a lifetime ago. Was that how Pokemon adventures were supposed to feel, Erika thought. It had only been a few days? A week? She wasn't really sure the timeline but she did remember where it all started. "As fun as an offer that is, we would both might be old and grey by the time I manage it."

Erika laughed but felt a little disappointed with herself. "I kind of wish I had been better about making progress. I think even if I had been on top of my game all this time, I still wouldn't be close to that 'capture all Pokemon in Isson', but it would absolutely be interesting to see how far I could have been." Erika waved her hand as if she were banishing the regret. "Though the adventure is still on so who knows where it goes from here!"

She took a drink of the water and accepted the gift, slipping it into her bag. "Thank you very much!" Erika then accepted the Pokeball. An Eevee would be interesting though she wasn't quite sure which evolution she wanted. Though it did prompt her with two ideas. She mulled them and some other ideas around. There was a lot she wanted to do.

"I do have a few things in mind." Erika raised a hand to tap at her chin as she pondered. "But first, I really do like Isson and the adventure. It's been such a cute and cozy experience. I suppose I should consider where to go from here. I'm obviously joining the friends that Erika made to journey west. First off, please feel free to interject some twists or plots that lead Erika to other things." She thought about it for a second. "Hopefully that's alright. Otherwise, I would absolutely love to encounter a Meloetta. She's my favorite, so much so that it did partially inspire a certain name that does have significance for other reasons as well. So, she is a big deal to me. Capturing a Legendary does feel weird in a sense so maybe it can be a mutual cooperation with some story about it? That's assuming I even get to where you might have Meloetta..."

Erika shook her head. "I'm rambling so my first question would be is where can I find Meloetta?"

Given that answer, Erika would turn to her next question which came with the gifted Eevee. "Oh, where can I find the Eevee stones? I think it is the Moss stone and the Ice stone? You have to be near them from what I remember for Eevee to evolve into Leafeon or Glaceon. I still haven't quite picked one..." Erika glanced up at the ceiling as if she were looking at something. "Actually can't you use a Leaf stone to evolve Eevee into a Leafeon now? And then I guess there is an Ice stone now? Not like the Ice stone in the earlier handheld games which was a static rock somewhere in the world but there are actual evolution stones."

Moving on after Skinks answered that, Erika would gesture towards the map with the notes. "My final question because I don't want to spoil too much is what part of Isson have you been dying to tell? I'm sure there is something, Skinks, don't lie! Erika pointed at him. "I'll try to head there when I can because it will be fun!"

@Typical

Kaz looked a little surprised when Eryn sent out another Pokémon, since one doesn’t usually send out a Pokémon at the END of a battle. But he looked down at Eri, who appeared as a Bagon, and kneeled.

‘Oh, aren’t you an interesting little fella? Did she get you in Wet Caverns? Hehe,’ he asked, not seemingly able to see through the illusion. Then Eryn asked her next question.

‘Oh, you would like to see the cast?’ Kaz chuckled at her question. ‘I can show you all of them! I usually let them all walk freely, anyway, I just didn’t want to intimidate Glaceon too much!’ he said, as he grabbed three Pokéballs and threw them into the air! … And then he assumed a thinking pose as they were still flying in the air. ‘Then again, maybe seeing more friendly faces would have been a good thing…’

As he was thinking about it, the Pokéballs hit the ground and three Pokémon emerged!



‘You’ve met Golduck and Heracross already, but here’s Gourgeist, Klefki, and Skrelp!’ Kaz introduced them while the Pokémon took a moment to take in their surroundings. ‘Be careful of Gourgeist, he likes to play pranks,’ Kaz warned playfully, and the pumpkin Pokémon brought its hair-arms up to its face in a feigned “what, me? I’d never!” gesture. ‘Be careful of Klefki, he likes to play pranks,’ Kaz continued to gesture, and Klefki happily spun, making noise as the keys hit each other. ‘And be careful of Skrelp, she likes to play pranks,’ Kaz gestured to the last one, who immediately shot out a weak Water Gun that did nothing but splash at the ground between her and Eryn, but might still have caused a scare. It then immediately swam (because it’s one of those Pokémon that, when they appear, is surrounded by a water bubble to let it act as normal above ground) behind Kaz as if to hide while doing the sea-horse equivalent of giggling. ‘As said!’

‘Hera, heracross,’ Heracross said, pointing up at Kaz. ‘Be careful of Kaz, he likes to play pranks, too,’ was what he said for the Pokémon that understood him.

‘What, me? I’d never!’ Kaz held up his hands to his face in a feigned innocent gesture while chuckling behind it.

The Glaceon on the icy rock looked back at Eryn when addressed, and it simply made a noncommittal cry of acknowledgement.

‘Oh, right! I was trying to fill up my sixth spot! Even though, well…’ he made some hand-gestures that meant nothing. ‘Eh, nevermind that! So, what do you think, Glaceon?’ he turned to smile at Glaceon.

Glaceon stared back at him, its tail waving lightly, looking like it was considering its reply. In the meantime, Eryn and her friends could consider their next move, if they so wished.

What will they do?





Connected areas:
Frozen Cave, Mines. At the entrance of the Frozen Cave.
Route 9. If you were to get all the way through.



________________________

@Pirouette

‘I’m happy to hear it,’ he said, as a response to this having been a cute and cozy experience. He then listened to all that Erika had to say, listening closely. At the end, he took a moment to consider, and then he said…

‘There is a city that none of you have been to yet. It is the capital of showmanship in Isson. It’s where the media resides, and it’s where athletes and actors perform their craft. It is a city of the arts, where the movies are made, where the records are recorded, and of course, where the music is played at the largest of venues…’ he replied.

‘Oh, but without the right tools, it would still be difficult to find what you seek, even if you went there. Fortunately, you have everything you need,’ he continued.

Onto answering her next question… and the man chuckled.

‘All regular evolution stones are for sale in the Worldedge Department Store, like your Fire Stones and so. The way to evolve to Leafeon and Glaceon is indeed the Moss Rock and the Icy Rock, since I placed them both somewhere in this world. But, I must say. I find it incredibly amusing you’re asking this when one of them is already present in this very post.’

‘As for the other, a player has, in fact, encountered it. If you were to search for its name in the logs, and disregard the times people are just mentioning it as a way to evolve an Eevee, you will be able to find it. Feel free to gain the knowledge of both of the rock’s locations if you manage to find them in the posts after reading this, heh.’

Then… the final question.

He considered. Took a little while. Then sighed a little. Finally, he looked back.

‘Bigfjord City.’ He said with finality. He didn’t say another word about it.

‘Aside from that, there’s a little scene waiting in case someone were to approach the Champion Estate. There’s also a story that awaits at the bottom of the Industrial District. Martin Price got so, so close to it, so close that I to this day wonder if I should have told him he was going the wrong way in that one post… That said, Eryn Montero has been given the directions to that place, and would likely go there eventually. Maybe.’

‘That’ll be all I will say for now. Oh, and since I forgot.’


‘What will you do now?’

❄Erika Olson❄

---

---

The reply about Meloetta was curious. She had to look that up and realized, oh yeah, there was a town that was obviously the area. She didn't quite know what to make of the hint but she did have the theory that Russel's goggles might be a "find things" set of goggles? Eventually she'll get there, she thought. If not well, there is always asking Russel!

Erika took another drink of her water, nearly downing it as Skinks continued. She was tempted not to peak at the additional resources she had but then again, why ask if not to figure that stuff out? She glanced up as if reading something and laughed to herself, also amused. Convenient! Though she wasn't quite ready to go to Cooldome City yet. That was one of the planned objectives in a certain someone's mind much like how getting Sno to evolve was one. She could continue to look for where that Moss Rock was but she could hazard a guess or two.

And finally, Bigfjord City.

Thankfully, Erika was planning on going there next. In fact, this only encouraged her to not delay any longer on this. It was no doubt exciting enough to have its own binder so who knows what would happen.

"Thank you." Erika nodded towards Skinks. "I had intended on heading that way, just got pulled into Worldedge and knew I had to stop here. But with that, I suppose that's a good motivator to get on with Erika's... err, my, journey." She rose and reached out her hand. "I think it is going to be ten years since we started in less than a month. Here is to ten more, huh."

Erika smiled, it was silly to think something going on for 20 years but who knows. She didn't know any story that could go on 10 and yet this one did. "Maybe I will get meta again with you then, Skinks, but until then we've got a lot more to do."

Erika drew a Pokeball from her clip and pulled Kay back in, setting her Pokeball back onto her clip. "Sno, come one. Onward to Bigfjord!"

With that, Erika set off.

Her bag was full so she sent off a message to the four friends she had to remind and coordinate a meet up location. They were, of course, welcome to pass given on how much writing someone wanted to do. Though as the meta passed, Erika continued through the streets of Worldedge with renewed purpose as she headed onward to Route 13.

---

^{Frozen Cave || Evening}
Eryn looked over the three new arrivals from Kaz’s team, recognizing a Gourgeist, a Klefki, and a little Skrelp wobbling in a water bubble. They looked quirky but capable, and likely difficult to predict in battle. The kind that suited what she’d seen of Kaz so far.

At her side, Eri stood still. There was a tension to him now, tighter than before. Eryn traced his stare and found that he was looking at Kaz’s Pokemon—first the Heracross as it spoke, then the Gourgeist, his head angled just enough to follow their movements. Recognition? It was too specific to be anything else. But how?

Eryn frowned. Heracross and Gourgeist were similar to the bunch of woodland Pokemon Eri had assembled into a team back when she’d met him in the Unmarked Woods. Were Kaz’s Pokemon perhaps his lost friends? Had Kaz convinced those Pokemon to leave with him, like he was convincing the Glaceon now?

But Eri wasn’t only staring at the Pokémon. No, his gaze had returned to Kaz himself. The trainer chuckled at something Heracross had said, and Eri didn’t so much as blink, his Bagon eyes wide, his stance unreadable. Shock? Awe?

The image from earlier flickered to the front of her thoughts—Eri, in her form, silently commanding his companions. His—her—lips moving with unspoken commands, barely understood. Trying to lead, to be something.

She’d promised to guide him, offered to help him become a trainer, but she’d never questioned why. Now, watching how he stared, she wondered if that role had once belonged to someone else. Someone like Kaz, perhaps, who Eri had mustered up the determination to search for, desperate enough to take on human form to do so.

A wilder thought flickered through her mind. What if Kaz was like Eri? Another Pokémon, one that had taken on the form of a trainer. But she shook that off just as quickly. Eri had tried to speak when they met, and failed. Kaz had no such issue.

Still, Eri’s reaction wasn’t subtle, and she couldn’t ignore it. Whatever this was—whatever connection Eri had to Kaz or his team—it was hitting him hard.

She kept her gaze ahead, careful not to call attention to him. He wasn’t ready. She could feel that. He didn’t need a push right now. He needed space.

Eryn offered a loose shrug and a faint smile. “Well, that’s one way to fill a team slot.”

She turned to the Glaceon, awaiting its response, but her mind was already elsewhere, turning over everything she’d seen and trying to piece it all together. The answers would have to wait. When they left this cave, she’d find time to talk to Eri. Alone.

---

@Pirouette

The man smiled and rose as well, and assuming that was in order to shake his hand, he took and shook her hand. ‘To ten more, haha.’

‘Until next time, then!’ he waved her good bye as she and Sno departed. She sent her messages to the others, asking them to convene on Route 13…

‘ON OUR WAY’ Maple answered basically instantly.
‘We’ll be there soon. Joshua is in the middle of coordinating right now so he can probably not answer,’ Ewan wrote her back.
‘im in the midle of cordinating right now but ill be there soon <yay emoji>’ Joshua replied soon after.
‘Dear Erika,’ Ellyn started her message. ‘On account that Maple has dragged me all the way to Route 9 and that we’re in front of Cooldome City right now we’ll probably not be able to join you, regardless of what Maple just wrote. I hope you can enjoy whatever next adventure you’re embarking on without us.’ She’d written rather eloquently…
‘NVM ELLYN, WE ARE COMING’ Maple sent moments after Ellyn’s message.
‘I was just dragged all the way from Worldedge City to Cooldome City, I am not going to be dragged all the way back again. Disregard Maple.’ Ellyn wrote to Erika.
‘WE ARE HIRING A FREECAPE FERRYMAN FOR ELLYN’ Maple sent to Erika a fraction of a second later
‘Miss Maple has forgotten she spent all her money,’ Ellyn wrote.
‘JUST WAIT RIGHT THERE, WE’LL BE THERE’
‘We will not.’

And those were the last messages Erika got from them for now.

With that, Erika was able to head back to the route of the endless night, Route 13.





Connected areas:
Route 12. To the west stretches a long patch of gentle grassland and tall cliffs.
Route 10. To the east, past Worldedge City, are the farmlands where Psychic Pokémon do the farming.
Power Station. The source of Isson’s electricity stands to the north of Route 13.
Private Palace. To the south of Route 13 stands the home of the richest man in Isson. Care to visit?
Bigfjord City. To the north-west, the gigantic city known for its dark sky-scrapers rises tall.
Worldedge City. The mystical capital of Isson hangs in the air around Mt. Edge.



What will she do here? She would have time for a regular post action before they came.

Albeit, if she just waited long enough.

Eventually, the two boys Erika befriended appeared before her…




Joshua had a new Pokémon walking behind him. A pink, quadruped creature with a gem on its forehead.



‘I’m delighted to see you once again, fair Erika!’ Joshua twirled around and extended a hand towards her, as if presenting her, not for her to grab. ‘Please forgive the poor penmanship of my message, but I was in the middle of something…!’ he presented, calling out happily. The Espeon looked amused behind him.

‘He was in the middle of coordinating an elaborate contest performance that involved his Eevee evolving mid-performance, when suddenly he just pauses, says “sorry, gotta answer this”, and replies to your text-message in the middle of everything. I could not believe my eyes,’ Ewan shook his head.

‘Ah, but it was but practice! A practice performance, before the real deal! After all, winning or losing does not matter in Contest Clarity!’ Joshua protested. ‘As it was, replying to my dear friend was more important!’

‘Unbelievable,’ Ewan, despite sighing, still looked a bit amused by it all. ‘In any case. We did say we wanted to head for Power Station or Bigfjord City. What did you think?’ Ewan asked Erika.

… No sign of Maple and Ellyn yet.

What would Erika do?

________________________

@Typical

The other party, trainer and Pokémon, did not seem like they realized what the Pokémon disguised as a Bagon was going through. Instead, focus went to the Glaceon, who was asked once more if they wanted to join Kaz’s team… the Glaceon had a little smug look in its eyes as it gave a couple small cries.

For the Pokémon present, the cry translated to.

‘Come back to this very cave, alone, in exactly five days. Bring three Sitrus Berries. Put one of them on the ground and hold the other two in each hand. Then give me your best impression of a Glalie. If you manage that, I’ll come with you.’

Kaz recoiled a bit, blinking at the Glaceon.

‘Er… I mean…’ his gaze briefly flashed towards Eryn and her Pokémon and then turned to his own Pokémon. ‘Did you guys get that?’

What followed was all five of them nodding, then,
Klefki pretending to be an analog clock, spinning around the keys as if they were the hands the equivalent of five days, with Skrelp helpfully pretending to fall asleep and then wake up every other spin of the long key-hand.
Gourgeist shot out three Bullet Seeds, caught them, and then placed one on the ground and held the other two in each of its hair-hands, while Golduck went up to Kaz, intruded into his bag much to Kaz’s surprise, and then lifted up a Sitrus Berry from it and pointed at the various Bullet Seeds.
Finally, Heracross, giving its absolutely best cry to mimic a Glalie, that looked more like a Heracross making an angry Heracross impression.

Kaz looked at his party thoughtfully.

‘I have no idea what you guys are doing,’ he declared, and his five party-members collectively collapsed on their spots.

‘… But that does mean there was something Glaceon said, right?’ he confirmed, and his Pokémon looked up and all nodded together. ‘That means, I just need to figure out what you all are trying to tell me, and then I’ll come back!’ he declared, and pointed back at Glaceon.

‘Count on it! I’ll be back in… a couple days!’ Kaz declared, grinning!

The Glaceon, apparently satisfied, spun around and leapt for one of the two exits, walking out of the room.

‘Alright! There we go!’ Kaz grinned, and then spun back to Eryn. ‘Alright, as for you… would you like to be lifted back up?’ he asked, making a thumb-motion at the icy slide back to where she had slid down from. The options would be to try to find an alternative way up through one of the two other exits out of this room.

What will Eryn and co do?





Connected areas:
Frozen Cave, Mines. At the entrance of the Frozen Cave.
Route 9. If you were to get all the way through.

❄Erika Olson❄

---

---

Erika found a perch just on the outside of the city and just before Route 13 started to sit and idle away on her Pokedex. The messages came flooding in and Erika tried her best to keep up.

'Great! Start of Route 13, sitting under the first lamp post. It is always so dark here!' She replied to Maple before another message popped up.
'Oh that's fine! I don't mind waiting. Tell him good luck!' She then replied to Ewan.
'Good luck!' Erika sent back to Joshua, though she was surprised to hear from him given he was occupied.
'Oh that's okay! Say hi to my mom for me! She'll help you out while there, too! She'd love nothing more!' Erika sent to Ellyn, perfectly fine that those two were in Cooldome.
'Oh! Don't rush and don't feel like you have to! Cooldome is a very fun place so you should check that out. We can meetup again sometime.' Erika sent off to Maple.
'I'm trying to talk her down!' Erika sent back to Ellyn.
'MAPLE WAIT' A hasty message followed by another, 'You and Ellyn have fun there. I can come up with an adventure for us elsewhere.
'I tried. Good luck.' Erika grimly sent, unsure of how successful Ellyn would be in stopping Maple.

She looked out along the darkened road ahead where Route 13 lay. The distant lights glittered, and she could hear off in the distance the storm clouds over the Power Station rumble. It was rather pretty if a bit scary. It made up for the fact that she was feeling a little homesick to the snow-covered mountains of Cooldome. Before she got too caught up in her thoughts, Sno fluttered around her to wake her up. "Fross" She motioned with her head towards the route.

Maybe that's what Erika needed. A little time to train and stretch her legs. "Alright, Sno, let's head out for a bit. I'm sure Joshua and Ewan will be along."

'Headed out on route for a bit. Not too far from the road ahead!' Erika sent to Ewan just before leaving her perch.


So Erika set out but not before putting on her EXP Share onto Tara. She threw Sno out first to blast ice at some of the Flying types on route. After about 75% of health gone, she'd return Sno and send out Gibs against any electric types. Eep, Kay, and Chic got some action as well. Though only about 50% of health missing. Erika would use a potion on each one to bring them back up.

...

After some time.

Finally, Joshua and Ewan would show up.

"Hey guys!" Erika waved but was told what exactly happened with her message and the contest. She was mortified and looked aghast. "Joshua!" She playfully slapped his arm. "I'm not worth ruining your performance, practice or no." Erika snapped with a wagging of her finger. "Honestly, you'll have to promise me you won't do that if you are in a real contest. Especially if you are doing something grand like mid-performance evolution!"

Erika turned to Espeon, her Pokedex picking up the new entity and letting her know. Sno, though tired felt better after her potion, and weaved over to inspect the gem on Espeon's head. "An Espeon though, Joshua! It is very powerful in a battle." Erika considered movesets before she shook her head. "And a very elegant Pokemon for your contests, of course!"

Erika turned to Ewan finally. "Anyway, I saw we go to Bigfjord City first." She said confidently but she didn't know why. Or at least, she did but the memory she had of making that promise faded. It was just there, built in that she had to go there first. "I think there is a gym there that I should probably check out and challenge." She concluded as the reason she had to go there.

"Though we can circle back to the Power Station after Bigfjord City. I have a good feeling there are electric types all over that place and I'd like to think of another Pokemon to catch with typing coverage." Erika concluded as she was content to set off.

She pulled out her Pokedex quick and sent Ellyn a quick message, seeing as Maple might get overly excited again. 'Headed to Bigfjord City with Joshua and Ewan. Just in case Maple managed to stuff you both into a ferry.'

Then if there was nothing else, they were off.

He wanted to punch him. Never before has Basil wanted to punch anything or anyone before in his life, but he really wanted to punch this guy's plastic face. This was such a level of anger that he was honestly not sure how to process it. Whoever the group this guy worked for was, the only thing for certain was that they hurt Stella and so many others. They were his enemy not just because of what they did, but they diametrically stood against him for everything he stood for. Scum of the earth that deserved to be razed to the ground.

"Not a hero huh?" He said repeated with a deadly look in his eyes, the same kind of gaze he had when he stood in front of Hydreigon. "How about this for an alternative? I am going to be the worst thing that has ever happened to you. Believe me there are no depths in my soul that I won't go to to take all of your bad karma and hang you all with it and before you say I'm bluffing, look me in the eyes and tell me honestly that I am."

Was Basil's heart racing a mile a minute? Yes. Did he also feel like throwing up in the bushes? Also yes. Was this a bluff? Absolutely not.

Basil took a deep breath. He needed to calm down. At the very least he actually had the advantage in the situation and that's why this guy was trying to scare him into giving Stella to him. His eyes trailed to the people going on about their business before they focused back on whoever the hell this expressionless guy was.
"So here's what's gonna happen. You're going to leave the village right now because if you don't I will make a scene here. People will notice and it will be ever harder for you to get away from prying eyes while I make a call to the Elite Four because you are just unlucky enough that the guy you threatened has a connection to two of them. Walk away or in your own words, you would not like the alternative."

---

^{Frozen Cave || Night}
The Glaceon’s smug little hop toward one of the exits earned a small breath of laughter from Eryn. She wasn’t sure what it had said, but judging from the whirlwind of interpretive pantomime Kaz’s Pokémon broke into, there’d definitely been some kind of message exchanged. Not one she followed well, though.

She tilted her head, watching the display unfold: Klefki doing its best impression of a clock, Gourgeist juggling Bullet Seeds like a street performer, Golduck rifling through Kaz’s bag with bold efficiency, and Heracross hollering an impression of… something very, very angry.

“That was honestly impressive,” she said, glancing over at Kaz, who seemed confident of his ignorance of the entire thing. “I think they were halfway to staging an all-Pokémon musical.”

They weren’t exactly the kind of Pokémon she’d pick out of a lineup for coordinated teamwork, but judging by how they bounced off each other, exaggerating their reactions and playing along without pause, it was obvious they’d been traveling together for a while. There was trust there, even if the showmanship was a bit much.

“Let’s see,” she said, tapping her chin as she puzzled over what she’d just witnessed. “Klefki’s spinning keys were clearly a clock, though it spun for an extremely long time. Too long, almost. But something to do with time for sure,” she said before turning to the Gourgeist, Golduck, and their three seeds and Sitrus Berry. “Then three seeds and a Sitrus Berry. Three berries?” She paused, brows furrowed. “And that Heracross sound... yeah, I got nothing. Maybe indigestion?”

Dei snorted beside her, loud enough to echo, and Eryn crossed her arms. “You give it a shot at translating, then, if you’re so smart.”

Dei gave her a flat look, but didn’t rise to the bait. His attention flicked back to Kaz’s team again, sharp and assessing, as if still working out where they stood.

Peri loomed quietly behind them, impassive as ever, though her eyes tracked the retreating Glaceon until it disappeared down the tunnel. Eryn had a feeling the Onix could sense something in the air—some lingering charge still crackling from all the attention.

And Eri—Eri hadn’t budged an inch. Not when the Glaceon left. Not during the pantomime. Not now. He stood like a statue at her side, small and unmoving, gaze locked not on Kaz’s Pokémon anymore, but on the boy himself. Watching him with an intensity that made her chest tighten a little. Like the act of standing there was the only thing keeping him from unraveling.

At Kaz’s offer, she followed his gesture up toward the icy ramp. Slippery, but manageable, especially considering Peri’s height and tunneling skills. One of the exits might’ve led back up too, though. Her eyes lingered on the branching tunnels a beat longer before turning back to him.

“I think we’ve got it under control” she said, grinning. “We’ll probably head back to the campsite, considering how late it is. Are you headed there too, or?”

---

@Pirouette

A while later Erika would get a text message from Ellyn.

‘I think you got to her. She’s very sad not to depart to your location immediately, saying that she’s missing a once-in-a-lifetime joint adventure, but I will teach her that there are consequences with immediately departing despite you telling us you were going on an adventure later.

Besides, I am freezing. I am staying in Cooldome for a while. Maple’s off to challenge the Gym. The Major League Gym that is way out of her league. Which leaves me a little time to relax, phew. … Or she’s coming right back. I can see her coming straight towards me. I thi’ … and then the message abruptly ended mid-word.

Erika probably would know that the Gym Leader of Cooldome City is often not at the Gym. She’s often either at Mt. Chill or fighting in the various tournaments arranged by the city. And sometimes she just goes on random training regiments around Isson, as she’s both a Gym Leader and a top-of-the-line professional Pokémon Trainer vying for becoming Champion.

In any case, she decided to train!

The Pokémon here all had varying ways of defending themselves. Hoothoot and Glameow were quick to try to Hypnosis an attacker, and Electrike threw out Thunder Wave at earliest provocation. It was also a bit perilous to be a Ghost-type here, as every cat knew Bite, and the numerous Murkrows knew Pursuit. Still, Sno was far more capable than the wild Pokémon of this route.

Eep also did well, as most attacks were Normal-type, and the Electric-types had a hard time against part Grass-type, albeit they had to look out for birds doing neutral damage. Kay didn’t really have anything she was effective against, however. Chic had plenty of cats and rabbits that Double Kick could do a number on, as long as she stayed clear of birds. Gibs did well against the electric types, though they did damage back when they could fall back on Tackle.

Of course, most of the experience surged into Tara, who somehow got to experience what it was like being Sno shooting down birds with ice-attacks, how it felt being Chic Double Kicking a Meowth, how it felt being Eep and outlasting opponents, Gibs and being immune to electricity and Kay using psychic (or dark) powers, all entering her mind through the machine Erika put on her.



Eventually, Ewan and Joshua arrived, and Erika had a thing or two to say to Joshua.

He recoiled, looking taken aback by her statement, however he quickly assumed a polite stance and bowed to her.

‘As you wish, lady Erika! Never again shall my phone even be on during a performance!’ Joshua declared, seemingly taking what she said to heart. Maybe.

Then she praised Espeon.

‘Of course!’ Joshua smiled as he stood up straight again, beaming happily as he walked over and stroked the fur of his happy Espeon. ‘This fellow deserves nothing but the best! And he was about to evolve anyway, so I decided I might as well show the world during a performance! And he did such a good job, you beautiful~!’ Joshua petted his Espeon, who replied with a happy cry and they looked really happy.

‘The Gym Leader of Bigfjord City is a Major League Gym Leader,’ Ewan said. ‘So not the kind we should be challenging yet. We could, however, head out at sea from Bigfjord City and reach Magmagulf Town, which does have a Minor League Pokémon Gym…’ … and then he frowned. ‘But I’d like to check out the city first. I’ve heard things about this city, and I want to confirm it with my own eyes…’

Joshua looked up at his friend, looking just a tad concerned, as Ewan had gotten something serious in his eyes as he advanced on the city. He looked towards Erika, slight concern in his eyes, but also then shrugged to stand up again and follow Ewan towards the city.

Though, before going! Erika put on the Goggles! … With the goggles on, it was as if she saw purple and pink wind swirling around… swirling around Mt. Edge. Specifically Mt. Edge, and also coursing through Worldedge City in different directions. While there were smaller winds in other places, including in Bigfjord City, the majority was definitely in Worldedge City and Mt. Edge.

But with that out of the way, they headed in towards the city. Black skyscrapers stood daunting like pillars, growing larger and larger as they approached. Soon enough, they stepped into their shadows.



________________________

@Remram

The guy did not seem phased at all at Basil’s threat, simply standing there staring Basil into his eyes as requested, no movement of his expression unveiling any thoughts that might be going through his mind. No positive nor negative feelings. When Basil finished his speech, he brought a hand to his pocket, and lifted up a Pokéball to point at him.

‘Battle me,’ he stated.

What would Basil do?

If Basil refused...

The guy wordlessly put the Pokéball back into his pocket. Instead, he turned around and started walking, picking up a phone from his other pocket as he did so. Never once did he seem bothered by the flow of events, and now he was on his way.

What would Basil do now?





Connected areas:
Route 4. Forest route at the base of Mt. Strength leading west to Rainrock City.
Route 5. A grassy incline connecting mountains, forests, plains, Stillwood and Lakewatch.
Route 14. The waters of Dragon Lake are also known as Route 14. It connects Lakewatch Town, Highhill Town and Stillwood Village.
Mountain Valley. A passage between Mt. Strength and Mt. Chill, a shortcut to Worldedge City.



________________________

@Typical

‘Eh, I’ll have it sorted out later,’ Kaz figured, doing a hand-wave as he turned away from his Pokémon. Eryn asked if he’d be going back.

‘I’m going through this cave, actually,’ Kaz said. ‘I apparently have to stick around here for a while, and I heard about this cool city where they fight all the time, Cooldome City. I intend to go there and find out what I can about battling! Then, in f- a couple days time, I’ll be right back in here!’ he said, smirking about it. So then, Eryn inquired about contact information.

‘Contact info?’ Kaz looked like she’d asked for something completely foreign to him. ‘Oh, right. A number. A number for my phone, a number especially to contact me, my phone number. That number?’ Kaz asked, as he realized what she was talking about and then idly scratched his neck. Then he just smiled. ‘I actually don’t have one. I’ve never needed one. Maybe I should look into that in Cooldome City, haha,’ he chuckled. ‘Hey, I can take YOUR number, and then when I get a way to contact you, I’ll be able to contact you! How does that sound?’ he asked. Then he looked down at Eri…

‘Hey, your Bagon looks frozen stiff! The ice around here might not agree with him, haha!’ he chuckled, unaware. ‘Anyway, time for me to depart, so…’ he looked towards the icy slide.

‘Eh, that way looks troublesome. Towards adventure! We’ll find our way eventually!’ he declared, turning in the opposite direction of where the Glaceon went out. His Pokémon followed, Gourgeist, Klefki, Heracross and Skrelp calling excitedly, while Golduck walked firmly unexcitedly behind them…

Golduck stopped, suddenly. It turned briefly, looking down at Eri, the partly psychic duck’s forehead glowing momentarily… then it turned and followed Kaz once again.

Eryn is still in the Frozen Cave.





Connected areas:
Frozen Cave, Mines. At the entrance of the Frozen Cave.
Route 9. If you were to get all the way through.



But, she can head back to the Mines if she so wishes. With Peri she can scale the frozen slide or just dig a new path if she so wished.

Regardless, what will Eryn do? Rest as intended? What will she then do next day, in that case?





Connected areas:
Route 5. Exit the mines and you’ll be right there.
Frozen Cave. The Frozen Cave proper awaits beyond the mine.

After all of that that was this guy's reaction? Basil would have burst out laughing in disbelief if it were not for the fact how dangerous this situation was. He was either fearless or he didn't really believe him. The young noble squinted at him. "That's it? Just a battle?"

This was annoying. He couldn't read this guy at all. Was this guy just indifferent to everything or was this guy just trying to prove a point about Basil being completely in over his head? On one hand Basil wanted to fight him and get some reaction out of this dull face, but on the other hand he wanted to find Stella. He could refuse, there was no reason for Basil to accept his challenge after all, but he'd just be running away. Maybe he could, but then it would just eat away at him. He was a trainer now and a trainer accepted any challenge thrown at them.

Basil took a deep breath and exhaled heavily. "You know what? Fine. Bring it on then." Somehow, he got the feeling that this was going to be a rough one.

@Remram

‘Right here,’ the guy said, as he got ready, stepping back to make room for the battle. While actually fighting one another would have been frowned upon in the middle of the street, having a Pokémon battle everyone was fine with! Recognizing what was going on, the public made room for the two of them, walking around where they could and some stopping to watch, not recognizing the tension in the air between the two trainers.

‘Then let’s begin,’ the guy said.



The intention here was that both trainers would send out their Pokémon at the same time.

The opponent threw down his Pokéball, and it cracked open, and with a red light showed up… a small grey cat, standing on two legs, staring forward at Basil as blankly as its trainer.



Now, it looked like just a normal, cute little psychic cat…

But it wasn't.

Basil could feel its power where he stood.

The Pokédex could reveal its true nature, but Basil likely could guess without looking.



Espurr’s eyes started glowing as it prepared to attack.

What will Basil do?

❄Erika Olson❄

---

---

"Oh." Erika frowned at the discovery that Bigfjord City's gym would be a Major and not a Minor. Ewan was right in that level of ability was far beyond her at the moment. Still though, she felt a draw to Bigfjord for some reason. Like there was something to unwrap there still yet for her. "You know a lot about Bigfjord City, Ewan." She'd remark off-handedly without any real thought but was subconsciously latching onto that drive that Ewan wanted to see the city. "Oh well, I'm sure it'll be interesting to see just what Bigfjord has for us!" Erika beamed as she thought about getting to visit another city. Everywhere up to this point had built-in infrastructure for traveling trainers so what about a place like Bigfjord?

Massive spires of glass and metal sprouted along the horizon as the trio approached. There was a slight twinkle of city lights from the skyscraper lights that were on, dotting the spires with much needed color. To Erika, it seemed inviting at a distance as she spent her life in the mountains so much like Worldedge City, this would be new to her. Yet as she approached, the sky continued on in a perpetual dusk and those spires, along with the outliers were looked uninviting with their hard, practical exteriors.

Perimeter warehouses were the first of Bigfjord to introduce itself, bordering the edge of the city to avoid traffic and dispatch to other parts of Isson with their product as fast possible. Streetlights lit their way along the paved roads as trucks roared past, machinery operating as people busied themselves the darkened landscape. It should have been noisy, but Erika often found the noise distant leaving her and friends almost alone, isolated among the greys, browns, and dark washed colors of industry. The only inviting colors coming from the trio and their Pokemon, if they had any out like Erika had Sno out.

"It is a little..." Erika caught a group of Murkrow settling on a nearby powerline, calling out to each other. "...Dark here." She reached out to grab at Sno but her hands passed through, forgetting entirely that she was a Ghost type. Sno looked down at herself then realized what Erika had wanted so she hovered in close to her trainer. Erika didn't think she was scared, but she might have been. Sno, as a ghost, lived on scary so she didn't mind the environment.

Warehouses were soon traded for apartment buildings and commercial stores. The colors were a little more inviting, likely had to be with so many people living here, but it still felt like a far cry every other town. They passed some stores, Erika glancing at each one to see how... mundane they were. Groceries, food, gadgets... all for people just living lives as if there were not Pokemon. It felt strange.

Then Ewan explained Bigfjord City a bit with Joshua following up. Erika believed a little more in Ewan's practical explanation than Joshua's optimistic take, but she still appreciated the cheer of it.

Right as she opened her mouth, however, there was a crash of glass turning all three to face the noise.

"A robbery?" Erika pondered the very idea of it innocently. That concept seemed foreign to her but she wasn't entirely naive about the whole idea of it. People stole things, it just never seemed to happen. Especially using Pokemon as a force against people!

She shot a glance to Joshua before Ewan rushing towards the robbers caught her attention. Her fists clenched nervously but immediately she knew she couldn't let one of her friends rush off on his own. "We can't just leave him, Joshua." Erika took a step forward, freezing as movement in the corner of her eye turned her attention to it. She saw the Noctowl watching, sparing it a momentary glance but wouldn't be persuaded to not help even if she was unnerved about the whole thing.

"Sno, you're up!" Erika hollered as she ran forward. "Icy Wind the Koffing and Chimeco!" Sno zipped across the air causing an icy wind to whip up and blow right at the lookout and her two Pokemon. Since Icy Wind affected adjacent Pokemon, it should hit both Erika thought. Plus the high chance at speed down will only help Sno stay faster than the other two. Erika wanted to call it out that she had the lookout but she got nervous and kept her mouth shut. She wasn't some action hero even if she might have thought that before committing like this!

@Pirouette

‘Ah, sweet Erika! You’re nothing but brimming with the love and care you feel for your friends!’ Joshua gushed about her as she said she wouldn’t leave Ewan. He was quick to join her when she gave her command to attack.

‘Espeon, Confusion on the Koffing!’ Joshua called as Erika called her Icy Wind. Espeon jumped forth to stand The confusion hit the Koffing, and it recoiled, while both Pokémon were hit by Icy Wind, Chimecho also making a startled noise.

‘We’ve got company~ We’ve got company~’ the trainer of the Chimecho called, as she jumped into the store herself, probably knowing what was coming next.

‘Koffing, Smokescreen!’ the Koffing’s trainer called out, and the agitated and damaged Koffing immediately burst out a great, black cloud of smoke around the entrance of the store, covering the storefront, the other robbers looking up and back just before the smoke covered it all.

‘Darn it, are the Cigs already here!?’ the leader called out, annoyed.

‘They’re not the Cigs~’ the Chimecho’s trainer called.

‘You mean…’ there was a pause. ‘Oh, darn it,’ the leader cursed again.

‘They’re freshies~’ the Chimecho’s trainer called excitedly.

‘This is why you don’t rob Steppingstone Street! Too many freshies!’ the trainer of the Koffing called out.

‘Eh, I’d still say the lack of security made it worth it!’ the Magnemite’s trainer said.

‘There’s so little security BECAUSE of the freshies!’ the Koffing trainer retorted.

‘You guys are being really loud for a couple robbers! We’re hearing every word!’ Joshua called out happily.

‘We don’t have time for this. Get to the bikes!’ the leader called out. They came dashing out of the smoke towards their bikes… and a chilling blast of cold air blasted out over them, before a pair of great wings extended, casting a shadow over the robbers.

‘You’re not going anywhere,’ Ewan stood, and a giant, angry-looking bird in mid-air glaring down at them… and also a little Swinub at Ewan’s feet who had been the one to actually shoot that blast of cold air.







‘Oh, for the love of-’ the leader with the Golbat said. All of them were still wearing masks, likely to make identification harder. ‘You all have NO idea what’s really going on. It is not what you think it is,’ she said, grunting angrily, while her allies, specifically the trainers of the Magnemite and the Quilladin, had bags that they had stuffed a bunch of jewelry in.

‘What could it possibly be? You’re robbing a store,’ Ewan said, frowning at them.

‘I don’t have time to explain…’ the leader muttered.

‘Haha~! Our leader’s in trouble, our leader’s in trouble~!’ the trainer of the Chimecho chimed, as if she wasn’t also concerned. The trainers of the Koffing and Magnemite leaned in to whisper about something to the leader. It would appear they weren’t actively fighting back.

That is, unless Erika pressed the attack. She could have been doing whatever she wanted over the course of this post, including interrupting it.

Also worth noting, Ewan looks like he’s about to say ‘I’m not gonna give you time to plan!’ and call on his Pokémon to attack, unless interrupted.

The robbers have a Golbat, a Quilladin, a Magnemite, a highly damaged Koffing, and a Chimecho.

By this time, passersby have seen what’s going on and hurried off, and at the minimum of one has grabbed a phone and called someone about it.

What does Erika do?

❄Erika Olson❄

---

---

Cigs and Freshies?

What kind of world had they dropped into? Erika thought as she held her ground with Sno floating back around to rejoin her side. Every single town she had been in so far had been built up for trainers and their adventures. Nobody felt a need to do anything like robbing a place but here people were and using Pokemon for that purpose!

As their fight escalated, the street cleared, a detail Erika didn't miss as she glanced around. Once again, the world she knew would have people hanging around to watch a Pokemon battle but here, were they feared? Did they really have no idea how anything worked here in Bigfjord?

"This place is so strange..." Erika muttered, holding her right arm bashfully. She nervously started this adventure because she felt like she'd be out of place without the snow and mountain air. This place was definitely out of place for her. Should she listen to the explanation of their leader? The others weren't fighting back.

Erika was so sure she was doing the right thing that she had to have been... right?

"I think..." Erika began but paused as she glanced at Ewan and Joshua. The friends she knew and trusted. Ewan was so sure this was right. He had to be right, Erika thought. People were robbing a store and that was the end of it. Close the book. He knew about this place as well so she would trust him.

"I’m not gonna give you time to plan!"

Erika nodded seeing as Ewan had made up his mind. "Right! Let's make sure they think twice about robbing stores! Sno, Icy Wind on Koffing and Chimecho, again!" She called out despite the thieves inactivity. "She's not the only one in trouble!"

Basil followed suit, his eyes never breaking contact with his nameless foe. His heart was thumping between his ears though that was not enough to drown out his thoughts. This guy was strong, strong enough that Stella felt the need to hide from him. That was a fact that he could not ignore, but he needed to win no matter what. No, he had to win. It wasn't just his pride on the line. If Stella was watching, then she needed to see that he would not only stand up to her pursuers. He needed to show her that he could win.

There was only one Pokemon on his person that Basil could even consider to bring out to beat this guy. The young noble grabbed a Pokeball from his belt and tossed it into the air at the very same time and out came with a victorious cry was Glory the Hawlucha who was about to strike a poke when it sensed the overwhelming strength of its opponent. Basil too gritted his teeth as he glanced down at his Pokedex and saw the absurd level that this little psychic type was.

"What the hell? Are you a kid that hacked a video game or something?" He said with an exasperated chuckle. However, he was not one to notice something very strange about all of this. A first stage psychic type that was completely over leveled, just like Stella. There was no way that was a coincidence. "Truly irredeemable."

"Hawlucha?" The bird understandably looked back at his trainer wondering what in the world was going through his mind.

Basil took a deep breath and pushed his hair back with both hands as he focused only forward with determination sharpening his gaze. "We don't need to beat it. We just have to beat him. Wait on my mark, we only have one chance to win." There was one thing that Basil understood from the moment that he accepted this challenge: he was not going to win by normal means. He really was going to have to back his words up and go deep into his soul to win by any means necessary.

"Hawlucha!" It nodded, understanding from his trainer's gaze that this was not a battle about honor or glory by combat. There was purpose in his awkward trainer's gaze, a rage that he had never seen before and it was all directed towards that man. The Hawlucha entered its stance, waiting for Basil's order.

@Pirouette

‘Lance, Aerial Ace!’ Ewan commanded his Fearow, right after the announcement that he wouldn’t let them plan.

Immediately, one of the robbers met his challenge, the girl in black (albeit, they were all in black) that had commanded the Magnemite stepped forward with no lack of intensity in her movement, and a trace of red hair under the black beanie she was wearing. She was also wearing a black mask and black sunglasses, and the rest were wearing similar things, except the Koffing’s trainer was wearing a gas mask.

‘Magnemite, take it! Thunder Wave!’ the Magnemite’s trainer commanded, and the Magnemite flew up and took Lance’s Aerial Ace, and then shot back yellow electricity in return! Lance glared back, but the Fearow’s motions were slowed down! Lance was Paralyzed! The two separated…

‘Sven, Mud Bomb!’ Ewan commanded, and his little Swinub didn’t hesitate to suddenly throw a large clump of dirt at the Magnemite that was still focused on Lance!

‘Oh, shoot-’ the robber called as the bomb slammed into Magnemite and detonated, sending the steel/electric type back with x4 damage, the robber moving to barely catch Magnemite with her hands instead of letting it be launched back at her other companions.

‘Golbat, Confuse Ray!’ the leader commanded and pointed at Sven the Swinub, and the Golbat shot out waves of confusion that Sven was too slow to dodge. Sven was confused!

Meanwhile, Erika called out from her side…

‘Ah? That’s to me, right? You’re addressing me~?’ the trainer of the Chimecho replied to Erika as she called out that the mention of the leader not being the only one in trouble, sounding excited about it. Chimecho and Koffing took another hit of Icy Wind, being slowed down further… and Koffing also collapsed. Koffing fainted!

‘Oh, for the love of-’ the Koffing’s trainer lamented, returning the Pokémon to its Pokéball.

‘Chimecho, Yawn~!’ Chimecho’s trainer called, and the Chimecho looked at Sno and let out a deep, ringing yawn, the sound of it somehow amplified by the wind chime Pokémon, and unless somehow prevented Sno would feel a drowsiness setting in. Sno became drowsy!

The Quilladin and its trainer had been ladled with all the stolen things, which they both seemed quite suited for, as the trainer was a big guy and the Pokémon was pretty strong, too.

The leader of the robbers looked at the situation, and…

‘We don’t have time for this. DASH!’

With that command, the team of five people and three Pokémon (four if we count the trainer holding her fainted Magnemite) dashed the opposite direction of Lance, taking them closer to Erika but they seemed very intent on dashing right past her. With them Golbat flew, and the Chimecho had been slowed down by Sno’s Icy Winds so her trainer grabbed the Wind Chime’s tail and pulled the Pokémon along in mid-air, and then also the Quilladin carrying the loot running alongside her trainer.

Joshua didn’t do anything this round, just stopped short and looked on with slightly widened eyes. Espeon looked back at him curiously.

What does Erika do?



________________________

@Remram

‘Espurr. Use Psybeam.’

With nary an expression given as Basil had sent out Glory, from neither trainer nor small cat-like Pokémon standing on two legs, and also no reaction from being accused of having hacked a video game, the only thing the opposing trainer did was give a three-word command to their Pokémon.

Espurr raised a tiny paw… and a massive amount of power gathered in front of it. Its psychic power amassed with a single-minded purpose, to blast this enormous power at its opponent, Glory the Hawlucha. There was no question of how much power would be in that shot once it was fired, it already seemed to bend space merely taking shape. The Pokémon itself seemed unaccustomed to its power, its little paw shaking, slight sweat breaking out.

But soon enough…

‘Espurr,’ the Pokémon stated, before firing a blindingly fast, bright and slim, brightly purple beam of psychic power at Glory.

But perhaps Basil had already started his plan before then?

What was Basil doing?

Basil swallowed a lump in his throat as he watched the Espurr charge up a psychic beam of death. "Glory, Detect." He ordered with as much resolution he could muster. His Hawlucha remained in its firm stance, its orange eyes glowed with a blue hue and sharply focused as it awaited for the moment to dodge. It was his one get out of jail free card for the first attack.

It was plain to see that the Espurr wasn't used to the incredible amount of power it wielded. Just drawing that much strength caused it much strain. Basil knew that this Espurr was just like Stella; it was unnaturally powerful from experimentation that must have been cruel if Stella decided that running was the only option. It was cruel and in reality, Basil wanted little to do with battling him if it was at the expense of a Pokemon forced to become a weapon. It was a perversion of a Pokemon Battle, where a trainer and Pokemon train and battle united, not pointing a Pokemon at someone as if to have a finger on a trigger.

Basil's gaze was focused not on the Espurr, but at its Pokeball being held by its trainer. He took a deep breath. His heart was pounding in his ears and he felt everyone's gaze focused on the battle. In every other circumstance what he was going to do would have been considered sacrilege as a trainer. Would he be able to live with himself? Would he be able to deal with the aftermath with all of these eyes about to witness what he was about to do?

To hell with it.

The beam ripped towards Glory, but he was ready. The Hawlucha was able to foresee the attack and dodged the attack before it could send him to kingdom come. Basil's gaze sharpened. This was the moment! No matter how strong that Espurr was, it couldn't handle its own strength just yet! Surely it had to take a moment to recover. "Use Aerial Ace on its Pokeball as hard as you can!"

The Hawlucha dashed as quickly as it could towards the trainer, and well, Aerial Ace can't miss.

However, Basil was not expecting to break it. They were designed for Pokemon, creatures that were famous for being rowdy. No he just needed to get it away from him.

If it worked Basil would shout, "Hey Espurr, that jerk hurt you and a lot of other Pokemon right?! Then seize your freedom and fight back!"

❄Erika Olson❄

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Erika was a bit stunned. These thieves really didn't want to battle? All trainers wanted a battle so they must really be a different breed to want to steal and not battle.

"Wait. You guys don't want to battle?" Erika found herself exclaiming in shock as they started to bolt towards her. It was strange but she wasn't just about to let all these thieves leave with the loot and she saw someone in particular trying to stuff as much as he could. He may have also looked the toughest considering both his physical size and the Quilladin he had looked tough.

First thing was first, Erika had a sleepy Sno to assist. She raised her Pokeball and returned her Froslass back to her ball. With a swift exchange she threw a different ball summoning Chic in a glow of energy. "Combusk!" She cheered, eager for a fight.

"Chic! Flame charge on the Quilladin and knock that loot free! They won't be getting away with anything!" Erika commanded with a point.

Chic took the command and embers started flare up around her. She ducked low as she readied. "Coooom..." as she darted in and sought to shoulder check right into Quilladin with the impact causing an ignition of fire from the built up energy! "..Busken!"