[@Remram]

Stella nodded to his words, and then stayed by his side from then on. She then gave a little tiny wave as he introduced her to Anise. Anise kept her frown until Basil stopped talking to her.

[color=e04f4f]‘Alright. I’ll wait, then,’[/color] she said, crossing her arms, before standing by next to him waiting for the rest. Meanwhile, Stella went over to the exhausted-looking Espurr, staring at it. Espurr seemed a bit too tired to look back, but clearly Stella was observing something.

Eventually, the Aerodactyl arrived, carrying Jacques and the others, and Stella quickly ran to hide behind Basil’s leg. With that, Basil could start his explanation.

Jacques raised his eyebrows and looked modestly curious when he explained, and frowned at the drawing of Stella’s circumstances. Kalmia looked alarmed, and pulled her Pokédex to scan Stella, as well as she could as the little Gothita was hiding behind Basil yet. The woman with the pink hair pulled a notebook and started writing down, while the policewoman simply paid attention. As Basil gestured towards Espurr Kalmia also scanned the Espurr, still alarmed.

Before he was even finished, the pink-haired lady turned and walked over to the police-officer, and then held up something that looked like identification. The officer looked a bit startled as she read the card.

[color=d694c1]‘Officer. Have your Granbull follow the suspect’s scent. The remains of his Pokéball are over there, use their scent. At some point, the tracks will suddenly end. At that point, attempt to find witnesses that saw how he vanished,’[/color] the pink-haired lady told the police officer. Said officer had overcome her surprise and struck a determined expression as she got the instructions.

[color=65c9bf]‘Yes, ma’am!’[/color] she said, leading her Granbull over where the orange-haired boy had stood, where it caught a whiff, and then the both ran off in the direction he’d ran.

Jacques smirked as he gestured to the lady.

[color=EF284F]‘May I present to you Special Investigator Sylvia, whom we all turn to when crime is afoot,’[/color] he presents.

[color=d694c1]‘I would like a detailed description of the perpetrator,’[/color] Sylvia turned to Basil to say, but before he could even reply she turned to Jacques again. [color=d694c1]‘Call Dorian, Josefine and Clethra. We need more researchers than just Kalmia looking at this,’[/color] she said. Jacques nodded.

[color=EF284F]‘But let’s hear what Kalmia says, first,’[/color] Jacques insisted. Kalmia, still looking at her research instrument, then looked back at Basil.

[color=82c6cf]‘You aren’t mistaken. This Espurr’s level is 57… what’s more, Stella’s level seems to be 72. You said it was 74… didn’t you?'[/color] If Basil were to investigate, he’d find this to be true. Kalmia frowned, looking down at the data being presented to her. [color=82c6cf]'This is unheard of. Pokémon levels don’t decrease. What’s more, if these crooks sought power, they would have made these Pokémon evolve. This doesn’t add up.’[/color]

[color=d694c1]‘Indeed, it doesn’t,’[/color] Sylvia said, clutching a fist. [color=d694c1]‘We won’t let them get away with this.’[/color] 

Jacques, meanwhile, turned his head and looked over at Anise, who’d been standing silent staring towards the Elite Four and the others.

[color=EF284F]‘You are…’[/color] he started saying, and Anise winced as she realized she was being spoken to. She immediately clutched both fists at her sides and stood in a prepared martial artist’s ready pose.

[color=e04f4f]‘Anise! Disciple of the Fighting-type Gym of Redcoast City, sir! I am… accompanying Basil at the moment!’[/color] she pronounced, a bit on edge. Jacques looked amused.

[color=EF284F]‘You are, huh. Keep up the good work,’[/color] he simply told her.

[color=e04f4f]‘Yes, sir!’[/color] she replied. Meanwhile, Kalmia finished her scanning and looked to Basil.

[color=82c6cf]‘Are you alright, Basil? It wasn’t my intention to send you out into danger. Do you need a break?'[/color] she offered, clearly worried. [color=82c6cf]‘You did a good job getting through this encounter, but please, don’t put yourself in danger like this if you can help it-'[/color]

[color=EF284F]‘Oh, no. Absolutely do,’[/color] Jacques suddenly said, interrupting Kalmia. Kalmia blinked, and looked back at Jacques like [i]what[/i]

[color=EF284F]‘If thugs learn they can just walk all over you, they will. Don’t do that. Stand up to them, no matter how futile the odds. Maybe you’ll even beat them.’[/color] With that said, Jacques stepped forward to put a hand on Basil’s shoulder. [color=EF284F]‘Magnifiscently done, Basil. When the moment comes, stand up bravely, and fight for what you believe in. That’s how evil is defeated.’[/color] He looked properly proud.

[color=82c6cf]‘Wh-what are you telling a [i]teenager[/i], Jacques!?'[/color] Kalmia asked, frowning.

[color=EF284F]‘Oh, I’m not telling him to throw himself into danger. I’m just saying that, circumstances in mind, I approve of his choice,’[/color] Jacques said, definitely still approving.

[color=d694c1]‘Yes, he certainly made the right call,’[/color] Sylvia said over there, writing down some more. [color=d694c1]‘He made our foe tip their hand. We know what to look for now,’[/color] she said, before turning to speak to several of the gathered crowd to ask them questions. Kalmia, outnumbered, sighed, and turned back to Basil.

[color=82c6cf]‘In any case. Yes, I can certainly look after any of the two Pokémon. Just Espurr? We probably want to check on Stella as well. Try to figure out what they’ve done to the both of them,'[/color] she said… and Stella gripped Basil’s leg, looking up at him with concern.

What does Basil do?

Oh, and the giant Lilligant and the boy on top is still here.

[hider=Stillwood Village][center][h2]Stillwood Village[/h2]

[url=https://i.imgur.com/NDG5NfG.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/Y9bCCki.jpg[/img][/url][/center]

Inside these calm forests lies a village completely in-tune with nature. The buildings are built around or in the trees of wood and stone, the light shining onto the village stifled by the great trees above. In the air, meeting your nose as soon as you tread into the village, is filled to the brim with the smell of forest and spores. It’s a wild smell, but somehow it is extremely relaxing and any worries seem to be stifled before the calming village ahead where everyone is always so calm and happy, wild Pokémon walking freely on the roads of the place. This is Stillwood Village, the most relaxing place imaginable, it’s people in touch with nature and wishing the best to all those who come to their cozy and ancient little home.

Wild Grass Pokémon freely wander the streets, spreading their spores into the air which the townspeople actively walk through every single day. They are all smiles, very helpful, the entire village and all visitors afflicted by the relaxing sensations brought by the spores during their stay in Stillwood Village. However, these spores are the reason quite a few avoid Stillwood Village, arguing that it messes with one’s mind. It is extremely rare that a member of Stillwood Village moves out of the village, after all. It will also quickly become evident just how little the members of the village care about the world at large, all their worries gone by the relaxing spores and just continue living, no troubles in the slightest.

That’s Stillwood Village for you.[/hider]

________________________


[@Pirouette]

Erika successfully pulled Chic back, avoiding the Wing Attack. Golbat spiralled into position, blocking their way, while Golbat's trainer was behind them. Erika talked to the masked girl that had been commanding the thieves, who now stood alone facing her… and the leader put a hand on her hip as Erika finished.

[color=ac705c]‘Honestly, I could tell you stuff for free if you want. Just not here. It’s not safe. [sub]For me.[/sub]’[/color] she said first to Erika, and then muttered something a bit more quietly at the end as she glanced back the way they’d both come from. [color=ac705c]‘That is, if you’re fine heading somewhere with me,’[/color] she said, her tone all serious.

Now, the battle still totally could start, especially if Erika says no, in which case the Golbat would quickly wave its wings to blow away the sand and then fly up into the air to avoid the Flame Charge, with intention to afterwards dive down to Wing Attack at Chic!

[hider=Bigfjord City][center][h2]Bigfjord City[/h2]


[url=https://i.imgur.com/nnyLDfS.jpg][img]https://i.imgur.com/nnyLDfS.jpg[/img][/url][/center]

Bigfjord City. The center of industry in Isson. If there’s a company, it likely has its headquarters in this city of commerce. The city of Bigfjord is famous for needing a lot of hands. The storehouse of Isson, the city is riddled with countless cheap apartments for the many objects of commerce that are shipped across the land. The ships of Bigfjord sail by the sea to Pureplain, where it is traded to the rest of the world. Inside the city hundreds of companies grow out of nothing and employ the population, and that is the draw of the city. The city itself are just skyscrapers after skyscrapers, modern and organized as far as the eye can see, with the larger companies growing out of the bunch with spectacular structures showing of their wealth and power, lording over the workers who move to Bigfjord for a chance at an easy life working for the big boys.

As you enter the streets of Bigfjord City, the night of Route 13 does not leave. Where the roads of Worldedge City might feel magical, the streets of Bigfjord City feel unforgivingly real. Cars drive around causing long lines of traffic, and uncountable workers and humans tarry about, going to or from work. What perhaps stands out the most is the sheer lack of Pokémon-themed marketing. In Bigfjord City, it is like they look down on the premise of Pokémon driving the world. The only Pokémon you see are the Murkrows sitting on the street lights, hunting for their next meals and trinkets, as well as the Rattatas lurking just visible in the various alleys, doing very much the same thing. Unlike basically everywhere else in Isson, the atmosphere was not welcoming. It was stiffeningly uncaring.[/hider]