[@Pirouette]

Erika said the part about fighting for information… [color=ac705c]‘… Sure, but not right now,’[/color] the masked girl said as she looked away from Erika. [color=ac705c]‘I don’t mind a fight, but right now I just want to get away.’[/color]

Then she said the part about the city feeling cold… and the robber looked back at her. 

[color=ac705c]‘… Yeah, I get it. I can tell you what you want to know, and then you can decide if you want to stay or get as far away from here as you can,’[/color] she said. She then started walking, intending to pass her. [color=ac705c]‘Okay. Then follow after me. If you’re still unhappy we can fight when we arrive. For now, we’re going to get out of here before the Cigs-’[/color] 

[color=e4d857]‘STOP RIGHT THERE!’[/color]

Further back in the alley, in the direction behind the leader, a boy with white hair was gliding down with a thin paraglider between the buildings. The form clutching the paraglider had a silver uniform with golden details, and a similarly styled silver and gold eye-mask. [color=e4d857]‘I, Everfair of the City Guardians, have come to apprehend this criminal! Citizen, you have done an admirable job delaying this black-hearted crook, but you may now leave her to me!’[/color] he said, letting go and landing on the ground with a practiced roll before springing to his feet and pointing a Pokéball at them. 

[hider=Everfair of the City Guardians][url=https://i.imgur.com/T19jzyj.jpeg][img]https://i.imgur.com/TxUymNj.png[/img][/url][/hider]

[color=e4d857]‘I will-! … Huh?’[/color]

So, the very moment the man had called out, the leader had broken into a dash. When passing Erika, she attempted to grab Erika’s hand, clearly unwilling to stay around any longer. [color=ac705c]‘Run with me! You won’t find out the truth from him…!’[/color] was all she had time to say. Now, she probably couldn’t run as she wanted to if Erika resisted.

Probably regardless of what Erika did…

[color=e4d857]‘Foul villain, are you trying to drag this portrait of innocence with you on this journey of evil? Citizen! Resist her treacherous pull! Nothing but darkness awaits in whatever hole she’s slithering back to!’[/color] he called, and lifted his Pokéball high. [color=e4d857]‘Come forth! Dragonair!’[/color]

And his Pokéball crashed open, from it emerged a long, elegant serpentine Pokémon…

[center][url=https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Dragonair_(Pok%C3%A9mon)][img]https://i.imgur.com/yJLhgcB.png[/img][/url]

[color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #148 – Dragonair, the Dragon Pokémon. It stores an enormous amount of energy inside its body. If its body takes on an aura, the weather changes instantly, as its crystalline orbs give it the power to control the weather. It is said to live in seas and lakes. Despite having no wings, it can be seen flying freely.[/i][/color][/center]

Golbat flew to cover its trainer as she attempted to make her escape, with Erika if she allowed.

What will Erika do?

[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]

________________________

[@Remram]

Kalmia looked unconvinced at that Basil said he was fine. When he was tearing up from Jacques and Sylvia’s praise, though, Kalmia absolutely noticed, and a slight change happened in the way she was looking at Basil.

[color=EF284F]‘Take your time,’[/color] Jacques simply said, then stepped aside. Basil spoke to Stella about Kalmia. Stella looked at Basil, and then looked to Kalmia, who also kneeled down and gave the little psychic-type a wave and a smile. After Basil ended his speech… she leaned her head against him, clearly still attached to him, but seemingly still considering it, staring at Kalmia. That’s where she was when he then addressed them again. Kalmia and Jacques listened, and when he was done… Kalmia sighed.

[color=82c6cf]‘Yes, Pokémon journeys, by their nature, have a degree of danger to them… But I feel like there’s a difference between that and…’[/color] she used one hand to vaguely gesture at Basil’s current condition. [color=82c6cf]‘… but I see you have decided. But of course you have, I gave you that Pokédex for a reason, after all,’[/color] she said, nodding.  [color=82c6cf]‘Alright. Fight on. I’ll support you however I can.’[/color]

[color=EF284F]‘Fu-fu. Yes. Good self-realization. Now, then,’[/color] Jacques turned to face away from the scene, in the direction the opponent had ran. [color=EF284F]‘I need to see what I can find out to destroy those who would show injustice to these Pokémon. Sylvia?’[/color] 

[color=d694c1]‘Yes,’[/color] Sylvia came forth. [color=d694c1]‘We’ll want to have these Pokémon thoroughly inspected for any trace of what our adversaries did to them. With those traces, we’ll be able to find out what might have been needed to do this. If we know that, we can find what resources they likely needed… and then we can find them at their source,’[/color] Sylvia proclaimed, turning to look at Kalmia, who in turn was now looking at Espurr, standing there unmoving. [color=d694c1]‘We will be depending on you to find that information, professor.’[/color]

[color=82c6cf]‘Leave it to me,’[/color] Kalmia nodded.

[color=2fbdb6]‘What should I do~?’[/color] Archie, the little boy on the giant Lilligant that was still here, asked.

[color=EF284F]‘Just look after Stillwood Village until I call again will do,’[/color] Jacques nodded up to him. [color=EF284F]‘Oh, and let Basil here challenge you, if he so feels like it.’[/color] 

[color=2fbdb6]‘Okaaaaay~!’[/color] Archie replied.

[color=e04f4f]‘… You have some friends…’[/color] Anise stepped over next to Basil when she had built the courage to actually start walking and not just stare at Jacques the whole time.

Still, Kalmia could take Espurr right away, and Sylvia would, in fact, want that detailed description of the one Basil fought.

[color=EF284F]‘We’ll keep you posted on our progress. In the meantime…’[/color] Jacques said, turning to look at him. [color=EF284F]‘What will you do?’[/color]

What will Basil do?

[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]