[color=6ecff6][h2]❄Erika Olson❄[/h2][/color] [hider=Pokemon] [img]https://img.pokemondb.net/sprites/black-white/anim/shiny/froslass.gif[/img] Sno, Froslass ♀ Level 21 Status: [color=00a651]Fresh[/color] [img]https://cdn2.bulbagarden.net/upload/c/cc/Spr_5b_345.png[/img] Eep, Lileep ♂ Level 20 Status: [color=00a651]Fresh[/color] [img]https://cdn2.bulbagarden.net/upload/f/f1/Spr_5b_333.png[/img] Tara, Swablu ♀ Level 22 Status: [color=00a651]Fresh[/color] [img]https://cdn2.bulbagarden.net/upload/2/24/Spr_5b_256_m.png[/img] Chic, Combusken ♀ Level 20 Status: [color=00a651]Fresh[/color] [img]https://cdn2.bulbagarden.net/upload/a/a1/Spr_5b_443_m.png[/img] Gibs, Gible ♂ Level 21 Status: [color=00a651]Fresh[/color] [img]https://th.bing.com/th/id/R.2095125c07a8e145ba315ff111c6c050?rik=e%2fhOJ0IZbF3xOA&riu=http%3a%2f%2fimg4.wikia.nocookie.net%2f__cb20140103174008%2fpokeminds%2fes%2fimages%2f1%2f18%2fInkay_XY.gif&ehk=X2JfTJheaaKOfXJrhvqjBxDDGT6CJQe4XJXh9x9B2f0%3d&risl=&pid=ImgRaw&r=0[/img] Kay, Inkay ♀ Level 20 Status: [color=00a651]Fresh[/color] [/hider] [hider=Inventory] [color=007236][b]Treetop Badge[/b][/color] [b]KEY ITEMS[/b][list] [*]??? Machine [*]Not-Actually-Guide-Home Goggles! [*]Guide to Mt. Strength [*]Swanna Pail [*]EXP Share - on [color=0072bc]Tara[/color] [/list] 6 Potion 14 Pokeballs 3 Repels 5 Great Balls 4 Antidote 4 Paralysis Heal 1 Escape Rope 3 Tanga Berries 2 Spelon Berries 3 Chesto Berries 1 Bug Gem 1 Jaw Fossil [b]TM-22[/b] Solar Beam [b]TM-66[/b] Payback [b]TM52[/b] Steel Wing! [b]TM08[/b] Bulk Up! [b]TM86[/b] Grass Knot! 13858P [/hider][hr][hr] [color=6ecff6]"Thanks."[/color] Erika replied, nodding as appreciated the praise. She wasn't even sure where that idea came from but maybe it was from a movie. The thought had taken Erika briefly away before the command to not look up was uttered. She almost immediately looked up and saw them. Shadow figures that looked imposing up there, some were even perched like gargoyles in fantasy. Though that could have been their Flying-Type Pokemon that they had. [color=6ecff6]"Oh! Sorry!"[/color] Erika laughed, though she didn't see the big deal. They weren't going to do anything... Right? They carried on for a bit longer until they came to a stop at a corner. Erika peered out alongside her masked friend and witnessed the battle for herself. Amazing... She pulled out her PokeDex to get a full survey but was watching the battle intently. She hadn't seen team battles like this at all, really. Sure, they were primarily squaring off one-on-one but they would influence the battle of others. A safeguard to protect their team, debuffing abilities... [color=f7941d]"Combusken!"[/color] Chic sounded, startling Erika, turning to see Chic stepping up almost as if she were eager to plunge into the fray! Erika grabbed Chic and rounded the corner out of sight again. [color=6ecff6]"Chic! We'd get squashed!"[/color] Erika sighed. [color=6ecff6]"Though not for lack of effort but we simply aren't strong enough yet. One day."[/color] Erika patted the top of Chic's head before returning her to her Pokeball. Following the thief, the pair went on undisturbed into a new section of town. If Bigfjord felt off before, it certainly stuck out in Erika's mind as they wandered the rutted out streets and cold slab and metal exteriors of Sunset Slums. [color=6ecff6]"Wow..."[/color] Erika muttered at the introduction, not sure what else to say. Her eyes wandered about to see... well... nothing like home. They'd eventually arrive at their destination with the rest of the thief gang waiting. She expected a little of the third-degree considering she did stop most of them... [color=6ecff6]"I mean, you guys really do look like bad guys..."[/color] She muttered in defense. Erika remained mostly silent after that. She watched the party shuffle on. They paid for rent and food for someone else which made Erika shrink. If she had known they were using the money for something good then maybe she wouldn't have been so quick to stop them. They carried on and Erika paused to watch the daycare a little bit. Pokemon and kids playing wholesomely was the first warmth she felt in the city. It was something familiar. Then the bakery had Fire-Types gently stoking the flames of a fire in some earthworks to keep the bakery running as a dusty lady continued to kneed dough. She was hard at work but she looked happy? Satisfied? Erika wasn't sure which but it looked like she enjoyed what she was doing. The shrine was some very old wood, adorned with newer ornaments and offerings that seemed to stick out. A Chimecho fluttered nearby alongside a trainer who was meditating. Different than the cheery thief that Erika had encountered. Yet again, though, Erika was reminded of well... anywhere else she had encountered in Isson. Places where there were warmth of human and Pokemon friendship. Daily activities that they would pal around to do. Words couldn't really explain it as Erika didn't have the ability to, but this felt like what she wanted out of Bigfjord. [i]Are you sure you want to know?[/i] [color=6ecff6]"Yes."[/color] It was instant but Erika had to know. Surely this city could be better. It was all explained and for once, Erika could put it all together. Erika sat down, finding a perch to watch the distant glimmer of lights from the spires of Bigfjord's larger buildings. She glanced up to see no stars, drowned out by the glare of city lights. It just all made sense why things worked this way here, but to Erika, it didn't make sense why it even existed at all. Cooldome City is novel in its concept, more of a resort in ways. Everyone was there to enjoy themselves so maybe it made sense why Erika saw Isson through rose-tinted glasses. [i]‘Having heard all that… what are you going to do now?’[/i] Erika didn't really know. What was she going to do? What could she do? [color=6ecff6]"...How do you really make a difference here, then?"[/color]