[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://www.serebii.net/swordshield/pokemon/686.png[/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]

Erika figured it would be a stretch to go after the Rukh HQ this early. Besides, confidence wasn't always her strongest trait and invading the headquarters of a powerful corporate family tycoon who control a whole city seemed high on that 'requiring confidence' thing. Again, there was the whole hunch thing that she believed these goggles located legendary. They just might lead to powerful stones or something, too.

Was Erika about to head off on her own? Maybe. She was still hanging around masked strangers. Plus, where would she be going...
[color=6ecff6]"Oh, hey! A map!"[/color] Erika sounded pleased as she scanned it.

Then GW said something about Porygons being able to mess with computers. [color=6ecff6]"Don't tell me that... now I'm scared to even check my PokeDex."[/color] She muttered just as they got into the directions.

It was nice to see the city laid out. Though a little foreboding about Lovesick Lane... the place she most wanted to go to next to discover where her goggles were leading that wouldn't immediately result in her getting arrested or something like that if she tried the Rukh HQ.

[color=6ecff6]"So something feels off there?"[/color] Erika scratched at just under the prim of her hat. [color=6ecff6]"I'm trying to think of Fairy types but I do not know many. Especially ones to enchant people. Maybe it is the Legendary there? I guess I didn't even know if there was a Fairy type Legendary."[/color]

That's when Yoink mentioned her friends. Oh yeah! Joshua and Ewan! Poor boys must be worried sick!
[color=6ecff6]"Oh! I'll message them and maybe meet up with them in Lovesick Lane..."[/color] Erika felt her head sink between her shoulders. [color=6ecff6]"But I don't know how Ewan feels about your gang. We only jumped in to stop you because he was so passionate about doing the right thing. If I tell him I am working with you then he might be mad."[/color]

That's when Erika suddenly perked up. [color=6ecff6]"But I think Joshua may cover me. He is a bit of a goof but he didn't want to really get involved. I thought he even said something about us not knowing how it works here or something. Seems pretty smart to say now."[/color]

Erika messaged Joshua: [i][color=6ecff6]Joshua. I am safe and sound. Please don't tell Ewan yet. He may not like what I am doing or who I am with. I may need help eventually but I can explain later if I need to. Keep you posted.[/color][/i]

[color=6ecff6]"Okay that covers that. I don't think I'll ask them for help quite yet if what you say is true."[/color]

Erika clenched at the hems of her shorts as she took a deep breath. [color=6ecff6]"Alright so."[/color] She began, thinking about how all this can work. [color=6ecff6]"I will go to Lovesick Lane. If you [i]really[/i] think I'll need someone to watch my back then maybe one of you can join me. I will find the source of these goggles and at least answer that question. Meanwhile, I think someone that is good at talking with people convince whichever gangs and people you are friendly with to see if they are willing to do some big heist on Rukh HQ or something. Actually don't even say Rukh HQ in case the word slips. Just see if we can stir interest with just a big heist. If I am successful in whatever is in Lovesick Lane, I might go on to talk with Renaud..."[/color]

Erika paused to consider her words carefully. Not that she felt the situation was delicate but because she just had a feeling about him. [color=6ecff6]"From what I know, and I suppose that really is less than I'd like, you don't become a Gym Leader because you want to run an empire. It is because you love battling. That is at the core of Trainers and Pokemon, right? So what Renaud is doing, I feel like he is doing it because it is just the system and he is caught up in it. Bigfjord just feels so cold and lonely for passing trainers that I feel like quite a few don't stay. That is less serious battles and challenges. I'm sure there is probably some chart that keeps track of all the gym battle challenges but I feel like Renaud doesn't get a lot. So basically, I think freeing Bigfjord City might be a way to appeal to more trainers coming here and more challenges."[/color]

Was that childishly naive? Probably. But Erika was raised to believe Gym Leaders were dependable and pillars of communities. Was Renaud just a victim of the circumstances or an instigator? Erika truly didn't know but she hoped for the best.

[color=6ecff6]"Well I'll try to say all that to him at least."[/color] Erika muttered. [color=6ecff6]"Even if my goggles don't lead to a Legendary and even if Renaud says no, I'll find something to help!"[/color]

With that determination, Erika set off. 

Now Erika had no way of knowing but she would quickly stop at the PC in the Pokemon Center to swap Kay for Poli. Then she could only be lucky as she made her way to the North-east, passing along the docks to find a sailor willing to trade a Poliwag for an Impidimp.

Then she'd carry on towards Lovesick Lane!