[Game Thread] Pokerole: Mount Coronet Mystery

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

(Brigid was also holding a Charcoal to boost her Fire STABs, but since Froslass still got KOed it doesn't matter!)

The often irritable little man was beaming like the heat lamps as his burning tortoise utterly smoked the yuki-onne, walking over to her (and taking care not to slip on the ice/water) and giving her head a nice firm but caring pat on the head.

"Great work, Brigid. You'll definitely be getting an extra helping of coal tonight for this, so I hope you enjoy it girl. Thank ya."

Brigid perked up at her master's words and start to smile widely + bob her head enthusiastically, before she started to rub her long neck against their side lovingly/happily. Oh, what wonder words and great gifts her master brings her! Though often harsh and unkind around others, Ran always does his best to treat her and their other comrades right and with the care that they deserve. Once you get past his hard outer and course shell, he's soft and helpful man at his core, full of passion for what he does, what he can do, and for others too. Her master is tough and severe, but he is also a great man in equal measure.

Unlike his other Pokemon, Ran kept Brigid out with him after the match was over (As he wanted to warm up after such a frigid battle), so they both were there as Candice seemed to be having a blast despite the outcome, and when she came over to present him with the Icicle Badge and loot for winning against her! The dwarven blacksmith accepted it all with a simply proud bearing and smile, while the sunny turtle offered a much simpler but more pure smile to them and a congratulatory nod.

"Hah hah ha! Same here with me, Ice Queen! Only that lad's Lucas' mongrel of a Lucario has given me a harder time than you, and I think that speaks for itself! Most youngems just piss me off when they try to fight me, but I am happy to say you're a blessed exception to that! *Smiles* You've certainly worked hard and earned your position as Gym Leader, and its been a pleasure seeing all that effort shine through myself. Thank ya kindly for the match, Candice."

He then offers the frosty lass before him a handshake, and then one of his business cards on top of that!

"If ya need a job done around your Gym or somewhere else in Snowpoint, well give me ring after I get through with this job of mine. Always happy to work for people like ya."

Before he could leave, though, Candice voiced her thoughtful concerns for his job, which caused him to pause in place before he panned his head towards the ground and gripped his fists ever so slightly tighter as he let out a heavy *Sigh*.

".....No you don't, lass. No you don't. Like I said earlier, though: somebody has to do something about this mess, or nothing good will get done. And that somebody has to be me and my partners. Thank ya for the concern, though. Appreciate it, lass."

He turned around from the Gym Leader (with Brigid in toe), and was about to leave her freezing domain, when he paused again.

"Mind if ya make me one last promise, Candice? If I end up.....not returning from my job and investigation, get this message to Byron and Roark. Tell that.....old Wolfe ain't prowling around anymore, and to let bygones.....be bygones, and the past remain buried. They'll understand. Can ya do that for me?"

He awaits her response, before he exits the Gym and heads to the Pokemon Center to heal his partners up. He had a cold, musty old temple to investigate and some more shopping/looking around he needed to be doing, and he wanted his entire team ready for either task. Always be prepared for anything, as they say.

"Well, technically, the Ice Queen is Froslass...most just call me the Diamond Dust Girl if they're using a nickname!~  Oh yeah, Lucas's Lucario!  Back when Lucas challenged me, she gave me quite the run for my money, too.  Even Froslass had a hard time against Sally, and she's my go-to counter for Fighting types besides my Medicham.  Ah, memories...man, I REALLY need to work on my counters for Steel types more..."

Randolph offering a handshake snaps Candice out of that trip down memory lane, though, and she eagerly shakes the blacksmith's hand and accepts that business card!  "Pleasure meeting and doing battle with ya!  If ya ever want a rematch one day, I'm usually hanging out in the Survival Area of the Battle Zone if I'm not here in the gym!  Froslass and I love it whenever we get the chance to cut loose and go all out!~  Same with Glaceon and Abomasnow!"

Yup, Randolph heard that correctly.  Candice has not one, not two, but THREE aces.

Candice's expression is grim, her arms still crossed, as Randolph asks her for that favor.  "...sure thing.  I can definitely do that."

To say she isn't curious about what the heck that's supposed to mean would be a lie.

But given how much weight was obviously behind Randolph's words, Candice doesn't inquire any further.

-------------------------------

After Randolph leaves the gym, Candice writes an official writ of admittance to the Snowpoint Temple, providing detailed descriptions of the two trainers she is allowing access to the location and the pokemon they used.  She stamps it with her gym's logo, then hands it to her Sneasel, who promptly slinks into the shadows to discreetly deliver it to the guard outside the sacred locale...

Congratulations!  Karen and Randolph now have access to the Snowpoint Temple encounter without having to sneak past the guard posted outside!  Other characters may also enter the Snowpoint Temple if they are accompanied by Karen and/or Randolph!