[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Dragonstrike]

"Uh, sure, I guess...as long as Kirlia's okay with it, that is...you feel up for it, buddy?"

Kirlia nods. As long as he takes it slow, he should be able to demonstrate it just fine for her. It'd be some nice training, too. #SneakyTrainingSessionToGetThatLastExperiencePointForCalmMind

While Kirlia is showing Double Team to Shiva, Nathan thinks about what she just said...'Tutoring moves...hmmmm....I wonder what moves could possibly be tutored to my pokemon...I know it's something a few expert trainers do, but it takes a lot of skill to pull off as well...' He pulls out his pokedex and flips through it to see what's suggested in there.

'Hmmm...Swiftfire gets Hypnosis and maybe even Drill Run or Horn Drill after she evolves, plus Morning Sun...a good reminder, to be honest...Staryu can get Thunder Wave...that might be interesting, and Grid already knows it too...Porygon can learn...Electroweb? Huh, that's interesting. One more reason to teach that to Grid, I guess...Ralts line can get a few moves like that...not a whole lot interesting there...though Gallade learns some different moves as well...like...Drain Punch. That'd be really nice, actually. Shame it's an incredibly rare move, unlike, say, Brick Break...either would be better than relying solely on Close Combat though for a Fighting move...Thunder Punch, Ice Punch, and Shadow Sneak are all pretty nice too...Combee and Vespiqueen...not a whole lot that's super notable there, either...and finally, Joltik...ooh, Giga Drain. Cottonee can learn that eventually, right?'

Checks Cottonee's dex entry

'Yup, it can...maybe Shiva could help me out with some of these later...'

By this point, Shiva's taken...quite a few notes on Double Team. Kirlia sits down to meditate for a little. It hadn't been too difficult, but drawing out the usage of the move like that for both safety and educational purposes had been tiring in and of itself.

Nathan looks up when he notices Shiva and Kirlia have sat back down again. "Hm? Oh, done? Got all the notes you needed? Hm? What was I doing? Just browsing through the 'dex and my memory concerning what moves might be teachable to my pokemon. There's actually a few that would be really nice to have later down the line..."

He pauses.

"Actually, I know it's unrelated to what we're currently talking about, but what kept you out by the river for so long, if I may ask? And what was up with that Spearow back in the dojo? Does it belong to you or Ven? Was meaning to ask both of those questions, just couldn't find a good time to do so..."

[Iron]

All the Kirlia's turn to look at Nathan, their eyes perfectly free of care. His wound no longer seems to bother him. Total Zen...

Kirlia gains 1XP/learns Calm Mind.

[Dragonstrike]

"Okay, that's not creepy at all...but I guess he just learned Calm Mind, so...win-win, I guess?"

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

"Actually, I know it's unrelated to what we're currently talking about, but what kept you out by the river for so long, if I may ask?  And what was up with that Spearow back in the dojo?  Does it belong to you or Ven?  Was meaning to ask both of those questions, just couldn't find a good time to do so..."

It took a moment to look up from her notes and realize that Nathan asked a question to her. "Hmm... Wait, what? Eh, sorry... Ah, that Spearow is in my possession for now. However, only temporarly since maybe you picked up what a fierely fighter it is and how fond it is of Martial Arts. Found it knocked out on Route 3 and decided that I couldn't just leave it there. But, I don't believe anyone of us three could be a proper Master for it, the most capable one would be Valder in my view, but he refused as I wished to give this Spearow to him." ... "So, I'll likely pay the Dojo another visit and leave it there under Sensei's care for a small protective charge, I noticed he expressed some liking for this special bird. Within the same breath..." At this point, Shiva smiled down to Azurill nesteld in her arms and top hat, still recovering from her wounds, "you are allowed to train thre once again. I saw how much fun you had. I believe you're also ready to learn a stronger variant of Water Gun? How does that sound to you, dear one?" (Iron, how does Azu react to this declaration?)

"As for what I did in the morning... As I said, I went to restock on fresh water, when I , eh... accidently stepped into a Zangoose's territory." ... "Before you start panicking now, NO, it did not harm me too much, neither me nor my Pokemon suffered ANY dangerous wounds. You know, the claws of a Zangoose are a dangerous and precious weapon, but with a few kind words and care I managed to convince that catlike ferret to fair and not-dangerous battle. Training for both of us, and I let it go as I had it at the point of almost-fainting. It retreated into the woods afterwards."

Silence followed. Calm and enjoyable silence, but the longer it lasted, the more eager grew into it. When Shiva soke again, she faced Nathan with an expression that meant...well, it was an expression that she had not displayed before, at least not towards any party member. "So... Nathan, actually, this whole thing yesterday as well as that zangoose showed me a thing. Thing is, I beleive I need to get stronger. Not physically, I mean it in the way that I have to get stronger when it comes to Pokemon battle.  There is some potential in my own Pokemon, I know it, but if I wish to get them stronger, I need to get stronger by myself first. Battles are a big aprt of rainsing Pokemon properly, after all, and I wish for Helios and Fennekin to reach their final form of evolution one day under my care. Like, I still refuse to challenge Corsage's Gym Leader, but maybe, just maybe if I have some type advantage on my side, I might challenge one or two other Gym Leader during our journey. Not for the badges, they may come along as well additionally, but rather for the training and for my and my Pokemon's experience."

"I have to start at some point though... And that's where you might help out. Question is, would you be up for a friendly battle? Not today, maybe not tomorrow, but as soon as Kirlia is all well again. Double battle prefered, those are more fun to me and feel more educational. It'd only benefit you as well, I believe." ... "Additionally, if I'd win you'd have to help me out on paying for the Breeder's Lisence. If you win, you can do it anyway since you wished to do so!~"

Damn, so many words... Shiva was not quite used to that as well as speaking out what has been running through her mind, but her words only spoke the truth and she'd never get to grow stronger if she'd keep that hidden and unspoken. And nthan seemed like the one who'd understand most likely.

She took a longer look at her notes concerning Double Team again, but maybe just for having an excuse to not face Nathan there. "So, what are your thoughts on this? Oh, and Kirlia... You mind to show me Double Team agian a few times? I believe I haven't gotten the mechanics completely yet. Please concentrate on creating only two or three copies of yourself, please."

[Iron]

Azurill likes the dojo idea. She is starting to get more confident in herself. And truth be told she isn't too comfortable having that Ronin Spearow on the team.

Assuming Nathan doesn't mind, Kirlia makes just a few copies of himself, collapses them, and does it again.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Azurill likes the dojo idea. She is starting to get more confident in herself.

(That sounds like music to me!~ )


At some point after learning more about Double Team, Shiva spotted Fennekin lurking around. She calls him back to her side and allows him to rest his head in her lap.

"Hehe... You had fun running around in the woods again?"

[Dragonstrike]

She faced....

...a Zangoose?

By herself?!

And...won?!

And she was challenging him to a battle now?

Nathan blinks a few times in surprise.

He smiles after another moment.  "Who are you, and what have you done with Shiva?  I wouldn't have thought she'd be so brazen."

He chuckles.  "Actually, I had decided I wished to battle you as well.  Well, now I can stop worrying about how to handle approaching that question, I guess.  And you have no reason to worry about me turning down the challenge, either.  But yeah, now's probably not exactly the best time for it...maybe when we get back to town?  Kirlia will probably be feeling a bit better by then."  That, and he still wants to be ready for Absol if it's hanging around here...  

Kirlia opens one eye at the mention of using Double Team again.  An audible sigh can be heard, but he gets up and goes through the motions again.  Nathan doesn't mind as long as Kirlia doesn't.  And Kirlia doesn't mind this time since Shiva has been a spectacular friend and companion to both of them.  Once the second round of Double Teams is done, though, he sits back down, and zones out completely.

"Well, anything else we need to discuss while Ven's snoozing in the tent?  I'm going to get some training in for all my other pokemon while we're out here.  Maybe spend a little downtime just relaxing with them later.  You're welcome to join in if you wish."

If that's the end of this conversation, Nathan's going to hold a training session for Grid, Swiftfire, and Staryu, and let the Combee do some Honey Gathering.  That will round out the day for him.  The next day will probably be spent doing two training sessions for the same 3 pokemon (and the combee can go enjoy honey gathering on their own again), with the third slot being a whole lot of doing nothing to wind down and bond with his pokemon after such a rigorous amount of work.  Well, as long as nothing else interrupts any of these plans...he's still rather wary of that Absol...

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Oh, she clearly picked up the suprise that emerged from Nathan. And shruged as a reply, alongside with returning that smile. "Don't know... Maybe it's a additional effect of Corsage? Sure thing though, there is no need to rush, let's both take our time then. But preferably I'd have that battle before you go to challenge the Gym Leader, if possible...? As some sort of warm-up, maybe?"

My, my, looks like all that Double Team was a little too much for Kirlia... She rewarded the Psychic-Fairy with a few appreciating strokes, avoiding both his injured arm and the red horns. "You did great, and helped me out a lot. Therefore, thank you! Enjoy our rest."

... Actually, Shiva completely forgot about that... And immediately, some worry emerged in her. "Speakin of him... I haven't seen Ven since this morning. You know where he is?" Almost, almost she asked 'he didn't go for the Rattata, did he?', but she wouldn't enjoy bringing that topic up again.



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She spend the rest of the evening reading through the book concerning Earth Lore alongside her Pokemon enjoying some free time, maybe there's something more to find out since their in the forest anyway. Ventus would hate that book, but he's not around anyway, right? Nathan's fine to see it, I guess.


(From my side, you can then open the next day.)

[Dragonstrike]

... Actually, Shiva completely forgot about that... And immediately, some worry emerged in her. "Speakin of him... I haven't seen Ven since this morning. You know where he is?" Almost, almost she asked 'he didn't go for the Rattata, did he?', but she wouldn't enjoy bringing that topic up again.



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She spend the rest of the evening reading through the book concerning Earth Lore alongside her Pokemon enjoying some free time, maybe there's something more to find out since their in the forest anyway. Ventus would hate that book, but he's not around anyway, right? Nathan's fine to see it, I guess.

"Like I just said, he's snoozing the day away in the tent.  Looked like he needed the rest.  No need to worry about him or what he's doing.  Welp, time for some training, I guess."

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Training time!  (assuming no interruptions) Nathan does notice the book, but doesn't comment on it for now, focusing instead on the training.

(I'm good with moving on as well)

[Iron]

It's the next day, Day 16!

Staryu takes a dip in the Great River Greenbriar and comes out an hour later, very prepared for his final training session.

He gains (6)(1)(3)(2)(5) 2 bonus XP.