[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Dragonstrike]

"Yes, Keenglaive are all male as far as I know. The rare item that unlocks their evolutionary potential has no effect at all on female Pawniard. Black Keenglaive has Wonder Guard and very poor defenses. I had to train the hell out of mine to get him as tough as he is. The White variety is faster (Autotomize) while the Black variety is trickier (Parting Shot). He's cloaked in darkness, while I hear the White variety is cloaked in blazing glorious fire. Mine had the potential to learn Moonlight, Psycho Cut, Headbutt, and came to me with Hypnosis."

Nathan's definitely taking notes on this as well.  And he doesn't mind sharing some information in return, either.

"Yeah, the White variety has a cape that's made of fire.  Gotta be careful around it since the temperature and intensity of it can't be adjusted like a Rapidash's mane, though, particularly since it's hot enough to enable dangerous Overheat attacks.  White Keenglaive are also just as frail as the Black variety, but their Fire/Steel typing gives them fewer weaknesses.  On top of that, they can also use Magnet Rise to eliminate one of their only two weaknesses entirely, meaning their Wonder Guard is incredibly difficult to get past since they're naturally immune to almost all forms of chip damage.  Thankfully, they don't carry the same hypnotic powers that the Black variety does.  They still command a lot of respect among all Steel and Fire types, but they're much less ruthless and a lot calmer.  'Course, they'll still drag ya down with them with Destiny Bond if ya happen to somehow get an advantage anyways despite all their defensive advantages.  Funny thing is, despite being able to use Autotomize, White Keenglaive actually make a lot of slow, carefully thought out movements, partially because their legs are a little stubbier than a Bisharp's.  That's about the extent of what I know about White Keenglaive from my brief time around one.  Predictably, there are probably also other Fire attacks a White Keenglaive could utilize since the Pawniard line isn't naturally Fire type.  Could maybe use Fire Punch or Sunny Day, I imagine.  The fires definitely seem intense enough for those.  Headbutting capabilities are probably unchanged as well."

So the current offer on Zorua is 12k + Rock Smash access. After being buttered up with gifts he'll take that deal. He actually seems pretty excited and includes 3 flareglass shards into the mix for each of you. "I've been putting a small amount of evolutionary powder into their food. You can give them opposing elements for them to resist, or aligned elements for them to absorb energy."

Nathan's kinda excited too, and doesn't have any major issues with forking over his quarter of the deal even though it's most of the cash he has on hand at the moment.  Zorua are an incredibly rare species, after all.  And this one's certainly very skilled, too.  "So just grind up one piece of Flareglass and sprinkle it in the food?  Hmmm...alright, I can give that a try.  Out of curiosity, when the time is appropriate, how would you recommend evolving them later?"

Nathan wouldn't want to get in trouble if he had to evolve a Zorua the 'traditional' way, after all.

I also kinda wonder if the Zorua might end up liking Calam to some degree since he knows more than a thing or two about stealth and deception...except he utilizes those skills for Justified purposes primarily, so that may affect how that might go, too...well, that, and he's also a Fairy type now...hmmm...

Oh yeah, and any pokemon of Howl's in particular that he wants ROCK SMASH to be taught to that I might want to take note of?

[Mikaruge108]

"It seems Toya's got his hands full with this battle, quite literally."

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

The popping is actually coming from the Earthpower contained within the glass. It's like a fizzle!

Still not a good idea for a human to eat much of it though!

"Our sunsets are legendary! The hardest part will be finding someplace that won't be crowded. If you go north toward the mines and higher ground, there are wild Pokemon. But if you go south just a few miles out of town, the Pokemon are calm, and you can see almost all the way to the sea! That's the best place to view the sunset if you have even a single young Pokemon protector with you."

This place is mostly treeless, aside from a few beautiful cherry trees here and there growing tall and straight with bushy foliage and a few remaining pink petals.

There's a weird image in my mind now of someone eating Gourmet Food with dusted shards like cereal. (￣、￣〃)
---------------------


Oh, that place sounds ideal! Shiva appears very delighted and eagerly thanks the person who gave her that hint before she rushes off fastly towards the south of town, past the mart, past the houses and past the Center.

As soon as she has reached the described place she gasps a bit for air, but as she has recovered from running a bit she gives the surroundings an approving. Yes, no other people around, she can't sense any hostility from wild Pokemon nearby, and these few cherry trees give it a very nice touch all over! They're obviously her favorite detail. She throws a gaze over to the seaside: Ah, the sun hasn't yet reached the water surface, but the sky around it has already taken a beautiful shade of reddish orange. Pretty much like this - she has made it in time. ( ÒωÓ)و☆

All of Shiva's current Pokemon are summoned from their various Balls to get a glimpse on this magic scene and soon have found themselves a proper place or activity: Yena yawns and lays down by the base of one of the cherry trees with the fihsbowl containing Tiny Finneon close to him for some welcome protection, Ophelia and Azu have soon lost track of time in their game of tag (kind as the fae rabbit is, she let the gentle unicorn catch her a few times) and Fuchsia has shyly joined Nightshade in her quest to find all remaining pink petals around. Cottonee however, Shiva could only display a sly smile as  the fluffball took a glance at the sinking sun and then to her sweet Master. Cottonee was quick to understand and immediately became super-excited and refused to move away a single inch from Shiva's side.  


With her current Stats the natural fae enthusiast should be able to climb one of the cherry trees, if needed Azu can always lend her a helping hand. The fluffball can simply float up there. together they'll find a branch thick and stable enough for Shiva to take a seat on from where she's having a good view at the ever-sinking sun. her Startermon was quick to place herself not on Shiva's head but in her lap this time, enjoying the hands stroking through her fluff - it's the last memory she'll have as a Cottonee. It needed little time for the pair to understand why the sunsets in Elanor are said to be legendary.

"Cottonee....", Shiva soon speaks up, "For how long have I - have you - waited for this time? I don't know. Since we've started out journey together perhaps? It feels like... Like ages, long enough definitely." She draws the Sunstone she has mined up from her stuff and holds it up in such a way that it reflects the last rays of sunshine. "Look how beautifully it shines, dear one - it marks my gift to you, perhaps the ulltimate gift I can give you apart from my love and affection. Love is said to be strongest force of our universe, and I have no doubt it is. Yet is so multifaceted. I once read a poem turned into a song that expresses that so well, let me... share it with you.... Hehe. ^//^"


(Music cue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxSTzSEiZ2c)

Some say love, it is a river
That drowns the tender reed
Some say love, it is a razor
That leaves your soul to bleed
Some say love, it is a hunger
An endless, aching need

"Like a river that ever flows even in winter, love has the potential to carry you away, steadily downstream - You may sink in that feeling, especially if it's romantic love. Like... I was almost drowning in those weird feelings I felt for a particular Pokemon sociologist despite I didn't even have a proper name for them." She chuckles in timid embarrassment. "Exactly those feelings, curiously enough, have the potential to hurt you deeply. Cottonee, you... You saw yourself how much I wept as he opened up about his leaving. It was painful, I felt something breaking within me. I needed time to get used to it, I am now I guess, but to say that I don't miss him every now and then -" She shakes her head, " - that'd be lying. Nothing but lying."


I say love, it is a flower,
And you it's only seed

At this point, Shiva wordlessly places a red rose Azu magic'd up for her previously into Cottonee's soft and white fluff.


It's the heart afraid of breaking
That never learns to dance
It's the dream afraid of waking
That never takes the chance

"Cottone, my dearest one... I perhaps never told you, I told none of the others, but originally I didn't want to come here to Chreshire. I didn't even want to go on a journey like those aspiring Pokemon Trainers are so eager about...." Shiva looks down as some sadness washes over her. "'...But mum, dad'", I said, "'I don't want to be a Trainer. I'm not interested in facing Gym Leaders and all that,  I rather wish to be a Pokemon Breeder!' It was when they explained me how such a journey provides a great chance, how it is certain to bring those practical experiences with very own Pokemon I was lacking, and to prepare me to become a decent Breeder. 'Shiva, honey, most of those have started as Trainer. So did I! It wasn't until I met your mother that I settled down and really worked to lead my own daycare', dad told me. That got me thinking...! And now...", Shiva gently embraces her fluffball, "...now I'm glad I have taken that chance at last."


It's the one who won't be taken
Who cannot seem to give
And the soul afraid of dying
That never learns to live

"Thanks to you, Cottonee, thanks to you and all your companions I learnt efficiently what it means to be responsible for a batch of Pokemon... Whenever you and the others reciprocate the love I try to give them, may it be by giving everything they've got in a fight or by helping me out in a tricky situation we find ourselves along our travels, I know that this love and care I provide is never a wasted effort. I'm not brave, I'm not courageous, but thanks to you I can sometimes take that needed leap of faith..."


When the night has been too lonely
And the road has been too long

Shiva's voice starts to tremble a bit. "C.... Cottonee...... How did it feel for you when you were trapped in that whimsical Sideways Zone, when you were seperated from me? I know avidly how I felt: Without you and Azu, it felt like an important part of me is missing."


And you think that love is only
For the lucky and the strong

"How was it like for you when you saw so many of the others evolving, some of your companions on top of that, when they displayed their true power upon having reached the final stage of evolution, Cottonee? Did you think 'Those lucky ones!' sometimes? I don't blame you if you did, dear one... Still you never held it against me, you were patient until we'll find the stone you require, and this means a lot to me. Too much that I can properly explain to you in words."


Just remember, in the winter
Far beneath the bitter snow
Lies the seed that with the sun's love
In the spring, becomes the rose

"And tonight - ", Shiva dramatically holds the sunny stone up into the sunset once more, then presents it to her fluffball in her open palm, "Tonight your waiting time finally finds its end. The cold snow is melting to uncover a new rose that was asleep for more than two months!!! Touch the stone whenever you feel ready to do so, my dearest."


-------------
*hint, hint* During Cottonee's evolution her mischievous nature will max out and result in her Ability turning into Prankster instead of Infiltrator, 12XP are spent for that on Whimsicott as agreed. @Iron, can you possibly try to work that in when describing the evolution? ^_^

[Mikaruge108]

Remember that time is fluid in this campaign. If Phantom wanted some spotlight on this, it's 100% fine with me to have a flash"forward" to some indeterminate time, without worrying about when exactly she's available. It doesn't take an Encounter to use an HM, so it can happen at any time at all during the 16 hour day. Not everything has to be pinned down. Maybe this will help you in the future.

Spoiler

(I guess this will indeed help. What I don't really want to do unless there's a really good reason, is flashing forward to another in-game-day, that feels a bit too forward.)

When Spira receives the message (the timing he gets it is irrelevant to me OOC.) from Shiva, he reads it over and sends one back saying, more or less, "Before we head to the ruins there's something I'd like to talk to you about. Something important"

(I don't care either when exactly.)

Shiva is taken pretty off-guard from that message and can't help but to wonder what the matter may be. Eh... She doesn't think she has done or said anything that might have affected the spectral Breeder negatively!! Or so she guesses, at least. She's having very mixed feelings about this, but if he says it's important and has to be before venturing down the ruins, no way she'd refuse.

Message she sends back reads the following.

If you wish to speak to me, I shall lend you an ear. Come whenever you like. Is privacy favored?

Shiva gains 1 Will point from the orchid! It smells heavenly, and you can sense the Earthpower in it. The flower begins wilting immediately, but with a little water you are able to coax it to stay intact for another few hours. All the virtue is gone from it though.

The Moon Ball isn't explicitly like a Friendship Ball, but it does give +1 Happiness to Clefairy.

(That's not exactly what I meant, I was wondering whether a Moon Ball would come with any mechanics a normal Pokeball doesn't feature. Like, the canon increased catch rate for Moonstone-evolutions, a non-canon glow of the crescent moon on it... I like the latter, may I assue it gives off a faint glow due to being crafted in this Grove full of Earthpower?)



Huh, this orchid smells much, muuuch heavier than any orchid she has ever handled, but Shiva is enjoying the scent either way, especially due to that pleasant rush of energy it sets loose. It's empowering, it's strengthening, it's reenergizing, it's GREAT! Now she feels a tad bit more confident about heading down the Ruins tomorrow. AND she feels more secure about doing well in her later Gym Battle, which she looks forward to already.

It's also very sweet to see smol Clefairy enjoying the freshly carved Ball, she won't ever get tired about seeing and feeling this pure delight from her Pokemon. Not ever. Immediately the moon fae is summoned again and enveloped in a cloooose and fond embrace, awww!~ She chuckles joyfully over this arcane tickle she gets from the direct contact of this magically guarded Clefairy. "So neat to see you are enjoying this gift! You see I've kept my word, thank you for having agreed to stick with me. I look forward to see your TRUE powers and elusive MAGIC dazzling any foe."

For a bit of time, maybe an hour longer, Shiva will stay here at the glorious grove, doing nothing in particular. She's just relaxing, dreaming away, enjoying the fresh and clean air here, watching her Pokemon play and explore this place themselves - Cottonee never ventures far from Shiva, the fluffball is thrilled to bits still. Her puppy eyes when asking for that Sunstone only makes her wink and gesture mischievously to express 'Later, dear one.'


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


Time passes, the sun wanders, and now we're looking at a natural fae enthusiast dressed in comfy clothing and sitting at the table of her dorm. It is 'decorated' in her witchy style again, with candles scattered and incense burning for a whimsy sense all over. A particular and vivid wad of cotton is sitting in front of her on the table, beside her a purple and pink flower that isn't a flower because it's a Pokemon looking like a flower: It's Nightshade, and both grassy Pokemon are eagerly watching what Master is busy with. "Almost finished, dear ones, just need to.... attach this and screw it tightly......... Done!~ Come on, Cottonee, please test it out."

The fluffball is very agreeing, and displays avid joy over being able to return to her old redwhite Pokeball again that got passed from Professor Mallorn to a young fae enthusiast that fateful day. Same with Nightshade! She hops onto her favorite spot = Shiva's shoulder where she starts to nuzzle her affectionately and hug her strands of hair. Shiva's very up to reciprocate this sweet gestures. She wouldn't have known what to do if she wouldn't feel capable and knowledgeable enough to repair the Balls that broke due to visiting the gorious grove. (This doesn't take an Encounter for her as agreed with GM.)


Next she does something curious: She fishes for that shard of dawnglass she mined up, gazes at its pleasant shine being refelcted by the daylight coming from the window, then packs it into a clean and stable plastic bag. She's mindful that there is only little air in it and that the knot she ties the bag with is a tight one. With a stone she has found outside she then smashes the shard to dust until she has a bag full of glass dust that strongly reminds on glitter powder, Azu can easily help her with her helpful Huge Power Ability. She closely checks it for any bigger particles before giving an approving nod and summoning a partcular winged wolf from a Pokeball: Yena greets the leader of his pack with a wagging tail, spread out Masquerain-like wings and a welcoming bark that openly shows the sharp teeth he's so proud of.



Shiva lovingly tousles through his black shoulder fur. "Hello, my dear one. It maybe been a while, but I am in need for your skill and power....." She strengthens her stance as she continues, "- and I know you would never deny me. Please tell me... Can I count on you in a place where Ghost and Psychic Types are lurking behind every corner, just waiting for a chance to pounce and give us chills? Can I rely on your loyalty and courage down a place that's infamous in the whole region, a place that's ominous but rewarding for those brave enough to force their way? Will you intercept shall an ill-natured creatue decide to attack me directly...? Please, tell me, I'd like to hear it from you directly."

"....I've got something for you that will revitalize you, eat up. What these curiously sparkling pieces in between the flakes are, you ask....? That's a secret! (･ω<)☆ I picked this up from the local Gym Leader who has a special liking for dark canines like you."


------------------
Mechanics:
A bit of bonding time between Shiva and Yena, involving one portion of Gourmet Food powers up with a dusted shard of dawnglass. This doesn't take an Encounter either according what's been stated in MetaThread. Shiva might not get the shard as fine as actual dust, but Yena's teeth should be strong enough to handle it anyway.

 

When Spira receives the message he sends one back saying "Yes, I would prefer privacy for what I need to tell you."

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

++ Uh... Recton. ++

(...)

Said text message says the following, and it is adressed to Terra/@Lord Windos, Spira/@Mikaruge108 and Heart/@Spiritmon.

Spoiler

Hi!~ (^_^)/ Elanor is so incredibly beauuutiful, I'm loving it here.

Ehm, got news! Professor Mallorn ordered me and Nathan to meet up with him, said the persmission to enter the creepy ruins will be ready.....

...TOMORROW.

He also burrowed something that'll help us down there, it's legendary and rare HM Flash! It'd be good if everyone of us will have at least one Pokemon at hand with this move when we'll venture down there. Unfortunately, I don't have time to meet you all today, so I just gave this machine to Nathan. He will come to you whenever for teaching it, and I wish to carry this machine in my stuff once that's done. Is that...okay for you? You see, all of you are more brave, more forward and somewhat stronger than I am, maybe.... Maybe I'll be less of a harm to all these ghosts down there.

That's all. Sleep well and we'll likely see one another tomorrow morning.


Pixilated greetings!~☆*:・ﾟ

(...)

I'm not sure when Terra received the fair maiden's missive about the group now having access to HM FLASH and will be leaving for the Skull Ruins tomorrow, but when he does he stiffens like the mountains he oft resembles and his 'Dex slips out of his grasp and clatters to the ground! 

'We.......can learn another HM now? Its almost time to go.....there too? Oh......"

He stood wherever he was, stunned for several minutes as he processed the implications and consequences of him having such dazzling power, before with a quick couple jerks of his head he righted himself and scooped his Pokedex right back up, and with uncharacteristic swiftness typed out a message back to his friend:

'Understood, Shiva. Hope meeting with Professor went well. Very, very glad he gave us FLASH to explore......the Skull Ruins. Bright light will ward away bad Ghosts. Got attacked by some there, and didn't want that happening again without us being prepared. Now, we better are. Give Professor my thank for this great boon. Will get Nathan to teach partners later. Trust and believe you are capable of carrying FLASH, and that you will do it well. Shiva.....don't forgot. You are strong and brave too, and very very wise. You are a great trainer, and great caretaker of all Pokemon. Never forget that.

Be well, and see you tomorrow. I will be ready.'

After that, the steely brawler proceeds to do whatever else he was currently doing, but with a bit more urgency in his steps. After all, he and his friends we're going to that dread, dead lace, The Skull Ruins, and he was going to be teaching his Pokemon more HMs. Who wouldn't be a bit incentivised to get a move on after getting such news?

Spoiler

Hey, Nathan's not going to turn down a chance to use a Super Rod!  "...haven't really done much fishing, to be honest, but when you have little more than an Old Rod, you probably know exactly what you're going to catch already, right?"

Nathan's curiosity has definitely been piqued by how vague (and possibly clever?) Terra is being.

Nathan probably wouldn't have asked outright if Terra could get him a Zorua, just absentmindedly said something about owning a Zorua being cool because it's a rather rare species.  They are an incredibly rare species after all.  And that'd possibly lead into Terra making the rather generous offer, I expect.

"*Shrugs* Fishing not too hard. Just bait line, and cast it. Simple. *Shakes head* Never had rod back home, so I don't. Used to catch fish with bare hands, or with nets. Got Lapis that was, when he was a Feebas. *Pause* .....Also caught a Wailord that way. Or it caught me. Was friendly, though, so not much trouble happened. Stop fishing in open seas after that."

.....Well, that sounded like an interesting story.

Dense as he was, Terra could always tell when someone wanted something, even if he didn't know what that was - another perk of being a merchant's son. This time, though, it was pretty easy to tell that his young intellectual friend wanted a Zorua himself, so he just casually offered to help purchase one for him, so long as he was willing to chip in too. Anything he could do for a friend, he'd tried to do it if it wasn't too extreme or out there!

Spoiler

[quote pid='61376' dateline='1555703292']
So the current offer on Zorua is 12k + Rock Smash access. After being buttered up with gifts he'll take that deal. He actually seems pretty excited and includes 3 flareglass shards into the mix for each of you. "I've been putting a small amount of evolutionary powder into their food. You can give them opposing elements for them to resist, or aligned elements for them to absorb energy."
[/quote]

The sagely monk would be quite intrigued and curios about the use of elemental glass as a dietary supplement for empowering Pokemon, and raises a couple of questions about it.

"Have any recipes that could improve glass' effects? Done any experiments with it? Can it be used in other ways?"

After Nathan's done talking with Howl, he asks for them to meet them in a private room back at the Pokemon Center, both to have his Pokemon taught FLASH and to discuss his plan with his Zorua. Speaking of which, he would transfer Poesi out of his party to make room for his new dark darling. He wouldn't introduce himself to her now, but he wanted her at hand so he could do so later in private, right away.

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

"*Shrugs* Fishing not too hard. Just bait line, and cast it. Simple. *Shakes head* Never had rod back home, so I don't. Used to catch fish with bare hands, or with nets. Got Lapis that was, when he was a Feebas. *Pause* .....Also caught a Wailord that way. Or it caught me. Was friendly, though, so not much trouble happened. Stop fishing in open seas after that."

.....Well, that sounded like an interesting story.

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

After Nathan's done talking with Howl, he asks for them to meet them in a private room back at the Pokemon Center, both to have his Pokemon taught FLASH and to discuss his plan with his Zorua. Speaking of which, he would transfer Poesi out of his party to make room for his new dark darling. He wouldn't introduce himself to her now, but he wanted her at hand so he could do so later in private, right away.

*blink*

"...a Wailord?  You'll have to tell me about that one later.  Wild Wailord are really rare, so I'd like to hear all about that encounter at some point, if you don't mind."

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

Welp, since Terra wants to teach the HM now, I guess that means Nathan's texting Heart and Spira about it too since I'd like to get as much of this as we can manage done all at once. (@Spiritmon and @Mikaruge108)

Hey.  Ya guys seen that text from Shiva yet?  Meet me at the Pokemon Center when ya can, okay?  Got somethin' for everyone.

Nathan actually has one thing to ask Terra concerning their Zorua.  "Mind if we introduce ourselves to them together?  I'm kinda curious about how they might react to each other as well as us and some of our other pokemon, to be honest."

Aside from that, don't have much else to say at the immediate moment.  Since Iron hasn't described what the FLASH HM looks like yet from what I remember, I imagine it features some moving parts that create bright flashes of light whenever they strike each other/some kind of surface.  The HM is probably difficult to look at directly for long periods of time.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

When Spira receives the message he sends one back saying "Yes, I would prefer privacy for what I need to tell you."

Hummmm. This emphasizes her gut feeling that what he wishes to discuss with her - with her, this makes her rejoice all silently and timidly every time she thinks about it!~ - is an important matter for him.

She'll send a text back saying

the following

Then it'll be granted, and you have my word that I will not share anything about what you'll tell me. Come to me whenever you like, I'm residing in room #21 of the local Center, though I'm not there at dusk and roughly an hour after sunset. After that I'm free. Or tell me when and where I can find you, if you prefer that.

Take care until then, okay?

(Basically, start that scene whenever you like and whenever you're free, I don't mind when. Curious to hear what will be told.)

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

*blink*

"...a Wailord?  You'll have to tell me about that one later.  Wild Wailord are really rare, so I'd like to hear all about that encounter at some point, if you don't mind."

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

Welp, since Terra wants to teach the HM now, I guess that means Nathan's texting Heart and Spira about it too since I'd like to get as much of this as we can manage done all at once.  (@Spiritmon and @Mikaruge108)

Hey.  Ya guys seen that text from Shiva yet?  Meet me at the Pokemon Center when ya can, okay?  Got somethin' for everyone.

Nathan actually has one thing to ask Terra concerning their Zorua.  "Mind if we introduce ourselves to them together?  I'm kinda curious about how they might react to each other as well as us and some of our other pokemon, to be honest."

*Matter-of-fact Nod*

"A Wailord . Big Wailord. Not long story, so I can tell it to you now, if you want. "

(On phone, so don't want to type up that many words in this post!)

(...)

Becausre I'm on my phone, I can't check (easily) which Pokemon of Terra's can learn it, so I can't really say which ones can learn it right now besides Melly and Mikey , so I'll just have them learn the HM and have the rest taught by Shiva later on. That my final word and decision on the matter!

To Nathan's request, the sagely monk took a minute of beard stroking to mull it over, before giving the boy a nod. 

"Okay. Don't think that would hurt my plan . Maybe it would help it, if done right? Hm ......  yes, it would.... "

The cryttic mystique grows! If Nathan is alone with Terra when they ask him thier request, they can now inquire about their plan !

[Iron]

"The game of chess is heavily based on the Pawniard line. Both Keenglaive are slow, so Kings can only move one square. White always goes first in chess, because White Keenglaive gets Autotomize. Wonder Guard inspired the rule that you win the game when the King goes down, but they require the defenses of others to survive. And the concept of a Stalemate was inspired by Destiny Bond. We're not sure yet where the idea of the mighty Queen came from - it could be another Pokemon, like Bastiodon inspiring rooks, or it could be another variety of Keenglaive."

"I've not yet successfully evolved a Zorua. I've caught some wild Zoroark and trained them to be obedient. There was one Zorua I evolved when I was younger... but I won't talk about that."

Howl will spread Rock Smash liberally among his fully trained Pokemon. Most of them can learn it. He doesn't teach it to the young 'uns since they're not responsible enough yet.

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

*Matter-of-fact Nod*

"A Wailord . Big Wailord. Not long story, so I can tell it to you now, if you want. "

(On phone, so don't want to type up that many words in this post!)

(...)

Becausre I'm on my phone, I can't check (easily) which Pokemon of Terra's can learn it, so I can't really say which ones can learn it right now besides Melly and Mikey , so I'll just have them learn the HM and have the rest taught by Shiva later on. That my final word and decision on the matter!

To Nathan's request, the sagely monk took a minute of beard stroking to mull it over, before giving the boy a nod. 

"Okay. Don't think that would hurt my plan . Maybe it would help it, if done right? Hm ......  yes, it would.... "

The cryttic mystique grows! If Nathan is alone with Terra when they ask him thier request, they can now inquire about their plan !

Go ahead and type it out!  Nathan would still kinda recommend that they wait until they're out of the gym at least, but if there won't be any issues with telling it now, then it doesn't particularly matter when the story's told.

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

I made a list for this very reason!  But if you'd rather hold off on teaching it to everyone you wish to and do it later, then very well.

Just waiting on Terra to initiate the next parts of the various conversations!