[Game thread] Skull Ruins Pokerole

[Spiritmon]

Heart's crowd goes crazy, like fans at an airshow where military jets fly in formation. Quetzal is happy to show them what he's got. He can even do some amazing new moves now that you have the Helm.

Another benefit of being a celebrity is that people actually listen when you start to philosophize. The pep talk goes over well, and you think if you ever need to convince these people to do certain things, they'll be more receptive. Lancelot is definitely watching closely as well.

Heart was satisfied with seeing actually hear to his words. He decided to do one last thing before he go to the forest to try to restore nature. "One last thing: I going to challenge the Pokemon League and the Elite Four. Me and my friends: Nathan Warren, Shiva and Terra. We gonna challenge the Pokemon League. I expect everyone to go there and challenge us. I have no intention of loose, so I expect you do the same. Do your best, train your best Pokemon and best strategies. I will be waiting for the challenge. Until then, see ya!"

Then Heart go, to do his thing of restore the forest.

[Iron]

Heading West you'd fly over Garlicburg's mighty cliffs and sandy beaches. Directly over the island is a no-fly zone clearly marked by specially trained Flying types, including some Garchomp. Easy enough to go around.

You also see lots of ginormous Pokemon near that island. Not just Wailord, though there are plenty of those, but oversized Tentacruel the size of a rowboat, and the enormous Pelipper who feast on the crustaceans.

Leaving Creshire almost always involves braving a strong storm. FLY gets you right through (or above!) all but the worst storms.

The trip with FLY is pleasant enough, but doesn't leave much time for sightseeing until you order Tropius to slow down and coast into Castelia Town in style.

Some of the more well-behaved petlike Pokemon from the Daycare projects greet you before you even reach the door, and you feel eyes watching you from the upper story window although you can't spot anything in the unlit room. Paws are being put all over you and your hands are being licked all over, and there's a Flabebe riding on each foot.

Ding-dong! Your father answers the door, clearly not expecting anyone but warned a little by the commotion. As soon as he sees who it is, he drops to his knees and throws his arms around your calves for a funny dadhug. Just like when you were a child, he picks you up from that position so your body extends well above his head and he spins you around happily. From this privileged position you can see there have been a few small remodeling projects done, and many pets have rotated in or out, but not much else has changed. Tropius ambles in to nibble on some of the potted plants.

[Dragonstrike]

He immediately draws a line in the sand with his toe. "Always."
It sounds like he'll be willing to wait until you attempt the E4. If you become Champion you can't become a Gym Leader unless you forfeit your duties as Champion back to Bo.
Former Champions still hold high office, btw.

Ah yes, the good ol' forfeiture of Champion duties, something that many significant trainers from other regions have done previously so that they can continue pursuing other careers and goals.  Nathan will definitely have to think this over carefully...

For now, though, it's time for a battle!

"Perfect.  Let's go find ourselves a battlefield, then."

(Question: would this battle be enough to trigger Orthros's evolution?  If he can evolve mid battle, I have a cool scene in mind.)

[Lord Windos]

Unlike everyone else, Terra elects to stay behind and watch Nathan's battle against Archilles, as he wants to witness how a match between the young historian and a Fighting Master plays out, and he doesn't have anything else to do today that demands his immediate attention that would prevent him from doing so. He also wants to use this time to contemplate the high honor request the Leader has presented for the group. Primarily to get over the shock and indecision he felt over it, but also to consider all the implications, considerations, and obligations he of the job itself, and how it would affect everyone's lives, and whether or not it would be something he's actually interested in pursuing. With the construction and very foundations of his own private lab being built and his own set of concerns/duties towards his friends and the Legendary Pokemon he possesses, and his own insecurities about himself, it's unlikely he'd take on such a commitment, but as his papa always said 'Always have an open mind for any sort business venture.' That, and if he had any particularly Insightful revelations about it, he'd want to share it with the group as well too before any of them made their choice!

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Heading West you'd fly over Garlicburg's mighty cliffs and sandy beaches. Directly over the island is a no-fly zone clearly marked by specially trained Flying types, including some Garchomp. Easy enough to go around.

You also see lots of ginormous Pokemon near that island. Not just Wailord, though there are plenty of those, but oversized Tentacruel the size of a rowboat, and the enormous Pelipper who feast on the crustaceans.

Leaving Creshire almost always involves braving a strong storm. FLY gets you right through (or above!) all but the worst storms.

The trip with FLY is pleasant enough, but doesn't leave much time for sightseeing until you order Tropius to slow down and coast into Castelia Town in style. (...)

Aww, then no sightseeing this time, while Shiva IS curious to explore andlook around, reaching her destination in one piece and before night falls has priority in this case. Everything she spots about the island of Garlicburg, from the mighty cliffs over the sandy beaches to those insanely huge wild Pokemon makes her heart cringe both out of excitement and discomfort. On the other side, there are Wailord - she can't help but to feel that a BATTLE against one would make a fine and highly efficient training, hopefully she'll find time and opportunity for that tomorrow.

The strong storm she doesn't mind, in fact she asks Tropius to fly directly THROUGH it - "Haha, while being protected by the Ancient Shield of course, otherwise I'd rather not get near it at all!" Shiva's obviously loving how this Shield enables her to take some daring actions she normally would barely ever consider.

Some of the more well-behaved petlike Pokemon from the Daycare projects greet you before you even reach the door, and you feel eyes watching you from the upper story window although you can't spot anything in the unlit room. Paws are being put all over you and your hands are being licked all over, and there's a Flabebe riding on each foot.

Ding-dong! Your father answers the door, clearly not expecting anyone but warned a little by the commotion. As soon as he sees who it is, he drops to his knees and throws his arms around your calves for a funny dadhug. Just like when you were a child, he picks you up from that position so your body extends well above his head and he spins you around happily. From this privileged position you can see there have been a few small remodeling projects done, and many pets have rotated in or out, but not much else has changed. Tropius ambles in to nibble on some of the potted plants.

Now THAT'S a welcome Shiva could get used to, she takes a lot of time petting and stroking and welcoming-back as many of her dad's daycaremon as possible, everyone who desires gets at least one gentle stroke through their fur/feathers/scales/anything. It's so dear that they all are so cute and not timid at all!~ <3

But the definite icing on the cake was the fond welcome of her dad himself, Shiva does her best to hug back with EVERYTHING SHE GOT in her privileged position, doesn't want to be anywherelse in this moment. It doesn't need any words to tell that she's more than happy for coming by here after so long, it were mere three months but for Shiva it felt like three years.

"Hehehehe... Surprise I guess?~ ☆ヽ(・∀・)ﾉ I've managed to set aside an overnight-stay and wished to spent it NOWHERE ELSE but at home!~~☆ Isn't mum home yet? She should arrive soon shouldn't she, or does she have to take more overhours today? Oh, and.... What's for dinner? (^v^) The flight to get here by dear Tropius' leafy wings went all well and nothing bad happened, but was also loooong and tiring..." She lets said grassy sauropode get away with noming some of the potted plants this time, takes it as some re-energizing and deserved reward for having taken her all the way here. "We... Uhm, we can talk about aaaaall the exciting stuff over dinner if you like, I also wish to hear about everything that has happened here in the meantime!~"

No question Spectral has ran up to see the guest in person by now, Shiva gives her dearest Umbreon a hug filled with just as much happiness and affection like the one she gave her dad (and is about to give her mum too upon arrival home). "Oh, and how could I EVER forget about YOU, dear one?~ Hehehe, I missed you... so much..." She nuzzles and pets the black fur, can't get enough of its silky touch and wonderful fluffiness. "I... I've also got someone I'd like to introduce to you after dinner, someone very special I came across wandering through the depths of Chresire!~ But first... Let us eat, shall we?"

[Iron]

He immediately draws a line in the sand with his toe. "Always."
It sounds like he'll be willing to wait until you attempt the E4. If you become Champion you can't become a Gym Leader unless you forfeit your duties as Champion back to Bo.
Former Champions still hold high office, btw.

Ah yes, the good ol' forfeiture of Champion duties, something that many significant trainers from other regions have done previously so that they can continue pursuing other careers and goals.  Nathan will definitely have to think this over carefully...

For now, though, it's time for a battle!

"Perfect.  Let's go find ourselves a battlefield, then."

(Question: would this battle be enough to trigger Orthros's evolution?  If he can evolve mid battle, I have a cool scene in mind.)

Sounds good, it's definitely high time!

[Iron]

When Spectral arrives, you realize those were the eyes watching you from the dark bedroom window upstairs.

Dinner involves specially bred Maractus fruit, a new experiment on the part of your father.

Your mother, being nearly as insightful as yourself, comes inside with a big smile on her face. She noticed Tropius footprints and managed to put two-and-two together.

[Dragonstrike]

Sounds good, it's definitely high time!

Yeeeeesssss!!!

I imagine the battle is going to be on one of the larger arenas in the gym itself.  Nathan takes his place at one end of the battlefield, bouncing the Flash Ball containing Orthros on one hand as he waits for Archilles to ready up.  Gallade coolly stands behind Nathan, arms crossed as he observes the battle conditions.

Nathan initially starts with a little pre-battle chat.  "I want you to bring your best, Achilles.  No holding back.  I need to put a particular pokemon through the ringer, really push their limits.  I have a good feeling about this battle, and I'm not going to waste this opportunity!"

If this isn't gonna be rolled, just need to know Achilles's pokemon choices and rules so I can type that scene up.

[Iron]

Achilles draws a generous line in the sand, knowing skilled battlers often have gigantic moves at their disposal.

Achilles requests a 4v4 battle, using a Hawlucha that kicks up a lot of dust, a Machamp that uses Kommo-o scales like Captain America's shield, a foreign Empirilla, and his long-awaited ace, Kommo-o.

He doesn't usually bother with potions but held items are OK. Battle til fainting, of course.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Dinner involves specially bred Maractus fruit, a new experiment on the part of your father.

Your mother, being nearly as insightful as yourself, comes inside with a big smile on her face. She noticed Tropius footprints and managed to put two-and-two together.

Aww I like that, Shiva's mum being nearly as insightful as she herself is! ☆~(>v< )


When she eventually arrives home from work, she promptly and immediately is sweeped into a close cuddle-hug by Shiva, before she even had a single chance to take off the jacket of her office suit and before Xanthodes had a single chance to greet his wife with a 'welcome back home'-kiss on the cheek. Shiva was just faster, she just couldn't wait to (figuratively) embrace her mum in a hug that's SO heartwarming like a cozy and bright campfire set up on on a dark snowy evening. <3 "Ahhhhhh finally you're back too!~" Shiva squealed while still having her arms wrapped around her, before she'd give mum a somewhat...worried look. "You still got so much to do at the Medal Office that they make you work overtime...? Isn't that...tiring you out too much, are you getting along?" Seems to Shiva that her mum hasn't really changed, being that tough and appreciated career woman.


+++++++


Those Maracatus Fruit turn out to work very well with the rice and spicy curry sauce, they manage to underline the mildy fruity character of the sauce very nicely. Now Shiva realizes rather strongly how much actually she has missed her dad's fine culinary skills!

During dinner and the following tea Shiva's encouraged to share and tell about the most eventful occurances during her so-far journey through Chreshire, some hand-picked and extra-special Pokemon she encountered, the Pokemon companions of hers that she bonded with most (in partcular how she managed to raise a tiny, sad and unhappy Azurill into a strong and confidant Azumarill), her most exciting battles and how she managed to achieve victory, and so on and so on. She's a bit timid to tell about the battles she found the most gruesome and/or dangerous ones like those against capable Poison Types or 'Mon with strong lethal moves, but when she does she faintly relives how rewarding and relieving it was to make it anyway. "Oh, OH! That reminds me!~ I, eh... *faint nervosity strikes* ...Did news from Chreshire actually made it here to Unova, how the region was attacked by a DEOXYS (!!!) that arrived with the Millenium Comet and was running riot under the view that it was 'just' conducting experiements? Experiments that... That are just borderline CRUEL, so many innocent Pokemon and people had to and still suffer." o(TヘTo)

Back to happier things then, Shiva's daring enough to carefully open up that during the traveling she has found a loyal and dear romantic partner within Ventus, the very young man and Pokemon Sociologist that she once briefly introduced in person while video-calling her dad. *cue massive and sentimental 'our little girl has grown up'-feelings* Of course they are happy, curious and wish to meet this young man in person once, just to make extra-sure that he's the right one for their only daughter.

Of course Shiva herself is also curious whether anything eventful has happened that affects the topic of Pokemon Breeding, the Daycare, or home in general.


+++++++


After having helped cleaning up, Shiva then lounges and lurks withn the comfy living room, playing and stroking and cuddling and whatever with Spectral. It's SO obvious to Shiva that her soft and gentle Umbreon has missed her (and that Shiva missed her likewise) that it's almost suffocating, never before the two have been seperated for so long, and no amount of snacks or affection could Spectral make forgot who actually raised and evolved her. Right now Spectral's purrs and meows (or whatever sounds an Umbreon would make) are a melody of heaven for Shiva. Whimsicott also has her fun playing with the dark feline, showing off her Dark Pulse, planning mischief together, stuff like that. The Type Advantage of the fluffball over the Umbreon means literally nothing.

"Soooooo...." Shiva eventually tell Spectra with a very fae-like smile on her face, "....Told you I have someone SPECIAL - bar Whimsi - that I kinda wish for you to meet and for them to meet you likewise, did I?~ They're special not only that they mean quite a lot to me, but also because there are literally no alive exemplars of this Pokemon anymore. I was... Hehe, just thinking that it'd be interesting to see how you two would get along, and I wished to stop by at home with something in particular in store for you....~"

With Spectral indicating curiosity and excitement, Shiva eventually draws one particular Pokeball and summons its content. This special one for the Umbreon to meet - It's Primal Espeon! Shiva's letting them get to know each other at their own pace, paying close attention to how they react to each other. Desping being of a Type Duo that's quite opposite from each other, the unique bond between an Umbreon and an Espeon is quite well-known among Eevee-/Eeveelution Enthusiasts, so the curisosity how a pampered Umbreon and a tamed primal-verson of Espeon get along is quite high. Plus, it gives Shiva more stuff to write about in her ongoing report about Primal Eevee.