≈ gentle breezes ≈

[[Shoe ♥]!]

The sun was shining as well as it could in the early morning sky, still attempting to banish the last traces of navy. Clouds were a hindrance, blocking the rays and generally putting the star in an irritable mood. It wasn't like any of the earthly denizens even noticed - it was a great truth. Night will become day, everything grows, and there is always tomorrow. Their indifference frustrated the sun, but it wasn't like it had feelings anyway. Gigantic balls of gas hundreds of thousands of miles away didn't exactly know or care what they were being represented for. All anyone could see was that it was a cloudy day, the sun was mostly concealed by hordes of of the thick fog, and it wasn't going to turn out to be the best weather for an adventure.

Not that Elias gave half a damn about how the weather would 'like' him to move along. The man had camped out last night in a the cool night, counted stars, and generally started to get to know his new starter Pok?mon - he wasn't going to wait around and repeat just because it was a little windy. Besides, the ground wasn't exactly the most comfortable place to rest. While the field was level and to simply walk across the tall grass was a wonderful feeling, it was much, much different to lay down on the rough dirt and try to drift off. Normally Elias adored anything that had to do with nature and such, but in all honesty... he'd much prefer a fluffy bed to that meadow floor. The dirt had tickled up the 'morph's nostrils, making him snort and startle the wildlife around him... thus causing either a 'lay low' session, or he's have to scoop up Eileen and dash off elsewhere. It had been a tedious night, especially since the grass itched his sides as well, but now that he had the chance to move on, he was going to take it eagerly.

The pokemorph sat up uneasily, twitching his ears as if to catch some kind of slight disturbance. Morning time was always a slow time for Pok?mon, however, and all his sensitive ears could catch were the far-off twittering of a Pidgey scratching for something, and rustles caused by the wind. Nothing exciting at all - which didn't bother the Nidoran boy at all. If things were slow in the morning, it just meant everything would liven up as the day went on. Besides, there would be plenty of time to mess around and explore. This was only day two, after all.

Elias eyed his new found companion with an equal gaze, and then extended one uneasy claw to her side. The sharp point found its mark, and in a flurry the Cubone jumped awake. Eileen seemed less than ecstatic that she was up so 'early' in such disagreeable weather, and once she had gathered her dinosaur-like body and refound her bone, she made this point. With an air of indifference the tiny brown Pok?mon clashed her weapon against her trainer's shoulder, and started on a long winded rant.

"And good morning to you too, Elias! Good Arceus, can't a Pok?mon get a decent night's sleep around here? First we settle for the night with you not even bothering to make a nest -what a bad move that was for the record, I could hardly call myself comfortable. And then you find the right mind to disturb sleeping Pok?mon with your petty restlessness, or alert some hunters to our presence! Oh, and then we spend half the night hunting down another spot to lie down. And as soon as I'm able to drift off, you repeat the entire process and we're down chasing down another spot! Honestly, Elias! That's ridiculous, and you're daft if you think any differently! I hardly got a wink of sleep and you're waking me up before the sun has even climbed halfway up the sky! Do you understand how angry I am at you?! I suppose you don't, you great pink lump." The tiny but oddly powerful Cubone aimed another whack, but then stopped before she carried it out. With a sigh she climbed up on the 'morph's lap, and pulled on his shirt as if instructing him to look eye-to-eye with her. Instantly Elias obeyed, not wanting to upset the brown dinosaur any more than she currently was, and stared into the slots for her eyes with his feral red ones. They held the other's gaze for quite a while, before Eileen spoke again.
"Well, I'm up now, so don't think about apologizing if that was your aim. So, what is so brilliant that you had to disturb me once again? Honestly... I do wonder what I'm doing with you half the time. Which is saying not very long of course - we've only just met a day ago.

[/b]" Eileen's mood seemed slightly cheered after she had gotten her little speech over with.

The 'morph couldn't surpress a smile at his starter's quickly changing behavior. It was true that they both had to be exhausted, but if they were to move on as early as possible, then they could be in the nearest town by the time night fell. Meaning that they wouldn't have to repeat the misadventures of the previous night. He let his grin widen as he rubbed the back of Eileen's neck with his palm gently, then spoke a little too sheepishly.
"Well, I was thinking that we might want to get on as soon as we could. You know the next town isn't too far away - it's just this route and then we're there. I want to get there as soon as I possibly can - rain or shine. Especially rain. Just think about last night, I bet that doesn't take much prompting. Now think about it... with the ground wet.[/b]" A sudden look of distaste passed over the Cubone's body, and she just shook her head.

"Good Arceus! What do you take me for! I wouldn't repeat that for all the rare candies in the world! Even though they taste delicious.... In any case, if you think for one second that I'll do that while it's we--[/b]"
"I don't think you'll do it while it's wet, that's why we're heading out now. See? If we get to the town, then I'll pay for a hotel room and you can be in a nice, comfy bed and snooze until noon if you want. It's just we have to get through the dinner before dessert, you see? Besides, I bet there's some rare Pok?mon that hang out only during the morning time. Don't you want some new friends?[/b]" Elias picked up the little girl Pok?mon, and cradled her in his arms as he started to find the path. He couldn't have veered too far away from it....

"You're silly. It's not me that wants those 'rare' companions, it's you. I'd be content with a common Ratata, as long as it meant someone other than you to hang with." She chuckled good-naturedly, and snuggled down in her trainer's arms. The main attempt was to try and fall asleep, but Elias caught her easily, and bounced her up a little.

"Oh no you don't. If I'm going to have to walk with your lard weight on my arms, then you'd at least better keep me good company. Or else you're going to be walking right beside me.[/b]" The Nidoran 'morph flicked an ear to a disturbing sound, but took no heed of it and located the well trodden path. This journey was going to take quite a while... and he certainly didn't want to wait for Eileen's stubby little legs to catch up.

"Bastard.[/b]"
"Which is why you stick around me.[/b]"

[/blockquote]

[`jαzz]

"I could have sworn I left them around here..." The stout little Pok?mon mumbled as he paced along the ground. Furrowing his brow, the Shroomish tried to retrace his steps. "I just know that those berries were right here!" he hissed. The grass-type was becoming rather irritated; he hated missing out on breakfast. This whole situation wasn't right anyway...something was out of place. And then he realized what the problem was.. Someone must've stolen his stash of Oran berries when he was out hunting for more. And he thought that hollowed out stump was a perfect hiding place...

Mumbling and grumbling to himself, the Shroomish resumed his pacing. He would find the culprit, and punish them for stealing his morning meal! Yes, that's what he would do. Whoever was low enough to take what didn't belong to him was going to have to pay the price. But where to start? There were hundreds of Pok?mon that made their home on Mallowfox Road! Well, the best thing he could do was to interrogate anyone he came across.

And he didn't have to wait long at all. The sound of voices snapped him out of his internal rant, drawing his vision away from the ground. Too short to see over the tall grass, the Shroomish wandered out of the foliage and onto the small worn path that wound its way through route one. Oh, perfect! A trainer and his Pok?mon. No doubt they were the ones who took his food. Those humans --well, this one was a Nidoran 'morph-- always did have sticky paws.

"You there! Stop! I know you guys are the ones who took my Oran berries! Give them back to me now!" the Shroomish yelled, scowling at the two of them. He puffed out his chest, trying to seem more ferocious than he actually was. This, however, and the opposite effect, and ended up making him look kind of...well, stupid.

[ e v e n t ! ]
The Shroomish thinks you've stolen his food! He wants to battle!

[[Shoe ♥]!]

"And then I was thinking, you know, once we get the nice food and the dinner that you pay for, we crash at the four star hotel that I make you rent. Don't tell me you don't have any money, 'cause I know you're bound to have something stashed away someone on your person. Maybe a few bills hidden under that cross thing-y? I kinda wonder what it's supposed to be for. Tell me, Elias, why do you wear a funny necklace with a steel cross and freaky beads on it? You got the same things on your wrist, too. Kinda creepy. Oh! Oh! And why's your shirt so yellow? It's so bright, and it clashes. Why do you want to clash so much? It's ugly." As soon as Elias had started walking, Eileen had thought to break the silence that had been closing in like a fog. She had probably taken that threat about setting her down if she didn't keep good company seriously. Not like the Nidoran 'morph was about to complain, however. As it was quite a bit of fun to listen to the little Pok?mon's pointless little rants.

Though, he didn't intend to answer any of her questions (she'd been going nonstop for a few minutes now, not leaving a break for him to jump in). Even if he had wanted to satisfy her curiosity, there was something edging closer that he simply couldn't ignore anymore. If he asked the little Cubone to shush for a moment, then she would get all huffy and offended or something else silly like that. So he just fine tuned his ears, catching onto the little rustles in the long grass, a body much too short for him to ever dream of locating.

Suddenly, the thing that the pink-skinned 'morph had been tracking popped out of the bushes on its own, looking very flustered and angry. Elias would have been tempted to ask it as to why it looked so disagreeable, though it seemed to answer that in a very heated manner on its own. Something about stolen Oran berries or of the sort. Not like the Nidoran 'morph would know anything about this other then he wasn't guilty. That was the only thing that he could pinpoint, however, as he had never seen that kind of Pok?mon before. Kinda weird looking - like some kind of mushroom. Whatever it was, he'd never seen it in Kanto region, heck, his father hadn't even told him about this weird looking thing. In any case, it didn't seem like Eileen knew too much about their new arrival either....

"Oi! You! We didn't do anything, so take your prying elsewhere!" Eileen spoke roughly, taking a drastic change in her regular nature. In all honesty it was this stupid little wimp that thought he could intimidate her that got the Cubone flustered. She was guilty of nothing and yet he still showed his moronic little face! With a determined expression she hopped down from her trainer's arms, growling softly and with a death look set.

"Now, Leenie, that isn't necessary. He just wants his stuff back, you know. Now... um... I don't exactly know what you are, but I can assure you, we haven't touched those berries of yours. Umm, I would offer to help, but we're running a tight schedule so....

[/b]"

The Cubone seemed to roll her eyes as she plopped down on the dust. Goodness, what did it take to capture his fighting spirit? Oh well, at least now she might get out of this without a scratch... though Eileen terribly wanted to try out those new poisons of hers....[/blockquote]

[`jαzz]

What?! Impossible! Those fools, they looked so gullible... They just HAD to be the ones that stole his meal! Ugh! How inconsiderate.. If there was one thing the Shroomish hated more than thieves, it was liars! Shaking his head in disgust, the small creature pounded his feet against the earth; apparently he was throwing some sort of tantrum.

"I don't care! I don't care! I don't care! You guys are responsible, so just fess up already!" he screamed, throwing an accusing glare in their direction. "I needed someone to take my anger out on anyway...good thing you returned to the scene of the crime! ..Wait. You guys were looking for more food to steal! Oh, you...! I'll get you for this!!" His fury was escalating, and the more assumptions he pieced together in his mind, the more he was itching to fight.

"Come on! You want some? Bring it!" came the grass-type's battle cry. But he didn't wait for Eileen to make the first move. He lauched himself at the Cubone, trying for a head-on tackle attack. These punks weren't getting off the hook that easily!

[[Shoe ♥]!]

Oh, this was not splendid.

It seemed that the little Pok?mon was turning on himself in a frenzy, trying to justify his rage. What a little scamp! Elias' ears lowered in annoyance, and he was just about to scoop up Eileen and saunter on, when that little thing charged toward his Cubone! The jerk, attacking something that obviously was not going to threaten it. Now, if the thing had been nice, maybe the Nidoran 'morph would have shared some of the Oran berries in his pack, or given it some water to boot, but this was just uncalled for. Watching his little Pok?mon being pushed to the ground like she wasn't just doing as she was told! It was enough to make his blood boil with rage.

The more he thought about it, the more enraged the man felt. In a matter of moments his calm exterior was replaced by a prickly little beast - all his hairs grouped together into a spiky mess. His buck teeth set in a snarl, and without further ado he commanded his own Pok?mon to take a stand.

"Don't just take that from that runt, Eileen! He looks like a grass type, so we're at an obvious disadvantage, but don't let that get you down! Show the moron why you don't mess with a guy that's obsessed with poisons! Just as I showed you!" It was more of a tough growl than anything else, but the Cubone got the message. In all honesty Eileen was rather confused, as all she had ever seen from her trainer was his shy, loving nature. It was quite odd to see him set off so easily like this - though she wasn't complaining. The little squirt still had her sore and pinned! Yeah! Elias was right! She had to defend herself!

So, without further ado the little Cubone grabbed onto the body that had launched the first move, wrapping her bone around him the best she could. Without waiting for further command she whacked its bulb with her tail, sticking in the spikes just as her poison-crazed trainer had taught her. Concentrating hard, she unleashed a torrent of toxic into the Shroomish's bloodstream, then pushed it off as soon as she was done. Standing (kind of aching, as that tackle really had hurt) woozily, she then raised her bone over her skull-head, and leaped towards her opponent, aiming a bone club.

[`jαzz]

That's right! Now they would know not to mess with wild Pok?mon in the future. He sneered, feeling quite triumphant. The Shroomish about to turn away from the fallen Cubone, when something caught him from behind. His upper body snapped around, his fervent eyes locked on his assailant's. The small creature barely had any time to react before the piercing tip of the ground-type's tail.

The poison injected into his veins felt like it was burning from the inside out. The Shroomish staggered back, choking and sputtering as he tried to scream various curses at Elias and his Pok?mon. Falling to the ground, the creature writhed in pain. If only he could focus enough to get back on his feet... He felt like everything was closing in on him; why couldn't he regain his breath?

No..no...he hardly had a chance to display any of his skills... There was no way he could give up now... This punk wasn't going to get the best of him yet. Struggling to his feet, the Shroomish turned to face the Cubone once again. His labored breath came out in short, winded pants, and he trembled violently, a cold sweat having washed over his body. "You...b-bastards...t-this isn't over y-yet!" he gasped, taking a wobbly step towards them.

The bone Eileen was holding was suddenly hurtling towards him, but he refused to let a weapon like that take him down. Thank Arceus he was so unsteady on his feet. Narrowly missing the club, he managed a grin. Using some of his remaining strength, the Shroomish staggered forward. A weak green light enveloped him; it was an absorb attack no doubt. If only..if only he could land one hit...

[[Shoe ♥]!]

Elias couldn't hold back the smirk that appeared on his lips, the buck teeth almost adding to the effect. The toxic attack had been a good move - even if a Pok?mon was a grass type and seemed to have no bloodstream to speak of, you couldn't resist such a potent attack. Also, toxic worked in a way much different than poison point or poison powder or jab - this toxin increased in strength with time. How perfect - so even when Eileen missed with her bone club it wasn't enough to douse the Nidoran 'morph's spirits. Yeah, keep it up you little runt. The longer this battle lasted, the more you're going to feel that. Oh, if only he had the same power to enhance himself with that sort of poison! What a wonderful feeling, crippling down to nothing in the end. Just the thought stuck his spikes out even more, and his flared ears twitched in excitement.

Eileen, on the other hand, wasn't enthralled with the performance as a whole. Sure, she had landed a decent hit - woop-de-doo. The point was the little grass-type had an advantage over her, had dodged an attack, and was obviously prepping for something. The Cubone didn't know how much longer this would have to last, not that she was hurting that much. Only a bruise on her shoulder, an aching pain that was easily dismissed. Besides, Elias had tried to express the power of toxins before, so maybe that was going to be her saving grace. Not that Eileen ever understood what he was trying to get at with that - they were just things that rendered the body useless... or helped it... or did really weird things. Her trainer had told her in their brief time of traveling together that there were even poisons that 'turned you on.' Leaving you full of desires while in pain.

Gross.

These thoughts still buzzing through her mind, the Cubone recollected herself from the indignant miss. At some point that Shroomish had tried taunting them, something about them being bastards and how this wasn't over. No, it wasn't over, but it was ending. Her brown eyes slanted, visible through the cracks in the skull she wore, locking on to her opponent. Just before Elias gave her an order (she could just feel it), however, something... strange happened.

It was like her energy was just draining. For no apparent reason! How queer... oh, and it was falling quickly! The Cubone took a moment to think of as to why this may be happening, when an Elias command broke through.

"Leenie! He's using absorb or something! The longer you wait, the more powerful he gets, and the weaker you will be! Take this down fast! Try and finish him off with a Skull Bash, but first.. try to keep him down with a tail whip. This has to end soon - that absorb could override the poison if we don't go quickly!

[/b]" Elias has studied grass types with his father at one point in time, and absorb seemed to be a fairly common move. There were many ways to decipher when a Pok?mon was using it, such as your own was weakening and the other was standing still. This could be disastrous for his end, as the move, while being a lower tier grass type attack, it still hit Eileen for an exceptional amount.

The Cubone seemed to get the message without further prodding, and quickly led herself in a tail whip, just moving it around dumbly. Not like that was supposed to do anything but distract anyway. As soon as the Shroomish looked out of it, Eileen's head was lowered and she charged over to the other Pok?mon, quickly accelerating so the skull bash would hit for a lot more than that grass type could ever anticipate.

[/blockquote]

[`jαzz]

Yes! It was working! The Shroomish could feel himself getting a little stronger, but it was still not enough to nullify the effects of the poison. He could still feel the foreign liquid pumping through his bloodstream, seemingly eating away at his very tissue... A violent tremor shook him once again, and he hissed in pain. This was not going to cut it. He would need for the Cubone to continue standing still.

However, it seemed like the trainer and his Cubone had other plans. Her swishing tail caught his attention, and for some reason, he felt captivated by it. If he focused on that...he hardly felt the poison.... Stumbling back, he felt his body swaying in sync with Eileen's moving tail. No, wait...he had a job to be doing! Damn those fools, trying to distract him. The Shroomish's eyes darted around, trying to pick out the hazy image of the ground-type. He muttered darkly to himself; now the poison was affecting his eyesight..

Where was that stupid fool...? All he had to do was surprise her -- "No.....!" Suddenly, all the air had been wrenched from his body. That Skull Bash attack of hers had hit him full force. He cried out in pain, tears further clouding his already foggy vision. It felt like everything inside him had shattered; the pain was so intense.... Tears rolled down the fallen grass-type's face, the salty liquid burning his skin. He was afraid to move, afraid to break anything else. Now, in addition to the water streaming from his eyes, he felt something else. Slowly, hesitantly, he licked his bottom lip. Blood. Ughh.. He tried to inhale, to get a fresh breath of air, but a sharp pain shot up the length of his spine.

Fine...he admitted it...they'd won. Perhaps it was he who had been the fool, to accuse them of stealing. If he hadn't, then he certainly wouldn't have ended up bleeding and broken on the ground. Smiling weakly, he allowed the darkness to swallow him completely.

[ e v e n t ! ]


The wild Shroomish has fainted! You may now catch it or leave it alone.


[ e v e n t ! ]


Eileen gains 1 level!