islandshore | 48 - text/action for Celadon

[A pounding at his door jerks Riku out of his slumber. Though he presses his pillow to his ears, the bellows and growls that follow alert him that, sadly, he won't be catching any more Z's.

It's all just a part of the routine, really. Some overzealous Pokémon demanding attention. Quake, probably. While he blearily rubs his eyes and slides down off his bed, his trusty Charizard trails close behind...

As expected, one snarling Garchomp greets him, complete with putrid breath. More roars follow, and though Riku manages to squeeze past his ornery dragon, Quake stomps behind, continuing to growl, thrash, and flail...

Sigh. Even when Riku tells him to back down, that he's not up for training today, that he's still sore from last week (not to mention worn down), Quake continues his tantrum. He even charges himself straight at his Trainer in an Outrage attack.

It's by sheer dumb luck that he dodges the blow, leaving Flare to pin him down. Rather than stick around, Riku slips off, wandering the halls. He occasionally peers into the different arenas; he'd be stupid not to check up on the... fifty, sixty-some monsters that've made the TC their home. And of course there's no mistaking the shrieks and screeches coming from the lockdown chamber... Of course, he lacks the patience to deal with Terror today. He's already worn down as it is.

As he makes the rounds, the situation doesn't fare much better. One step into the ice arena, and he's greeted by a grumbling Dragonite. Having raised Draco from an egg, he recognizes his chest beating, wing flapping, and tail swishing as signs of impatience. Like Quake, he wants to train. When Riku says no, to go find Quake or Cleaver, a similar reaction follows. Roars, stomping, overall frustration... It's not like he needs to train with Riku every day, anyway. He's a high level dragon in a place full of others like himself... Sheesh.

By the time he makes it back into his room and scoops up his metal Keyblade, he's left feeling more drained than when he initially woke up. Drained and a little drenched; a Hydro Pump to the face tends to do that. And he gets their enthusiasm-- he trained them to love battles. And he loves them, too, but there's no denying that feeling of monotony that's crept up on him. He's got all the badges, he's got his business, but where does he go from there?

When was the last time he really sparred with an opponent that didn't breathe fire, spew water, or launch Aura Spheres? And in spending so much time focusing on his team, has he really become stronger himself? When Flare finally returns to his side, he shoots his Charizard a stiffened smile. His eyes soon drift back to his training weapon, though. If something were to happen and he needed to rely on himself and not his team, could he even do it...?

He sighs.]

Maybe you were right all along; I really have gone overboard.

[A text message appears in the early hours of the day:]

What does it mean to be strong?

I thought I had the answers, but I guess I got a little sidetracked along the way.

This place puts a huge focus on training powerful teams. Collecting badges, facing challenges, and I appreciate that. It's given me something to do, and it's hard to imagine life without those goofballs on my team to liven things up. But still, you can build a tough team without being strong on your own.

[There's a short pause before he continues his message. He has to search for the right words, try to piece together what he wants to say in a way that even he can understand...

Maybe he should get to the point.]

How many people here still fight? I've tried to keep up on my swordplay, but there's only so much I can teach myself. I know there are people out there better than me. Stronger than me... People with experience outside of play sword fights on an island day after day.

I guess what I'm really trying to ask is, well... Is there anyone out there who'd be willing to show someone else the ropes? I've done pretty much all I can with Pokémon battles, but I know I've got a long way to go with my own personal strength. And besides, I just... need something new to strive for. Something to break my routine.

[He ends his message there. It came out wordier than he intended... more like a rant than anything else. But with his thoughts out for all the see, he slips out into the city and proceeds to wander aimlessly with his 'Gear in hand.

Maybe he just needs a different outlook. He's got a much bigger world at his disposal now, and he's just barely scratched the surface...

But where does he start?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well, in that case I can't help you with the fighting, but I can help you with something else.

Plus, it'll definitely be a different thought process than fighting, but it'll help!

You know, I'm almost afraid to ask, but... what exactly are you trying to suggest?

Oh, it isn't that scary, I promise.

All my acting classes, the best at doing fight were dancers. Stage fighting is a bit more like a dance than it is a real fight, but you still need footwork and balance. I'm not my friend Bianca, but I can probably give you some things to help balance!

Sound like it might help? I promise no audiences or anything, just a simple workout.

A workout I can handle. Think I've got a decent sense of balance, but I guess it never hurts to practice.

Well, it's a useful skill anyway, but it'll help with what you're looking for.

Plus, it'll be a change of pace from the actual fighty violence practice.

Yeah, and I guess doing something with lower stakes might help relieve some stress. I've had a lot to deal with lately.

Then you definitely want to take up my offer!

This is great for stress!

Just depends on when we're in the same area again. My next stop's Olivine.

Talent's been bugging me to take a break and visit with friends.

*Some of Imogen's pokemon are such mother-hens.*

So my next stop is wherever the wind takes me.

Gee, that's poetic.

[He snickers.]

But Flare's been trying to get me to do the same, so I know the feeling.

I know where I want to go but I'm not sure if I should.

Cause I wanna check on the ninjas but I'd probably bring some unwanted attention. But the best way to assure Tenten I'm fine is to show her how wonderful I am.

Otherwise I should just see the sights and work out my team in rougher areas. It's kinda mean training against wild Pokemon, they don't really have a chance against me.

You could always keep it low key. I know Bowser at least was in Olivine, but unless you've made yourself his enemy, I doubt you have anything huge to worry about.

And as for training, have you ever thought about training them with each other? That's what I do these days.

Well, if anything will get any attention, it would be Aglon, Wildfyre, or Omen. They're pretty... flashy. Nothing like me.

...I may have teased Bowser a lot and tried to trick him into revealing the Rocket base.

I... guess I can do that, just not with Aglon. He requires a bit more wing holding than the others. But... isn't it better to work along side your pokemon to make the calls from the outside? That's why they have trainers, a spare set of eyes on a fight.

Well, I'll give you a gold star for trying, but you'll probably want to handle things a bit more cautiously next time. He seems like the kinda guy who'd blow up at the drop of a hat.

And sometimes it pays to give them some direction, but Pokémon are the ones in the middle of the action, so it's good to give them some leeway. If they become too reliant on orders and the trainer slips up, that can be a pretty serious problem.

Besides, letting them spar with each other isn't that big of a deal. It's faster than facing level five Pidgeys for hours on end.

Oh, I know what he is. I was playing him pretty well too! He just... someone was reigning him in. I do my best to lay low about him now, it was a gamble but I didn't really have a better call to make.

That's why the outside voice is of value! They are in the thick of it, blood -or whatever they have- pumping, adrenaline flowing, fight or flight. I'm cool, collected, calculating. I can make calls they can't think of in their situation.

True, and it's terrible for all the little weak pokes I have to beat up. It gets very hard to find safe places to leave them to recover!

I'm not saying it doesn't help to give some orders. I just feel like there are cases where you have to trust the Pokémon's judgment. They can catch onto things we can't. Smells, sounds, movements that might slip below the radar.

[That was Leon's logic for allowing them full autonomy, and it sure worked for him.]

But really, I feel like letting them train against teammates gives them better experiences, anyway. A trained Pokémon is always more challenging than a wild one.

I wouldn't pretend that Omen has to listen to a thing I say. And I am much more hands off with Talent now that he's evolved. But at the same time in the heat of a fight? Trying to keep track of an area all around them, I think I've got the better vantage. Especially some of the stunts we pull.

I'll start them against each other. Bala and Brenn will be happier for it, although I think I'll need to watch them so they don't get too into it.

I guess a good balance alleviates the problems on both ends. It's why I've started wearing a whistle; it's easy to carry and gets their attention.

But hey, no harm in watching them for starters. I usually just leave them alone for a few hours, but that's because of their attitudes. If yours are troublemakers, it's probably good to keep an eye out.

Not so much troublemakers as they might get too into their rivalry and hurt one another. They don't wanna give up.

Bala Ged won't evolve till she beats Brenn in a fight, and Brenn won't evolve till Bala gets her chance... and finds an air duct.

48 - text/action for Celadon

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