4th Planet from the Sun | Action

[netting_nettles]

[Despite the blackout, Kariya's persisted in going out everyday to train, usually till near sundown. At the moment, as he dashes through the grass on Route 3, he is beginning to regret that.]

Suisei! Suisei, come on! Run!

[The Duskull behind them is looming, its red eye casting a glow across the grass in the night air. It's near pitch black now, and he's not too sure where he is, and, oh crap, he could swear the thing is floating after them just fast enough to stay in range, like some kind of horrible movie monster. He's trying to tell himself that it's just a Pokémon, but that stopped helping staunch the panic a few minutes back.

A lot of his team is in real need of a trip to a center to begin with, and, even if it is a Pokémon, what if it catches them?]

Faster!

[The Duskull gives a low, hungry-sounding moan. Kariya shrieks and tears onwards.]

....

[Some time later, there's an exhausted, absolutely nerve-shot boy huddled well away from the grass near the beginning of Route 3. He's begun to recognize Striaton in the distance, but for now he's too worn out to even bring himself to move.

There's a fifth occupied Pokéball resting at his belt.]

((OOC: Feel free to catch him before or after his fight with Duskull. Or in the middle of it, for that matter!))

Comments

[doingthemistything]

[Kirino gives Kariya a quick once-over, then nods and gives a bit of a sigh.]

Come on, let's head back. We shouldn't stay out here any longer than we have to.

[netting_nettles]

[The path back towards the road and Striaton gets a wary glance, but then Kariya falls in readily beside his teammate. He's on-edge but eager to get back to civilization.]

Yeah. Sorry -

[The Pokémon Kirino has out are getting eyed closely as they set off.]

Is your team okay to fight? Suisei's the only one of mine that's conscious.

[Plus, the new one, but he doesn't want to mention him just yet. He's busy sounding disappointed in himself for getting the rest of his friends knocked out.]

[doingthemistything]

All of my Pokémon are in fairly good condition. I think we'll be all right. [Though, his eyes flick over his Shuppet.]

Athos, don't tire yourself out if you can't sustain that Will-O-Wisp.

[The puppet Pokémon gives a small sound of confirmation and hovers just ahead of the two boys to light the way.]

[netting_nettles]

Right. [Jeez, he never thought he'd be glad to see that Shuppet. But having that floating light to follow is doing a lot to get him breathing steadily again.]

Any idea how far we are from Striaton? I thought I was on my way back, only...I got really turned around.

[doingthemistything]

It's about a ten minute walk. And five more minutes to the Pokémon Center once we're actually in town.

[netting_nettles]

Oh.

[That's a "Wow, praise sakka"-type "oh" at first, because he hadn't realized they were so close.

The look on his face makes it more an embarrassed "oh" a beat later, however. Now he feels kind of stupid.]

I would've tried checking the map, but...no power. [Grumblegrumble]

[doingthemistything]

Yeah. It probably would've felt pretty long anyway, I imagine. When the mind wants to play tricks on you...

[netting_nettles]

Mmf.

[There's a hint of a glare to go with that ambiguous mutter. His mind is just fine, thank you very much. Totally not spooked at all. Don't mind how close he's keeping in the dark.

He shoves his hands into his pockets and trudges on for a while, before finally volunteering:]

I caught something. A ghost.

It jumped out at us, while we were training, but I managed to get it.

[doingthemistything]

[He just holds up his hands in a hopefully placating gesture at the glare, lowering them when Kariya's hands go into his pockets.]

Yeah? You'll have to show me later. [Kirino offers a small smile as he continues onward.

[netting_nettles]

After we get back to the Pokémon Center.

[Kariya says warily, because he's not even sure he wants the thing out again any time soon.]

I couldn't even look up what it's called, without my transceiver.

[doingthemistything]

Hayami will know.

[Because Hayami seems to know everything.]

[netting_nettles]

I'm sick of asking Hayami everything.

[Or just feeling pissy in general, right now.]

[doingthemistything]

Do you really want to wait for however long until the power comes back on?

[netting_nettles]

It's not like it makes a difference. I'll just call him something else until then.

He can be 'Spooky Jerk' 'til the power comes back.

[doingthemistything]

[Pfff.] ... Fair enough.

[netting_nettles]

[By now, they're finally on the edges of Striaton. Kariya relaxes some as they pass through the city's gardens, which are familiar enough even in the dark.]

And maybe after it's back, too.

[doingthemistything]

[Kirino falls silent for a while, but he eventually speaks up again.]

We should probably think about challenging the gym soon. I want out of this city as soon as possible.

[netting_nettles]

Yeah.

[He grunts that back automatically. His vote's definitely for not being in Striaton any longer than necessary. If only because it's seen more of him screaming like a little girl than he'd like to remember.

A few seconds later, he tacks on more circumspectly:]

Think we'll be strong enough for it? I've been training a lot, but...Gym Leaders have to be tough. They're like boss characters.

[doingthemistything]

[Seconded except replace "screaming like a little girl" with "cursing like a sailor".

... Digressing.]

I'm pretty sure we can handle it. I've been looking into information about this city's gym for the last couple of days.

[netting_nettles]

Information like what?

[Asked curiously, since he hasn't paid much attention to the gym at all. His time's been spent almost entirely out on the routes or at the Trainer's School, since the incident at the Dreamyard.]

[doingthemistything]

You know that cafe not to far from the Center? That's where the gym is. They give a discount to anyone who's earned the badge.

Anyway, more importantly, there's one key difference between this gym and most of the others: There's three guys who run this one. Chili, Cress, and Cilan, who specialize in fire, water, and grass-types respectively. Trainers can pick who they want to battle--or there's the option to take on two of them, or even all three. Heck, you could even have tag-team sorts of battles with a friend or two if you really wanted.

[netting_nettles]

Fire, water, and grass...

[He takes a moment to rack his brain for what those types mean for his team. He's been doing better about learning weaknesses and resistances lately, but sometimes they still slip his mind - ]

I think I'd be even against most of them, then. Except Reize and Pluton don't like fire. I don't think any of them mind water or grass-types. So, I'd be okay, if we can all pick who to fight.

[doingthemistything]

[He nods.] I'm probably going to battle Chili myself anyway, since Constance is a water-type.

[netting_nettles]

Hm.

[He'd tease Kirino for taking the easiest pick, but he's not really in the mood. Or planning on setting his Mawile and Spinarak up to be roasted, either.

So, instead, he shrugs and asks:]

Are Hayami- and Shindou-senpai planning on taking on the gym, too?

[doingthemistything]

[It's ~*~strategy~*~.]

I know Hayami probably is. I'm not sure about Shindou, though.