Group RP Pokemon: Evolution Quest (IC thread)

(I call Swirlix!)

Atelier looked confused by Blacky's expression. Did Blacky turn into... a Tamato, by any chance? Besides that, he wondered what was up ahead. He expected training to be rigorous. Despite having gone through many lairs, this place seemed different.

 

While the group raced after Sammi, Xuehua tried to keep an even pace with Atelier - just for conversation's sake. "She said 'Bright Flame School', didn't she? You think that implies others as well?"

 

"I heard there are many more schools here," Chief Ampharos, who had overheard Xuehua's question, chimed in. Unlike Aine though, he'd heard about it from the fighters' dojo members back home but never got around to confirm or deny it until now. "There must be something for everyone here, I'm sure of it." And yes, by "something", he meant a trick or two to pick up here at the isle which might be handy later on.

Blacky, meanwhile, was more interested in Sammi's master. "Hey, Sammi," he called out to the Charmander. "What's Master Hirate like?"

 

A Blaziken, huh? Well, that was technically a Fighting type as well. Perhaps he'd be inclined to join. Maybe he even had a Greninja friend to help out more, but put those hopeful thoughts aside Xuehua, she reminded herself. They would have to get to the dojo first.

 

This made Atelier wonder if he could gain mastery over fire-based attacks after this. Granted, he was not a native fire-type and had to rely on his tomes to do the work. Maybe there was something else he could learn.

 

(And that makes me wanna try to come up with a Josson-specific art since he doesn't exactly preside over any orders of knights...

Sizzly Slide, anyone? Atelier can even try to learn Partner Eevee's exclusive moves from LGE if he wants. )

So the Bright Flame School had a Blaziken as their master. Good. Hopefully he would help in the group's endeavours -- maybe by teaching a trick or two if not outright assisting with the fight itself. The thought alone filled Blacky with determination.

And before they knew it, the gang arrived at the... first dojo Sammi was taking them to.

 

Wow, the place did live up to its name. Xuehua noted the garden - perhaps even just eating spicy enough food would be training for the heat in itself. Maybe for the fire-breathing mons, but not quite any of the party. Though Atelier could probably become a Flareon if he wanted.

 

Very traditional. That was the first impression both Chief Ampharos and Blacky had upon feasting their eyes on the Bright Flame School building. Well, more like Wakunese-traditional than Ardamorian-traditional, but still...

A little while after making their way to the garden, Blacky noticed a Fennekin peeking from the sliding door. Her eyes went as wide as dinner eyes upon seeing a certain blue-rings Umbreon with a yellow scarf right there -- and double the surprise when she saw a familiar Ampharos by his side. "Uh-- Celine?" Blacky called out. "Ah, Chief! Blacky!" cue the Fennekin in question, Celine, tackle-hugging both him and Chief Ampharos as much as she could. "It's a pleasure to meet you again, good Celine," the latter cooed as he and Blacky knelt down and returned her hug for a while before the three broke the hug. Celine then excused herself before running off to get the other members of the Expedition Society.

"Uh, sir, what's Celine doing here?" Blacky whispered to Chief Ampharos as soon as the Fennekin in question had left. As far as he knew, she was the newest addition to the Expedition Society, so for her to embark on such a dangerous mission is a bit...

"Actually, she's our liaison with the Spikeford resistance. She's been contacting them through her brother, Elio," Chief Ampharos explained. Cue realization crawling on Blacky's back which the Ampharos immediately noticed. "Oh, you know him?" he asked.

"Uh... yeah. I first met him in one of Latermore's taverns," the Umbreon sheepishly admitted while keeping the actual circumstance behind it to himself. "Long story, though."

Since it took Celine awhile to return with the others in tow, there might be a chance of Master Hirate -- the one Sammi talked about earlier -- showing up before they did.

 

(Edited my previous post because the previous one didn't really make sense and I wanted to add more context on Celine's sudden appearance. )

A strong and handsome Blaziken praising Sammi upon arrival immediately clued Blacky in on who he'd just met right there (though the way he nommed the Gastly chili was quite unnerving in itself). "Pleased to meet you, sir," the Umbreon politely bowed to the Blaziken. "Master Hirate, yes? Sammi here told us about you."

Chief Ampharos, meanwhile, chose to throw his own flair in his greeting. "Ampharos at your service!" he posed dramatically for a few seconds before explaining himself, "...actually, I'm not a hero. I'm here for the Expedition Society." Blacky, for one, had to try oh-so-hard not to snicker on it despite the more serious attitude he previously had just a moment ago.

 

@WavePearl @ChocoChicken @122 Generation
(Enter the Expedition Society! )

So Celine and the others from Kickenham guild had already told Master Hirate about Spikeford's situation upon their arrival, eh? Good. At least explaining the rest should be ea--

"I believe us alone won't be enough for that, however," a dignified female voice came from the doorway. Turned out almost everyone from the Expedition Society were there: Celine, Mawile (who had spoken just now), Buizel, Bunnelby, Archen, and Swirlix. Cue reunion between the guildmaster and his charges, though Blacky could notice some members missing. "Wait, where's Dedenne? And Jirachi and Forrest too?" he wondered.

(Is it okay to have Josson show up here? This will affect who'll answer Blacky's question -- either him or Celine.)

 

(Not even the omnomnomnivore PSMD Swirlix (and by extension, GtI Hydreigon too) can survive the Gastly chilies, eh? )

"They're holding the fort," a gruff voice came from behind Blacky. He turned around to find a familiar Jolteon knight who looked like he just came back from running errands. "Wha-- Master Josson!" the Umbreon's heart beat wildly with Celine's joyful "Pops!" not helping the situation. "Well done for getting this far, Blacky," the Jolteon knight, Josson, just smiled with a paw on Blacky's shoulder in response.

Josson then turned to the other three Eeveelutions. "Lady Aine, Lady Xuehua, and Sir Atelier, yes? It's a pleasure to meet you," he respectfully addressed them. If anyone wondered where he'd got the names from, his mail exchanges with Blacky should be good enough an explanation.

 

Xuehua paused and bowed her head briefly in what she hoped was a nod of respect. If anything, the 'lady' title was a bit much for her - she wasn't quite a 'noble' as Aine. Well, Aine wasn't a noble, but that was getting on a tangent. "Good day to you all."

She paused upon the introduction of Blacky's master. "Holding the fort, you say?" They couldn't mean...

 

(Dang. Xuehua being Xuehua, I see? Or is it because Josson's wording is a bit...? )

Noticing what could be interpreted as Xuehua's nonverbal "I'm sorry, what?", Josson quickly clarified, "Those three Blacky mentioned are actually staying home at Kickenham." "They're running the guild while we're gone, you see," Chief Ampharos added much to Blacky's relief. Well, it's more like Forrest running the guild (and putting his own mercenary job on hold) because Dedenne was in charge of the guild's communications and Jirachi had his stars observation.