@Kittimancy The activity quieted down as the students and the masters settled in for the night. Then the morning came... (moving to the next day)
(Sorry about that, @Ignem. My RP-ing pace is just getting quicker while Wave's here.) The next morning, Marissa came up to Master Karashi with her Primarina bow on hand. "Sensei, I'm ready," she said.
@Kittimancy Master Karashi smiled. "Come with me, then." He led Marissa to a hill outside the dojo that overlooked a large canyon and a waterfall. "Hidden in this area are twelve statues of the Pokémon of the Zodiac. Shatter the glass orb they hold with your arrow, and we'll move on to where the next one is hidden. If you can break all twelve orbs, you'll pass the trial, and the Water Melody Bow you now hold is yours to keep."
Speaking of the Pokémon of the Zodiac, Marissa tried to remember what they are... but failed. "Sensei," Marissa turned to Master Karashi with a perplexed look. "What are these zodiacs again?"
@Kittimancy "In order, they are Pikachu, Tauros, Raikou, Buneary, Gyarados, Arbok, Ponyta, Dubwool, Infernape, Combusken, Arcanine, and Emboar." Master Karashi explained. "They rule over a part of the year based on the results of a great race across the heavens long ago." He sighs nostalgically. "My oba-san told me the tale many times when I was a lad." (The Pokeworld zodiac is a blend of the Western and Chinese zodiac.)
Marissa listened intently as she took a mental note of her supposed targets. She then picked Alicorn's Pokéball and gave it to Sniper (who had been by her side all this time). "Sniper, can you please keep Alicorn away from me?" Marissa requested, much to Sniper's confusion. Translating his perplexed look as "But why?", the redhead girl explained, "Alicorn here has Future Sight, and I don't wanna cheat even if we can." Only then did the Inteleon nod in understanding before moving away from his trainer with Alicorn's Pokéball in hand.
@Kittimancy "When you are ready, you may take your first shot." Master Karashi smiled. "If it misses, don't panic--you may try again until you run out of arrows."
Marissa nodded to Master Karashi, then looked around. Now where in the world is this Pikachu statue again...?
@Kittimancy Something yellow far off in the distance gets your attention. "Trust your bow, and you will find your target." Master Karashi smiles.
It took Marissa quite some time before she finally noticed something yellow over there. She carefully took her aim... and shot her first arrow.
@Kittimancy A smile formed on Master Karashi's face. "I heard something shatter...let us go investigate and confirm a hit before we move on to Tauros' location."
It's not just Master Karashi -- Sniper heard the shattered stuff too. He immediately ran to where the arrow had gone and confirmed Marissa's shot himself.
@Kittimancy Master Karashi smiled when he saw the orb a Pikachu statue had held was broken, with the arrow lying in the shards. "Well done--let us move on to where the Tauros target is."
"Yes, sir," Marissa nodded. With the first orb outta way, the three went to the Tauros statue's location. (So... how will @Ignem's part go? We kinda skipped a day since the briefing -- or maybe more depending on Marissa's progress.)
@Kittimancy (Cobalt's trial is different from yours--his may be taking place elsewhere while you are taking yours. A good shot can complete the target test Master Karashi devised for you before the day is out)
@Kittimancy Master Karashi led Marissa to a forested area near some cliffs. "The Tauros statue is somewhere on the cliff." he explained.