Post by ;AL P H A on Mar 20, 2009 15:57:43 GMT -5
Name: Absol (Nickname N/A)
Species: Absol
Level: 12
Transferred from old Sinjoenn at level twelve
{Munchy, munchy, munch.}
The Absol had a short stick in his mouth, and was eagerly shredding it with pearly-white canines. There was an obnoxious CRUNCH, CRUNCH, CRUNCH sound.
{Munch, munch, munch. Yum.}
Arley glanced over and raised a dark eyebrow.
{Um... what the hell are you doing?}
The Absol raised his head, for a moment slowing its crunching.
{You need your five-a-day, right? I'm getting mine.}
{Uh-huh. Right.}
-
Murkrow was perched in a tree and attempting to look nonchalant. Absol laughed.
{Okay, you've got me there.}
Pulling out a weathered brochure-thing, Arley flapped it out triumphantly and read through it.
{This is the training area. And we're here for some training. Sound good to you guys?}
{Meh, whatever. As long as I can finish my om-nom-a-noming on this stick.}[/b][/color]
Arley gave a long sigh.
{Fine... fine. You can bring the stick.}
-
Twenty minutes later, they were at the first area. With a flourish, Arley pulled out what looked to be a small remote pad. Absol looked sceptical.
[color=red{We haven't even started, and I'm already feeling worried.}[/color][/b] He tried to ignore the horrible grin spreading on Arley's face. They'd been together for approximately a year; he knew all too well the nature of his trainer, and he definitely knew that a grin like that was Bad News.
-
{Okay then, Absol.} Arley's expression was positively gloating. {Since Speed and Physical attacks are your speciality, I'm going to try and re-inforce it. You can use the offensive moves Scratch, Quick Attack, Iron Tail and Zen Headbutt, correct? We're going to work on Zen Headbutt first. It's a close-up attack, so I also need you to improve your accuracy.}
{Got it.}[/b] The Absol gave a nod. {So, erm, where's the training exercise?}
Arley grinned. {That's the fun part.}
-
Tapping a button on the remote, there was a shuddering, and a rumbling noise. Absol leapt back as the ground beneath him split open and a series of inactive propellors shot out.
{This looks, um... interesting.} Tapping one with a paw, the Absol saw they were mounted on hydraulics and rails, positioned to go side-to-side and up and down at the touch of a button. The blades were honed and looked rather potent and dangerous.
{Vee-ry interesting...}
Arley smiled, showing off a few sharpened canines of his own. {I knew you'd like it. Now... watch.}
-
A flick of two buttons on the remote and a mechanical whirring sound started up. The fans began to spin; slowly at first, then rotating faster and faster. Absol flinched back as the fans blurred out of sight.
{Ouch.}
{Indeed. This is how we're going to start off. I want you do dodge between the fans. In a real battle situation your opponent will be attacking as you try to get close, so you need to dodge and weave between any long-range attacks. I'm going to move the fans slowly around, and you need to aim at a target behind them with your Zen Headbutt. Got it?}[/color]
-
The Absol nodded. {Yep, seems simple enough. Okay, start it up.}
Arley flicked another button, and the fans started to move up and down, side to side. Absol grinned.
{Now THIS is what I'm talking about.}
Arley pointed a paw-finger-thing.
{Absol... Zen Headbutt!}
-
A target sprang up near the back of the moving fans, and Absol clenched his jaw. Focussing on his scalp, the ruby mounted on his forehead began to glow. Specially bred to inherit abnormal amounts of psychic energy for a dark-type, he chanelled it into his forehead, until it formed a glittering shield across his pink fur. Tensing his muscles, he stretched, and sprang. Resigtering the first fan coming up on his right, he coiled his body and ran past it, picking up speed. The second fan grazed his flank as he darted past.
Damnit... I need to focus harder! Come on!
-
Paws pounded the ground and he ran faster, forehead enveloped in a blue corona. Third fan, fourth fan; in a blur, he barely noticed them, his body like a slinky-toy. Slamming into the target, it snapped back, and he spun around, grunting in satisfaction. A warm, wet feeling on his flank; he was bleeding, he hadn't noticed.
I need to be more focussed. Privately wincing, he called to Arley.
{Let's run it again!}
Arley nodded. A new target snapped up, and Absol moved back to the start, wincing every time the slice on his side stung him.
-
The second run was better, but a second cut, this time on his leg, forced him to stop. Despite strong protestations, Arley decided to take down the fans.
{That's enough for today.} he said. {Besides... now it's Murkrow's turn. We can work on your other attacks some other time.}
+
Name: Murkrow (Nickname N/A)
Species: Well, Murkrow. D-uh.
Level: Five
Met at lab at level 5
Whilst Absol's training exercise had been going on, Murkrow had been stealthily edging away. He'd had this great new idea for a prank to pull on somebody, and surely some other sucker would come along sometime...
{Murkrow!}
Dammit. The bird sighed, and cautiously hopped up to Arley, trying to look innocent.
{Yes?} he said, in a perfect imitation of innocence. Arley wasn't fooled.
{We need to discipline you, and I think I know just the place. Shiny pokemon have rough natures, and it's a trainer's job to beat it out of them!}
How patriotic, Murkrow thought, but kept its beak shut.
-
The second area was similarly unimpressive. Murkrow resisted the urge to smirk as he stared up... into the boughs of a high tree.
{Wow. A tree. Uh-huh. You know, I always knew you were something different, Arley, but this is... wow. Really special. Yup. I can see we're going to have lots of fun here.} Arley shook his head.
{Hey, no need to get so cocky. Anyway, the exercise isn't here. It's up.} He pointed a single toe of his right front paw. {Yep, you guessed it. Up the tree.}
Murkrow still seemed sceptical. {Again. That's... obviously going to be a good idea.}
-
Still, going up a tree was easier than imagined. A tight staircase wound around the wide trunk, and the ascent only took a few minutes. Murkrow insisted flying nearly the whole way, if only to show off his unique plumage.
{Show-off.} Absol muttered darkly, growling deep in his throat. Murkrow grinned and tilted so that his wings caught the light, and the glittering pigment on the shafts sparkled and shimmered. Then he flew off.
-
When they finally reached the top, Murkrow was already there, perched atop one of a series of what appeared to be large metallic balls, hanging from ropes on several of the high branches. They swayed slightly in the wind, and Murkrow's claws clacked over the surface as he tried to stay aloft. He windmilled his wings, and eventually gave up and flew over to the platform Arley and Absol were standing on.
{I do hope this isn't the training area.} Murkrow said dully. {Because it looks so boring right now.}
{Trust me, Murkrow, that's tantamount to suicide. You do not want to be caught saying that in front of Arley.}
-
Arley appeared to be enjoying himself, once he got into the swing of things.
{Okay, Murkrow,} he said happily, {This is your training exercise. See that larger ball in the middle, with the flat platform? I want you to go sit on it.}
Murkrow opened his wings and flew obediently over.
{Wow. This is such fun.} he said drolly. {I can really feel the levels going up. Wheee.}
Arley grinned evilly, and from another hidden pocket, procured the remote control from earlier. With a bleeping sound as it reconfigured, he pointed it eagerly and pressed a button.
-
At first, nothing happened.
{Whoop-de-doop. Wow. Uh-huh. Really impressed here, Arley.}
{Uhh... Murkrow?}
{Can see we're going to have lots of fu- oh, what?}
{Um... duck.}
The Murkrow bobbed its head, giving a caw of surprise as one of the previously stationary metal balls flew over the space where its head had been. Straightening up, he noticed that the others had been put into similar motion; again, on mechanised trails deep into the tree branches.
-
{Bit more interesting now, isn't it?}
Arley was flicking the remote up and down in his hand, and looking overall rather smug. Murkrow glared at him as he ducked under another swinging ball.
{Alright, here's how it's going to roll. I have here a stopwatch. Those metal balls will be swinging around you faster and faster, and I want to time how long you can stay on. The longer, the better. The timer starts on a count of three, and ends when you fall off your round platform. Remember, this is a test of balance and reflex, not of stamina. I don't care how many times you get hit, just as many as you fall off, so try to avoid the swinging balls, 'kay? Three, two, one... go.}
-
Murkrow immediately whipped his head around, waiting for one of the balls to come near. They started deceptively slowly, and Murkrow barely had to move as one crawled past him. Barely moved; but enough to throw his little 'platform' off-balance. Windmilling his wings in an effort to stay on, it bucked and wiggled under his claws, and he nearly ducked too late as a second ball whistled overhead.
-
Somehow getting his balance back, he turned his head around. He couldn't quite manage the full 360-degrees, but it was still impressive.
...two balls coming up on my right, plus one behind- AUGH! Duck!
He flattened himself low onto his platform as another ball came over where his head would have been.
Dammit... I need to concentrate. Come ON, I need to think of a way to tell where the balls are. Maybe if I try this...
Spreading his wings, Arley at first thought Murkrow was attempting to stabilise himself, but as he fanned out his primary feathers and closed his eyes, even Arley did a double take.
-
{Whatever bird-boy's doing over there, it's working.} Absol commented, and Arley had to agree with him. Murkrow obviously couldn't see the metal balls, but he knew where they were, as he leant over to the side to escape one, and bent forwards as another collided with the airspace behind his head.
{I think... yeah, he's reading the air currents, that's gotta be it.} Arley said, impressed. {The primary feathers of bird pokémon are real sensitive. They can detect thermals and changes in air pressure, but it looks like Murkrow hasn't quite mastered it yet.}
-
Arley winced as a metal ball collided with Murkrow's head, causing him to yell in pain and be flung off his platform. Dropping a few yards, he flew up to where Arley and Absol were standing, groaning.
{Oww... so, how did I do?}
{Good... but I think that's enough for today, Murkrow. We're going home.}
Arley had just begun to descend when he noticed the horrible grin on Absol's snout.
{I don't like the look on your face...}
Absol only began to grin wider.
{Oh, we're not going home. There's one last training activity and I think you'll find it very... interesting.}
+
Name: Arley
Species: Modified Riolu
Level: Uh, 5? He won't be battling, this is just a little thing I want to do for him. ^w^
Arley's Riolu form
< Right. So I guess you're not going to tell me why I'm wearing this blindfold OR why I'm morphed, are you? >
< Nopety nopety noo. >
< A surprise, hmm? Well, that's just great. I looooove surprises. >
Arley couldn't appreciate the horribly fear-inducing expressions moving across Absol's face. < Oh, I guarantee this will be an... extraordinary surprise for you. >
Arley's tassels twitched, and he paused.
< We're... up in the air? Absol, I swear to Arceus, if this- >
< Aaaand TADAAAH! > Absol whipped off the blindfold with his teeth, letting it flutter to the ground... which was about forty feet away. < Here's your surprise. >
Arley looked down and yelped. Being high up in the air was not nice, but it was worse when you were only two feet tall. Clutching the floor, he suddenly found it was not a floor at all but a plank about a foot wide, which made things a whole lot worse again. It shook from side to side as Absol leapt off to a platform at one end; a platform, Arley noted bitterly, that was too high for him to reach. Murkrow was next to him, remote in its beak.
< Oh, yeah! Ish pfaabah tie. >
Arley watched with mounting dread as Murkrow placed the remote on the floor and jabbed at a button. There was a whirring noise from somewhere, and he glanced around wildly. Where was it? What dreadful thing was going to pop up? He didn't need to be reminded of how high up he was; if he fell at this height... no, best not to even think about it - ....splat! - oh, god, too late. Whimpering, Arley tried his best not to let the vertigo set in as he crouched on the plank. Just don't look down, don't look down, don't look dowAAARGH what was that?
Something was rising up into the air next to him. Arley felt sure it was going to be some sort of horrible device. Maybe a pair of rotating blades, or a wrecking ball, or... hang about, it was a target. Whut?
< The objective of this activity is to hit the targets. Use any move you feel like to achieve this. Oh, and don't fall off. > The Absol gave a particularly nasty smile, and pressed a lever down.
More targets began to rise up. If Arley hadn't been so terrified, he might have paused and thought where are they coming from?... but he was, so he didn't. He focussed on the nearest target, but it was coming back down again. They appeared to be on hinges, so if hit they would just fall back and not break. Up and down, up and down they went. Arley began to feel really quite sick, and the beam he was in swaying underfoot didn't help.
Getting up, he attempted to focus on a nearby target as it rose up. Bringing his paw back, he slammed out with Force Palm as it reached the apex of its climb. It fell back with a satisfying bink, and Arley grinned. Maybe this wasn't so hard after all. Another target was a little further away, and he felt brave enough to run over and to a little jump before Force Palming it. Definitely not as hard as he'd first thought, once you forgot about the height... oh god.
Vertigo began to take over again, and he shook his head to try and clear it. Just think about the task in hand. Putting his hands together, he summoned a tiny flame, throwing it much like he would an Aura Sphere. It hit another target. So far, no interference from either Absol or Murkrow. Huhn. Well, they weren't crazy. They wouldn't want him to f-fall to his death... right? Of course not. No. They wouldn't do that.
Flames engulfed his foot, and he hit a target just above his head with Blaze Kick. Strictly speaking, it wasn't a proper Blaze Kick, it was just a flaming kick, but it was basically the same thing only not as powerful. It was a little bit of a shame that his pyrokinetics were only sub-par, but he could live with that. Another target fell to another small flame; a more confident leap and Force Palm took care of yet another. Arley felt a small surge of confidence. He was doing well.
He couldn't help a feeling of dread creeping over him as he heard a leering voice.
< Whoa, look out! It's pretty windy. I think we're in for some turbulence! >
Arley had time to look back, confused expression on his (her) face, before the plank under him lurched sickeningly. Dropping to a crouch, Arley had a blurred view of the ground far away before he remembered to look up. It didn't help. He tried to stop himself from being sick as the plank gave another lurch.
Moving around so he had a clear view of Absol, he was dismayed to see the dark-type bent down and bashing the board with a claw, making it swing. < Are you freaking crazy? >
Absol gave a nasty smile. < I'm just making it more interesting. >
That was a yes, then. Arley felt himself slipping, and tried to grip tighter. It was no good. His paws were blistering from the rough wood, and he couldn't hold on much longer.
Another sudden lurch, and Arley felt his paws leave go of the wood. Sliding off the edge, his stomach turned over and over as he scrabbled for a hold. Splinters stuck into his paws, but he couldn't get a grip and began to fall. It was a horrible feeling, and his body was frozen stiff. He couldn't move, he couldn't move, he was going to die and he couldn't move! It was so frustrating. He knew he had about a second to fall. There was not even a flashback of his life, nasty as it was overall. He was going to -
SPLOOSH!
Arley was having to think very fast now. He'd registered two important things in the space of not very long.
1) was that the ground was not a ground, but actually a huge pond. Since he hadn't looked very closely, he'd mistaken the grey clouds reflected on its surface for concrete. That also explained where the targets had come from, and why he was currently eight feet underwater.
2) was the cold realisation that Absol and Murkrow had been Having Him On. 2) was probably worse than 1), but at the precise moment in time 1) was more pressing.
Flailing his arms, he surfaced, gasping for air. Murkrow wheeled triumphantly above his head.
< Psych! > the crow yelled. Arley looked up. Absol was rolling about in mirth on the platform one end of the plank, way up high. He tried to control his breathing so he could at least speak and not simply hyperventilate in a rage.
< When I get out. > he growled. < You guys. Are so dead. >
(( Aaaand doneded.
Hah, didn't expect that did ya? ))
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