vatheon | I’ve been testing how strong my will to act is

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I’ve been testing how strong my will to act is

Who: N, Zoroark and anyone wandering around their area
Where: Right on the beach
When: Early morning, April 27th
Status: OPEN

[Somewhere on the beach, a Pokemon is stretching his arms out like a human getting ready to work out. He looks somewhat concerned, though, even as he moves about, and soon enough he's joined by a certain lanky, green haired teen.]

Yes, I'm sure. It won't do to have either of us get lazy and unmotivated now.

[Zoroark drops his arms and whines. N is devoid of his usual hat, his wrist cuff and bangles and even his necklace and his Void Cube as well as his white over shirt. He's more or less down to his black turtleneck and his tan pants, which are rolled up at the cuffs to just below his knees showing that he's also lacking shoes. He takes a somewhat awkward stance across from Zoroark, and answers whatever it is that he whined about with a faintly exasperated sigh.]

I'll be fine. Why are you so concerned? We've done this plenty of times before. Now, come on.

[N motions with a hand for Zoroark to come at him.

And it starts. Zoroark charges forward, attempting to tackle N. The teen jumps to the side, surprisingly quick with his dodge. While N lacks physical strength, he does have speed on his side, and it's obvious to anyone who might come across this sight that the two of them have done this before. It's not a battle like Pokemon are used to, but it keeps Zoroark sharp in the event that something does happen.

This will go on until either N gets hit by one of those weakened attacks, or some one comes along to interrupt them.]

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Zoroark.. is a male? [ Saber's assuming, as the Zoroark .. appears masculine, certainly. ] That makes sense. I admit, I am very interested in the prospect of battling with a partner and training to bring out the best of both of us.

[ Saber's not only competitive, but has learned from her experiences the assets of a trustworthy partner. And bloody hell, animals are so cute. ]

Yes. Females are rare for his breed. It's a 1 to 7 ratio with Zoroark specifically.

[the comment about battling earns a frown from N, and an uncomfortable shift of his weight.]

I don't agree with Pokemon battles, but I've learned that my opinion on the matter isn't something I should try to force on others, especially those who aren't from the same world as I am.

Ah. From what Wally told of me, many Pokémon enjoy participating in battles. I am sure there are other types of hobbies they may partake in, as well.

[ Saber briefly smiles, although it's a bit saddened. ] I am competitive and used to battles after having participated in three wars, and knowing little else. I am simply fond.. of animals of all types. [ The knight has always been exceptionally good at socializing and creating bonds with them. Her most notable 'achievement' was raising a lion cub. ]

Wars... ?

[The more N hears, the more he feels like he's talking to one of the heroes from the legends that surrounded the creation of Unova. Wars were a thing of the distant past to his world - disputes were more than often ended with Pokemon battles. Ironic then that he despised them enough to try and eradicate them all together.

But he was also a very different person back then.]

I know some do. I'm... starting to realize that. Slowly. A very special trainer once showed me that my way of thinking was.... flawed. Incomplete.

I had my reasons, though. You see... unlike most trainers, I can hear the voices of Pokemon, and connect with their hearts to understand their true feelings.

[ There's a pause. Saber nods once reluctantly upon realizing N had likely encountered some Pokémon that may have been treated poorly.

In battle.. or any way of life, there were always those treated unfairly or poorly. ]

There is always the good and the bad. This is why it is up to the sincere to show the proper way, to show what it means to do ones' best in what they enjoy and are naturally gifted in. Whether it's the sword, the book, or any other specialty.

I'm... learning that. Slowly. The way my father raised me, he only allowed me to see the bad. He brought abused Pokemon to me, and convinced me that the world beyond my walls was filled with trainers that did these horrible things.

[N shakes his head, resting a hand on Zoroark's arm as the fox whined and nuzzled against his hair.]

That trainer showed me differently, though. She had Pokemon who truly spoke of love and admiration for her, and through our battles I learned that there are good people in the world.

But... it will take time, before I'm completely cured of the madness my father inflicted on me for his own selfish needs.

[ There's a long pause. Saber isn't sure why this boy is opening up to her so quickly about himself, but she doesn't want him to feel it's for naught. ]

Now that you know the bad, you may certainly appreciate the good. And you can help in bringing out the good in others.

[ There was hatred, or something close to it, in his words when he spoke of his father. ]

Do not dwell in negativity. Your father may have done some unfortunate things, but he also is the one that has assisted making you who you are today. Now that you know better than what he has taught you, .. you know exactly how wrong he was.

[ Saber wasn't trying to cheer him up, exactly. She wasn't trying to shrug off his past, either. She had come to accept, however, that the past was the past and it made one who they were today. ]

There is always tomorrow.

[Mostly? Because he tends to lack a brain to mouth filter and he tends to ramble once he gets on a subject that he can talk at length about. But there's also that thought, that she reminds him of the heroes of legend and how he grew up with those stories. He no longer has any delusions of being a hero himself (to him Hilda is far more a hero than he ever was) but he can't just throw away a life time of something he had latched on to so deeply.]

... I suppose.

[He couldn't say if he hated Ghetsis, or just hated what he did, and the lies that went in place of his own selfish intentions. He was the only father N ever knew, after all.

Well. Human father.

He shifted on his feet again, glancing to the sky and the horizon line beyond the shore.]

I do want to see her again, to thank her for everything she showed me.

You may have the chance. If it happens, be sure to go through with what you are wanting to do now.

[ Saber tilts her head and smiles gently. He may have been slightly odd, but N was obviously a kind person at heart. She hoped whatever issues he did have in the past.. he had the strength to overcome them all. With or without the help of this "trainer". ]

I'll try.

[That seemed encouraging coming from him, and Zoroark gave him another nudge with a happy noise.]

Have you met any other Pokemon in person yet?

I have not. I saw Delcatty across the video feed.

[ Saber looks to Zoroark and then back to N. ] Would you tell me how.. Pokémon fight? It is hard to picture..

[ Were they magic based and had special moves and elements? Did they have attack patterns related to their species? There were many possibilities, and having only known normal animals.. Saber was quite clueless. ]

As much as I dislike Pokemon battles, I am willing to admit that it's almost easier to observe one than to explain one. I'm willing to try, though.

[He is kind of a walking Pokedex anyway.]

Pokemon have the ability to retain up to four moves. Each Pokemon has a specified type, though some have two, and there are seventeen known types within our world currently. Not every type is elemental - psychic, flying and fighting for example, though a lot have at least some connection to the elements.

Most Pokemon attempt to stay within their general type for their move set, however "normal" is a type that can be learned by almost all Pokemon, giving them a wider range of attacks, defenses and the like. They can forget moves and learn new, better ones as they grow and evolve, and evolution comes in a variety of ways.

Take Zoroark for example. He is a dark-type, fox Pokemon. He evolved from a smaller fox Pokemon known as a Zorua. His current moves are Flamethrower, Focus Blast, Night Slash and Retaliate. He also has the ability of Illusion, which is separate from a move set and remains no matter what moves he learns or forgets.

As for how a battle is typically fought - when two trainers meet, they can have up to six Pokemon each. Battles are conducted with either two Pokemon on a field, one from each side, or up to three in what's known as a rotation battle. There's also dual battles where trainers team up. Trainers call out attacks for Pokemon to use, and the last one with a conscious Pokemon wins, as a knock out is the only way to defeat your opponent.

[Wow that was a lot of information. He hoped he didn't go too fast for her.]

[ Saber may be a bad teacher, but she's an excellent student. She listens diligently to N and misses none of his lecture. ]

It sounds like strategy is involved, then. [ Elements.. one would need to use the right element for a certain situation. ]

You say.. evolve? So they change.. physically? [ As she asks this, the knight looks to Zoroark quite curiously. Since this is N's friend, she won't approach Zoroark. She certainly wants to, though. ]

Yes. It's very strategically oriented. One type can be weak to, strong against, or invulnerable to other types, so one would have to know and plan for that in order to win in a battle.

[The question earns a nod.]

Unfortunately I don't have a Pokedex, or I would show you what a Zorua looked like, and I'm not sure if Wally's would have the international index.

[Zoroark wouldn't mind being approached, though. He's surprisingly friendly for being such a scary looking fox.]

So these moves.. such as Flamethrower. How are they powered? Does the pokémon have.. magic? Or.. energy? [ Saber can only really think of how things work in her world, which is prana and mana. They're energy and magic based. ]

Surely there is some type of price to pay for using stronger attacks?

That is a mystery even to the most versed Pokemon professor. They have always had those powers, and there was a time far, far back in the world's history when Pokemon were just known as 'magical creatures' and even feared as deities.

As far as a "price"... all I know is that until a Pokemon is rested again, certain abilities only have a set number of times they can be used. Stronger attacks typically come with less chances to use the move.

So they are more limited on stronger attacks until rested. [ Really, that makes plenty of sense considering Saber is the exact same way.

Finally, the knight loses to her curiosity and steps over towards the Zoroark. She stops about five feet away, and then looks at Zoroark closely. ]

Ah.. may I? [ She looks to N to ask for his permission, but then one of Saber's "bad" habits pokes its head up. She speaks directly to Zoroark, just as she would any animal. ]

Hello. ..What does Illusion do? I'm guessing that you can disappear from sight.. [ It may sound like she's just talking to herself while thinking out loud, or mostly asking N.. but no, really, she's talking to Zoroark and making eye contact with him. ]

[~~Saber is secretly a Pokemon~~

Zoroark is fine taking the question, and he nods in place of N answering verbally for him, stepping closer so that she can touch him. He looks rough, especially with how his coat seems to spike out like a hedgehog's spines, but his fur is surprisingly soft and he's quite friendly.]

Not quite.

[And N can't help but be a little showoffy in regards to his friends. Zoroark is as close to a sibling as he has, of course, and there's no shortage of pride there.]

Zoroark, Illusion.

[There's a ripple in the air around the fox, and a perfectly mimicked form of Saber in front of her.]

[ The knight does reach out to touch Zoroark, just very lightly on the arm when he nears. Even through her gauntlets, she can tell he's very soft.

And then Zoroark .. is commanded to do Illusion and mimics her appearance. ]

Ah, I see. What a sly move. [ Saber.. is not the most for that type of strategy, but she can still appreciate Zoroark doing it so well. Not thinking about it, Saber reaches out to touch the other Saber's chest armor. ]

[What she'll feel won't be much different than the fur, and through the touch there will be a slight distortion of the illusion around her fingertips, revealing the true form beneath.]

Unlike Pokemon that are capable of changing forms, Zoroark's ability is simple illusion. He can take on the form of anything, and even throw mimicked attacks around if given the chance, though they don't do any damage. Some Zoroark are strong enough to replicate human speech, and affect entire areas, and there was even a legend that captured Zoroark could imprison their captors within illusions for the rest of their lives.

Unfortunately my friend here wasn't raised in a pack. He was orphaned like me, so his ability isn't as strong as others. Not that it makes him weak or anything - his illusions still have a profound effect.

[ Raising a hand to her chin in thought briefly, Saber smiled and then stepped back. ]

I see. Thank you for showing me that, Zoroark. [ The knight nods to her mimicker. And then she turned to face N and lowers her head in thanks. ] And you, too, N. I appreciate you surrendering your time to give me this crash course.

[Zoroark nodded, and the illusion dissipated, returning the fox to his normal form.]

I don't mind. But you're welcome none the less.

[He could talk for hours about Pokemon if some one let him.]

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I’ve been testing how strong my will to act is

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