E was curiously watching the sandshrew, watching how Eden was using it to cool down. "Do you think it would melt into water if it got too close to the heat?" The trainer asked his pokemon, munchlax, who he felt was better suited to this climate than clamperl. If things got too tough, his newly acquired water type should be able to handle things here.

"Watcha doin?" E suddenly caught up, clearly not struggling at all but choosing to hang back a little earlier. Now, he was peering over Eden's shoulder, snickering at the topless photo they had just received. "Ah, sorry if you're busy."

"Ehm no what...I was", Eden struggled to close his phone only zooming into Dante's abs by accident before almost dropping his phone. "I was just reading a message. And nope, I hope he wouldn't melt", hugging his sandshrew closer Eden actually started to wander. Better not take a risk.

"I have never been in a place like this. We haven't met many other trainers. Are you sure this is the right way", Eden asked while watching a massive black cloud erupting from the peak of the mountain.

"Of course." E teased, giving Eden a wink before readjusting his cap. E was no fool, he saw what was on that phone, especially when Eden had then zoomed in even further onto the abs. So that's what the two of them were up to, he had wondered what Dante was doing after their strange encounter at meteor falls. "I wont pry." 

With that, E and Munchlax would skip ahead of them, humming a little tune to themselves with a cheeky smile on both their faces. There was something about knowing something you shouldn't that just made one feel smug. "I don't think many trainers come here, that doesn't matter. Besides, this place is huuuge."

Spinning around, E spread his arms along the rocky trail just to show how big the place was. Big open fields of rock and magma, a looming volcano in the distance spewing volcanic ash into the air. It was gorgeous yet scary, E was looking forward to catching some pokemon here. 

For someone that was too scared to sleep outside, E was surely enjoying himself now. Eden was wondering if maybe the toxins of the smug were slowly getting to him. Nah, this guy had always been this weird.

"I am excited too to see what kind of pokemon are ahead of us", Eden said calling back his sandshrew. He could sense the smog coming closer and he didn't want his friend to breath all of that in. E didn't seem to mind happily jumping through the toxin. "Maybe I should reply", Eden thought catching a photo of dancing E sending it off to Dante with the captiob "We are on the fire path and its hot here".

"Powerful ones maybe." E rubbed his hands together in anticipation, but overall knew he wasn't actually that bothered by it. He would take each day as it comes, including the pokemon and people he met. The trainer hadn't thought of any other way to acquire pokemon than to fight and catch them, hence his potentially 'violent' attitude towards them.

"Munchlax, when you see a pokemon, it's on sight!" He pointed ahead of him, to nothing. E remained in this pose for a moment again, "Eden, why do you want to be a trainer? And you said you're from another region too, why come here?"

Coughing slightly from the air, he tied a handkerchief over his mouth and hopped over to his travelling buddy, "Are you escaping a dark past?"

"Hehe", a nerves laughter escaped Eden's mouth. How did this weird green boy just read him like this - casually out of the blue. Or better to say out of black? Is was hard to see him under all that smog.

"You okay? You should step out of that cloud! I wanted to explore the region my father talked so fondly about. And ... well, I love pokemon. Especially Ghos...gosh its not here", that was only half the truth but surely Eden couldn't tell E how back home people were crept out by all his ghost pokemon friends and the little accident.

hardly an exciting response to the question, just an awkward laugh and strange shrug. How disappointing, E was hoping for some kind of tragic backstory, should he maybe ask about the whole dragon-type pokemon thing? Hm, maybe he'll hold on to that one for a later date. Waiting for a more juicier time to bring up the ol 'How's your Dad?' question. At least there was some explanation to why he was here, Eden must really care for his family.

"Yes, it is hot." E stepped out of the smog, "We're literally walking near magma. There's a volcano."

He smiled and winked, mocking Eden a little for the dumb statement.

Eden D. Rain

"Why did you become a trainer?", redirecting the question Eden looked up the mountain. Yeah, there was indeed magma...magma that cut burn them to ashes in no time. This was certainly the most dangerous rout, the trainer had been on. His phone started to buzz another time... Dante.

**Oh I see you still traveling with metapod -.- Where you heading next? Maybe we can meet up in the next town for that coffee?**, a short message followed up with a picture of his Bagon. His new pokemon looked happy... Talking about new pokemon. E had already caught so many new friend! Eden should also look out to grow his team - although he hated the logic of beating aand catching. He much rather befriended them - let the pokemon choose if it wanted to be with him.

E paused for a moment when asked why he became a trainer, glancing down to his munchlax who also looked at him with a confused look. Munchlax was also curious as to why, since it uprooted him from the comfort of a warm bed and lots of food, E was so strict with how much it ate. So yeah, E, why did you decide to take on the life of a trainer?

"Eh, got bored." That was all, E chuckled and scooped up Munchlax, carrying the lump surprisingly well. "Tried it once, failed, so might as well try again."

Pulling out a bottle of water, he would take a sip before pouring a bit in munchlax's mouth. "Maybe it's best if you stay in the pokeball. At least you'll stay cool in there and won't take all my water."

"...Lax?"

[nospaces]
[break]

"I see", boredom was a strange reason Eden had never heard as a reason to become trainer. He had the feeling there was definitely more to it. Though he didn't want to prey. Something seemed strange about the purple smog cloud around them. Eden almost had the feeling of being watched. Probably was just imagine. 

While E was busy taking care of Munchlax, Eden grabbed his phone to reply to Dante, who had send another selfie with his new pokemon. "Hehe", the sound of laughter echoed in the trainers ear. "E did you hear that", looking for a confirmation his fellow trainer seemed to not have heard anything. Very strange. Eden returned to his screen trying to reply to Dante's message as all of the sudden his phone glided out of his hand into the smoggy air. What was happening? Perplexes the trainer was starring at his levitating phone...

Trying to grab it back the phone started to make saltos in the air. "Hey, what is going on", Eden asked chasing after his device. "Hehe", a louder laughter rang up as a silhouette of a man started to form from the cloud of smog.... first a silhouette... then a shadow ...then Dante? What, how was this even possible... 

All of the sudden the dragon type trainer was standing in front of E and Eden... exactly as in the picture...shirtless in shorts. Oh no - this couldn't be true! 

As E pulls out a pokeball to recall munchlax, it is immediately knocked from his hands. A hot pebble smacks into his wrist, making him yelp in pain and drop Munchlax to the ground. E pulled his wounded wrist into his stomach, "Ow, ow, ow!" He knelt down and looked up, seeing a pokemon he had never seen before. It was kicking up multiple stones, bouncing it around nimbly between its big feet. "The hell?!"

Another rock was launched, kicked by the creature and this time aiming for E's head. Ducking even more, he just missed it as it skidded across the ground behind him. "WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?!" The trainer screamed, eyebrows furrowed and steam blasting out his ears. This so called 'Raboot' was angry, and for what reason? "Ugh, it's because I'm cursed. All pokemon hate me." 

"Munch?" The munchlax looked confused at that statement, rolling its eyes and slapping some sense into E. 

"You're right, we'll catch it and teach it some manners!" Rolling and jumping back to his feet, E was ready for battle. 

Munchlax had already started charging, unhappy that his trainer had been so badly injured. "Stockpile for now!" Was the first command, E throwing random chocolate bars (melted) and two apples at Munchlax. He made a habit of keeping as much food on him, which was mostly eaten by Munchy. Dashing forwards, the Raboot jumped in with two solid kicks at Munchlax, E could see it hurt, but Munchlax had taken it well. Would he have to swap out this round maybe?

"Stockpile and belly slam!" E went to point, immediately regretting it as pain shot through his wrist. Munch heard the order, starting to gain more experience in combat now. With another mouthful, it was obvious he was feeling sturdier than usual. And with all that food, belly slam hit with a great hit. The Raboot was squished, kicking about as Munchlax bounced off and onto its feet again. 

"Keep it u- Dante?!" E looked very confused at the sight in front of him, no top, just shorts. "What is happening?"

Distracted by his flying device, Eden hadn't noticed the firey fight between E and Raboot before. "Ehm don't worry about it - you just focus on that Raboot! It looks angry", with embarrassment in his face Eden waved his hands in front of the nude body of Dante. This was all to embarrassing. But Eden had figured out what was going on. 

"Okay, did we have our fun Ghastly?, called by its name, "Dante" smile turned into an oversized grin only to reveal the Ghost Pokemon behind the commotion. Laughing and smiling a ghastly was clouding the air.

“You think that was funny! I show you funny”, Eden said pointing at the hilarious fight between Raboot and Munchlax or better to say E since the Pokemon still kept aiming at E’s head. With a swift turn, Ghastly turned into an upside down version of E while laughing hysterically. Eden couldn’t help but join the ghost Pokemon - since it was all just too funny.

“Wait; are you hungry? Here!”, with its large tongue the Pokemon picked up some snacks from Eden’s hand. “Ghastly, you are funny!”, in a blink of an eye the Pokemon turned into Eden mimicking the trainer.

Catch Gastly