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[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD WOOBAT APPEARED!

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No sooner had Rhys resolved to make the most of this particular excursion than a disturbance drew his focus from the path ahead. A patch of long grass rustled ominously before an erratically-flapping Woobat burst into the air, fluttering about in dizzy circles. "Alright, this is our first battle together," Rhys nodded to his Lucario, who grunted and dropped into a battle stance, eyes fixed on the Woobat.
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A moment passed, and the Woobat continued fluttering aimlessly nearby without offering any outward sign of aggression to either the trainer or his pokemon. "Hm," Rhys reflected on the situation as Owain blinked incredulously at the interloper. "Well, maybe not, after all."
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The Lucario turned to fix an icy glare at his trainer, and Rhys raised his hands defensively, offering a wry smile. "Alright, alright! How can I refuse a face like that? Extreme speed, then."
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With an affirmative growl, the Lucario planted his feet in the dirt and then...vanished. An instant later, he reappeared in the air above the Woobat, unleashing a battering series of strikes that pummeled the small creature back and forth, up and down in midair, before a final spinning kick from the canine sent the small puffball of a bat careening back into the grass from where it had come.
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"Very well done," Rhys offered, applauding brightly as Owain jogged back to his side. "Let's find another, shall we?"

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[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD ROOKIDEE APPEARED!

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Rhys opted to take a meandering route through the next stretch of the path, the grass coming up high enough to leave streaks of pollen and other ecological detritus on the calves of his trousers. He didn't seem overly concerned, however, instead focusing ahead of him on the next trial for Owain to tackle.
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Said trial was soon presented in the form of a small Rookidee fluttering upward just to his left, disturbed by his passing. "Alright, Owain," he nodded to his companion, "Don't go overboard, let's take this one home with us, yeah?"
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The Lucario nodded decisively, sprinting forward and leaping into the air to meet the small bird, delivering a few rapid-fire punches in a METEOR MASH that sent the bird to the ground, twitching helplessly. Rhys sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, and waved a hand. "Come on, now, I said NOT to go overboard."
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Managing somehow to look abashed at this setback, Owain approached the Rookidee gently and held out a hand, liquid energy falling from it to heal some of its wounds. The small bird ruffled itself and rolled over to stand on its own two feet, tilting its head up at the Lucario quizzically with a 'cheep'.
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With a grin, Rhys tossed a safari ball at the Rookidee, catching it on the rebound and offering a nod to Owain. "Good job!"

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[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD ALOMOMOLA APPEARED!

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The trek took the unlikely pair past a small pond, its still and tranquil surface breached by a bulbous pink head and a pair of fins.
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"Ew," Rhys remarked reflexively, cringing backward from the piscine pokemon that regarded the trainer and his Lucario with vacant eyes.
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"Let's just, uh, keep going, shall we? No need for you to get wet trying to fight that thing." Owain nodded an affirmative, and the pair skirted past the pond to continue on their walk. Rather, they would have continued, had a splash not sounded behind them and a concentrated WATER PULSE hit Owain in the back and sent him skidding forward several steps.
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The Lucario turned his head slowly with a growl, and before Rhys could even issue a command, leaped into the middle of the pond amid a great splashing of water. The Alomomola wailed piteously and dived for safety below the water, but Owain followed, and after a number of bubbles and ripples broke the surface of the pond, all fell still.
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Looking on incredulously, Rhys took in the sight of his Lucario dragging itself determinedly from the water, shaking off at the shoreline before rejoining Rhys with a scowl that dared him to say anything about the encounter.
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Holding his hands up defensively, Rhys motioned for Owain to continue, and the pokemon proceeded ahead of him with a derisive snort.

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[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD PETILIL APPEARED!

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Rhys grimaced, shaking his leg as though to banish the sudden cramp from his calf. Owain looked on impassively, offering nothing more than a sniff in response to his trainer's distress.
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"Ugh, I think I stepped wrong, or something. How about a little break before we keep going, what do you think?"
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He cast around for somewhere he might be able to rest, and caught sight of a large, mostly-flat rock off to one side. The grass around the rock rustled ominously before a portion seemed to detach and crawl up to the top of the rock. Wait, that wasn't grass, that was a Petilil.
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Rhys approached the rock cautiously, waving one hand in a shooing motion. "'Scuse me, little guy, would you mind?" The Petilil was, if not stubborn, oblivious to these efforts, uttering an unbothered trill. Owain approached behind Rhys and offered a low, menacing growl.
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The Petilil did jump up at this and slid down the back of the rock with a squeak, landing in the grass and not, thankfully, reappearing.
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"Phew," Rhys commented as he sat on the edge of the rock, crossing his leg over his knee to massage his aching calf. "At least it isn't boring, don't you think?"

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[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD APPLIN APPEARED!

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After a moment, Rhys stretched and stood from the rock, nodding to Owain. "Let's go on, then, I don't think we have much time left to look around, and I'd like to see if we find any rare pokémon. It pays to have options, after all.
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The Lucario nodded his assent, and the pair began wandering once more. After a short distance, Rhys spotted an apple lying to one side of the path. "Hmm, I suppose I am a little peckish," he mused, reaching down to pick it up. As his fingers brushed it, twin eyeflaps flipped up from the top of the fruit, and it skittered away from him anxiously, causing him to blink.
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"Oh, an Applin," he remarked, standing up. "I've heard of these. Owain, gentle again, alright?"
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The Lucario cast a sidelong glance to Rhys as though he might disagree, but thrust a paw out regardless. A few tiny motes of energy coalesced into an AURA SPHERE no bigger than a marble, and the small projectile launched forward to send the Applin spinning tail over teakettle onto its side.
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Rhys grinned approvingly and tossed a Safari Ball at the fallen Applin. "Well done!"

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[attr="class","wildtitle"]A WILD DITTO APPEARED!

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Nearing the entrance after his extended lap of the Safari, Rhys found his progress obstructed by another patch of rustling grass. Next to him, Owain tensed into readiness, and as the wild pokémon leapt out to attack, the Lucario lunged forward to trade blows with...himself.
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An identical Lucario, down to the slight nick on one ear, had appeared to do battle. Blinking in bewilderment, Owain found each of his punches and kicks matched by his opponent, and scarcely moments later the pair separated, flying in opposite directions to land back in the grass, staring each other down. "Fake it out!" Rhys called, and the Lucario shook his head as though dismissive of the notion.
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The pair of pokemon launched at each other once more, twin METEOR MASHES set to collide, but at the last moment Owain skidded to a halt mid-charge, thrust his paws out, and unleashed an AURA SPHERE that slammed into the opposing Lucario, catching it off-guard. It spun into the grass amid a splatter of lilac goo, and Rhys's face lit up in recognition.
"A Ditto! I -knew- it!" He whooped, tossing his last Safari Ball at the disoriented pokemon before jogging over to Owain and offering him an encouraging clap on the shoulder. "Well done, that's what strategy over brute force can get you, eh?!"
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The Lucario did not seem enthused, but a pleased twitch of his ears was feedback enough for his Trainer, who grinned smugly. "Well, let's find something a little more your speed, then. On to the next place, shall we?"

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