Toki smiled happily "Oh I'd love to! A bit of a break from everything would be nice. I'll be sure to bring plenty of supplies and make a weekend out of it. It'll be fun!" He said, genuinely excited at the prospect of spending some time with a friend like that.

He brushed his chin at the thought "Azura loves making new friends and quickly makes herself the sort of den mother of whichever pack of Pokemon she interacts with. I'm sure they'd all love the chance to kick back and make some new friends, so I'm totally down with this idea."

Toki continued to take notes on the route and watched the scuffle going on alongside El. He opted not to interfere. So far, it seems the local ecosystem was safe and stable with not too much of note to report. "Alright...seems like this route's wildlife are behaving as normal. No news is good news, so we'll let HQ know that things are stable here."

"This has been a good trip. Got some new Pokemon, and we got to experience a mission together. All in all, a pretty good day if I say so myself. How about we get ready to return to HQ and turn in our reports?" He suggested.

---


El Sunderland

Toki sighed, yet smiled as Ettie led him around in a bit of a chase before he and the Pokemon managed to catch up with her. Her pout was understandable. He knew many, especially tourists visiting Alola for the first time, who weren't used to the feel of sunscreen. Thankfully, she would relent and allow the sunscreen to be applied. "See? Not so bad. So how've you been? I've been adjusting to my post in Fortree pretty well, mostly taking on small jobs. It's been slow going, but what about you?"

Ettie would see Azura and immediately go to greet the now evolved Pokemon. Azura posed proudly, showing off her new looks with a happy twirl for Ettie. She let out a happy bark afterwards, glad to see a friend!

Toki nodded at the two Pokemon who were looking after Ettie. Judging from their reactions, it seemed she was a handful even to her Pokemon sometimes. Given her tendency to run into shenanigans headfirst, it didn't really surprise him, though he was glad she had responsible, smart Pokemon able to look after her.

He walked back to his beach umbrella and towel and sat back down. He gazed out towards the waves and closed his eyes in quiet contemplation. It's been a little while since he had a chance to actually relax. There was still a lot that weighed on his mind with the Ultra Space incidents, but he knew he still had a lot of growing to do.

---

Ettie

Elites. That seemed like such a lofty goal for Toki right now, but El's friendly optimism had a positive effect on him. "Don't lose sight of that optimism, you hear me? The world needs more of that these days. Cynicism won't do us any good once things start to improve. So yeah. Let's reach those heights together." He said confidently.

He thought about the conflicts going on. Between Rangers and Rocket. He thought about the mysterious Rocket member, Makoto Kurumi . While he didn't learn their name, there was something about them that definitely challenged the notion that Rocket consisted of just evil-doers and criminals. It was more than that. One wrong turn and he might have ended up in a similar situation as them. That broke his heart.

"I've been playing Monster Hunter for years! Love that franchise. It's always nice to meet another fan." He said, beaming. He looked at the keychains and smiled "Aw look at those. I have a few plushes and figures myself back home."

He recognized all of the franchises El showed "Ah man I love all of this stuff..." He said wistfully. He smiled as he put Venipede's pokeball away. "I have a pretty good number of Pokemon of so many different types. It's almost overwhelming training them all sometimes..."

Toki reached over and helped El steady themself alongside Bibidi when the Gastly scared them. At first he was a little defensive, but as soon as Midas scared them back and seemed to have a good laugh about it, he calmed down, especially as El captured it. "Well as long as they had fun, yeah?"

---

A Brionne was swimming in the ocean nearby, along with a Fomantis that was soaking in the warm sun while Toki was resting underneath a beach umbrella. He adjusted his glasses a little as he heard a small commotion. When he sat up and looked around, he saw the familiar wild child from when he was first assigned his post. With fully evolved Pokemon, no less. She must have been working hard. The Lucario was no shock. Her sweet and kind demeanor and excellent skill with communicating with Pokemon likely made it simple for her to befriend them.

He stood up and walked over "Okay, okay. What seems to be the problem here, everyone?" He asked, and spotted one of them holding a sunscreen bottle. "...Ah. I see." He sighed a little and attempted to stop the whole chase before it got out of hand. "Ettie, it's good to see you, but you really should get some sunscreen put on...your skin's very pale, and very sensitive to sunlight...you'll burn very easily and trust me when I say sunburns aren't fun. You'll spend days with really sensitive skin that's going to start peeling. So could you hold still for a bit and put some on? It doesn't even have to be that much. Just a small layer over anything exposed."

Toki scratched the back of his head and sighed. "I need to learn how to talk without lecturing. It's a bad habit." He said, embarrassed. "It's good to see you and your Pokemon are doing well as usual." Toki smiled. Azura surfed along the water and happily barked as she hopped over to Ettie to greet her. "Looks like she's happy to see you, too!"

"There you go." He gently pat El on the shoulder as he smiled back. "I never really did a lot of Pokemon training, though my dad's part of a well known conservation organization, so I learned a lot of things from him whenever he was home. It wasn't until a few years back I met my first Pokemon, Azura. I wasn't...in the best place back then. She turned out to be my inspiration to do something more with my life." He reminisced happily.

"All that reading gives you knowledge, and in this kind of work that's second only to hands on experience. I'm sure once you get some more missions under your belt you'll do great things for the Rangers and for Hoenn. I believe that."

Taruk let out a grunt of acknowledgement and turned away from Behemoth, having done enough grandstanding for one moment. He was always on the lookout for any challengers to face him, so he wouldn't get complacent.

Toki nodded as the Grimer was successfully captured. He put the ball away and would turn it into Ranger HQ as soon as he got back. For now, El was pointing out that some Bug types were nearby. "Konchu? Heh, I understood that reference." He smiled with a slight chuckle before brushing his chin. He decided that the Venipede would be a good option. It was chewing on some moss...maybe he could offer it some food.

He approached cautiously and pulled out a small veggie snack for Pokemon and waved it gently for the Venipede. It cautiously skittered forward and nibbled slightly at the treat as Toki placed it down for them. He smiled and sat down as he watched the Venipede ate. Once it looked like it had its fill, Toki took out a Pokeball and threw it. The Venipede didn't move, content with the situation.

----

El Sunderland

Selling the Grimer caught here.

"And your knowledge in that regard is less impressive how, exactly?" He stated bluntly. "Book learning is valuable in all fields. Biology, ecology, geography? All that and more is especially useful in our field, so don't be so quick to sell yourself short, El." Toki could sometimes be a little blunt, but only in matters he was serious about, and El's budding expertise was definitely something he wouldn't joke about.

He looked over and saw the Ekans finish its shed in comfort and decided to gently rest on El's shoulder. "See? I think they like you." He said with a warm smile. "All because you were quick to action and knew how to apply what you knew."

El would send out their own Nidoking, who seemed rather small, but boastful. They showed off to Taruk, who was also quite prideful himself, and he also started to puff up and strut his stuff in return, glaring back at Behemoth. Toki looked between the two nervously, but in the end it seemed to be more friendly competition and boasting as opposed to any actual animosity for one another.

Toki then looked over at the spooked Grimer and scratched the back of his head a little. It was dazed, and...oh right! The Rangers wanted to run some tests on Grimer's toxicity...so he pulled out another Pokeball and threw it at the dazed sludge Pokemon. "Well isn't that lucky?"

---


El Sunderland

With their mission made clear, Toki nodded back at El and prepared for their patrol through the path. Deep down he was worried about El's health going through such a hot locale, but he didn't want to seem like he was pitying them. Despite his worries, they seemed to be in good condition, and even extended an offer to take on some official missions at some point "I definitely wouldn't say no. I appreciate the offer and I'll let you know if I need a partner in the future." He said and considered what they said about Julia "I think I've seen her in passing, but I didn't get a chance to introduce myself. I'll have to do that next time I see her."

"Yeah I have water with me! Thanks for considering it, though, much appreciated." Plenty of water was a must if one planned on passing through this path safely. The last thing anyone wants is to be stranded somewhere hot with no way to quench thirst. Alola had some hot regions as well, so he was well aware of the proper preparations.

Toki paused as El found themselves helping an Ekans in the middle of shedding. He stayed close enough to help, but far away enough to not startle the poor thing. El kept calm and used their Pokemons' individual abilities in smart ways to defuse the situation and hopefully get the Ekans to safely shed. Toki smiled "You did good, El. You knew the situation, and figured out the best way to approach it. Let me know if you need my help with anything, okay?"

As they continued along the path, Toki saw an odd sight. A lone Salazzle just absent-mindedly staring into the distance from atop a rock. They seemed...bored? It didn't seem there were any Salandits nearby, which struck him as a little odd. As soon as it saw them, though, it crawled down from the rock, purple venomous fluids drooling from its fangs. Toki reached for a Pokeball "Taruk!" He called as he threw the ball.

A Nidorino appeared in the flash of light as Salazzle leapt forward and snapped with Poison Fang. A mixture of Taruk's natural bulkiness and Poison typing made this a minor inconvenience at best as he shrugged Salazzle off. "Horn Attack!" Toki commanded as Taruk grunted and gave the Salazzle a furious charge before ramming into it with his horn. He then swung his head and tossed the Salazzle against the wall, dazing it. Toki took the opportunity to throw a Pokeball to capture the Salazzle.

With a deep sigh, Toki rubbed the back of his head "Good job, Taruk." He praised before turning back to El "Sorry about that."

----


El Sunderland

Toki Akiyama's endeavors

MARK WHICH ENDEAVORS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED

 √ make an ic-post within the event period.

• x3 pokeball

√ complete a thread within the event period

• x1 shard

✖ participate in any forum game thread

• x1 rainbow shard

√ involve a poison-type move in an ic-post

• x1 type 1 evo

✖ cure the poison status condition in an ic-post

• x1 type 2 evo

✖ teach your pokémon a poison-type move

• x1 type 3 evo

✖ involve one of the following pokémon abilities in a post:
liquid ooze, stench, corrosion. can be a npc/wild pokémon

• x1 sparkling dust

√ capture or defeat a poison-type pokémon in a wild, safari, gacha
(no trades/gifts)

• x1 level tutor

√ complete a solo/duo wild or safari thread

• x1 tm/tr

✖ participate in 1 blight & bane swarm

• x1 move tutor

✖ publish an ic-post in your exhibit or garden

• x1 move tutor

√ reference another character by tagging them in an ic-post

• x1 egg tutor

✖ use a gif or image that features a poison-type pokemon in your post

• x1 egg tutor

✖ include music in an ic-post (link or the player code)

• x1 tm/tr

✖ use one of these names in a post in any capacity:
koga, janine, roxie, plumeria, klara, melli, atticus

• x1 incense

✖ use one of the following words in an ic-post:
curare, hemlock, wolfsbane, plague

• x1 ability capsule

✖ use the idiomatic noun "poisoned chalice" in an ic-post

• x1 starf berry

✖ complete 1 blight & bane mission

• x1 gachapon ticket

✖ complete 2 blight & bane missions

• x1 gachapon ticket

✖ complete 3 blight & bane missions

• x1 premium gachapon

✖ post in a communication thread or comment on an hnn article

• x1 level tutor

✖ post in a plotter or wanted ad thread with a genuine plotting idea, affirmation of a relationship, or a compliment

• x1 ability capsule

✖ sell a pokémon to the black market

• x1 form change

✖ reference any of the organizations listed in the local hoenn guidebook thread, or any on-site player-led business

• x1 mega shard

✖ complete a thread that features a conflict of any kind with a character in the opposite faction

• x1 salac berry

✖ use mega evolution or terastallization in an ic-post

• x1 devolution stone

✖ use a z-move in an ic-post

• x1 honey

✖ use a sygna suit in an ic-post

• x1 level tutor

</ul>

MILESTONE endeavors

MARK WHICH ENDEAVORS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED

√ complete 3 total endeavors

• x1 elixir of miasma

√ complete 5 total endeavors

• x1 poison tera shard

✖ complete 10 total endeavors.

• x1 legendary candy

✖ complete 15 total endeavors.

• x1 mega stone

✖ complete 20 total endeavors.

• x1 paradox pokémon

</ul>

rewards

MARK WHICH REWARDS YOU HAVE EARNED

x3 Pokeballs

x1 Type 1 Evo

x1 Level Tutor

x1 Egg Tutor

x1 Elixir of Miasma

x1 Shard

x1 TM

x1 Poison Tera Shard

</blockquote>

I'll take the Volcarona for 150 PD!

VOLCARONA
FLAME BODY
quiver dance, hurricane, leech life, string shot, morning sun, fire blast

The path was home to a variety of fire and poison type Pokemon. A region like this was highly susceptible to any change in the local ecosystem, but an arguably worse effect would be the changes in other regions should Pokemon migrate or be driven out. Both types are highly volatile and could have serious ramifications for bordering ecosystems should they stray away. Toki and El were chosen to check on this particular region and while it was off the books officially, Toki thought it would be a good opportunity to work with a fellow ranger for once.

The two had known each other in passing, but this would be the first time they would properly work together on an outing. He kept his Pokemon in their Pokeballs for the time being, not wanting them to overheat since most of them were still in their younger stages. He looked up and saw El as they flew on on a Togekiss, an Alakazam teleporting in nearby. Toki smiled and shook their hand "Toki, that's right. It's good to finally meet you, too!"

The psychic signal from Bibidi was definitely new and caught him off-guard a little, but he waved and nodded his head in response to it. "So we're just going to take a quick look around the trail and make sure everything is in order, right? Maybe catch some if we need to, but otherwise this should be a pretty routine patrol. I'm looking forward to working together with you, El." He said with a bit of a sigh "I really need to start going on more real missions, myself. I feel like I'm already stagnating, you know?"

---

Confirmed!

DONATING/EXCHANGING

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS!

Current MP: 770

DONATING: 20 MP TO THE LEAGUE

EXCHANGING: 500 MP for Paradox Pokemon (Iron Valiant)
                        250 MP for Legendary Candy

CURRENT TOTAL MP: 0