When the sun reached its zenith, Zata awoken from his deep slumber with an intense migraine on his forehead. He grunted in pain as he scurried to his bag reaching for a bottle of pills, aspirin. He kept it with him wherever he went for he was an avid drinker; That's what he called himself, he did not like to be called an alcoholic and would deny any such allegations.

After a quick burger snack and a nap beneath a tree, Zata decided to visit Devlin's Gym. He never been to a Gym before and it would be his first. He was unsure what the whole ordeal with Gyms and Pokemon trainers, and since he was one of them he ought to check them out. 

Zata made his way to the Gym with a sunglass to shield his eyes from all the bright lights, the bright lights being the sun. With his usual black coat that draped to heat him up from the ever-growing cold weather. When he reached the lobby, he admired the arts of the Legendary Lightning Beast Raikou all over the walls. 

Elise Calcifet

☉

"Sounds good," Zata agreed to the cheese, it would accompany his whiskey quite perfectly.

Even on his second glass, the young man could hold his liquor. He had been illegally drinking since a young age and his tolerance was developed. He was still able to make sense of things and his speech was coherent as well. "Before I started travelling, I worked at a factory. Would not recommend." He took another sip to drown out the memories of his life back then.

Josh Devlin

☉

Zata sensed the Gym Leader's hesitation. "I came here to find out where my brother was stationed during the war. I hoped to come across anyone who might know something. I believe you might be that person." He communicated in a straightforward manner, with nothing to hide.

"It is your duty to help a civilian such as I correct?" He added, insisted, for some information.

CIAN MAHER    

☉

Zata didn't know much about his brother's personal life. Not even where he was stationed during the war. The suggestion the stranger gave him was actually quite helpful. He wondered why he didn't think of it before. Perhaps because he didn't know anything about how the rangers work, nevertheless the existence of a headquarter in every region. He realized he was lost because he had done it all alone. You can't talk to the dead. But you can with the living. Zata never asked for help from a person in his life. He was comfortable with his independence. But now, he must take a leap.

The younger man stood up, with a sense of hope filling his veins flushing out the despair. "Nefertum, Raul Nefertum. I'm Zata." He answered simply.

He returned the Froslass that had been hovering around him back into her pokeball. He brought out another, a larger Mudsdale appeared. But before he mounted it, he looked at the stranger. "And hey Gunner, you seem like you've seen and know a lot. Do you know why the Megalopolans attacked us in the first place?". He heard the name before, and putting two and two together, they were the reason of his brother's death.

Gunner Graves

☉

Reason returned to him after hearing the stranger's words. "Yeah, you're right. I guess I wanted there to be more. Chasing after something was an excuse for running away from my feelings," This wisdom seemed to come out of nowhere. But he had always been smart and analytical, whether he would heed his own words of wisdom was another story. He took another puff out of his cig, its light slowly dimmed as it burned through.

"He was a ranger." He answered. "Always wanting to protect, to the point of sacrificing himself." His voice turned sour at the end, driven by anger. The stages of grief apparent in the young man.

Gunner Graves

☉

The Mudsdale neighed at his new trainer. "Okay relax now, we'll find another," he sighed. They were out looking for fresh berries. The Mudsdale refused to continue on their journey unless he received some treats. Zata knew there were a couple of berry-bearing trees along the route. But it seemed like all of the trees they investigated had been freshly picked by other Pokemons or trainers. 

The novice trainer led the Mudsdale along gently, not wanting it to get even more agitated. As they walked he spot a brightly colored object in the distance. "I think I see one, come on." He picked up the pace. But before Zata and his Mudsdale could grab on the berry...

Kazimir Wynter

☉

taking with Kazimir Wynter

Zata nodded understandably, The Gym Leader was being reasonable. Being drunk or even a little bit tipsy isn't suitable for a racer. He might need to keep that in mind before mounting his Mudsdale. Unlike Devlin he was a prolific drinker.

The sound of ice clattering against itself and the glass it was contained it could be heard as Zata spun the bottom of the glass around. When the man sipped on it the initial burn were miniscule and he could truly savor the flavor. All the while Devlin told his story of coming to Hoenn. Zata let out an amused breath, "That long huh?".

Zata didn't mind a small snack or a big meal. He was partially exhausted from the battle and evacuation so he could use something to eat. "Impress me," He gestured at the other. "Show me what's the big deal with this place.". He finished the whiskey in his glass, then placing it down on the counter and looked at the bartender. The bartender understood, he opened up a bottle of whiskey and filled Zata's glass. When it was filled his hand was instantly on the glass.

Josh Devlin          

☉

The bartender served a small glass filled with ice and malt-colored liquid in front of Zata, to which he immediately took up to his mouth, eyes closed as he braved through the initial burn of the drink. But nothing he couldn't handle. Liquor was an old friend to him. Not long after the flavor settled in his buds.

"Is that why you're not drinking?" He asked when the other opened up about their plans. There was also the part where Zata did not realize that not everybody was a heavy drinker such as him. "When did you come to Hoenn?" He attempted to make small conversation. "Also, do you like anything to eat?" He added after smelling something good from somewhere inside the bar. If he could, he would also light up a cig, the atmosphere seemed perfect. But he knew better as it was a closed building, not everybody mind the pungent smell of tobacco.

Josh Devlin          

☉

Zata was still getting used to mounting a Pokemon, his Mudsdale in particular. But riding the Zeraora across streets were something on a whole other level. They moved past everything and everyone so fast Zata couldn't see a thing, all of it a mess of blur.

Once they finally arrived at their destination, Zata had no trouble mounting off. But he had to take a moment to himself, his face pale and a fist over his mouth he could feel something coming up from inside him. "I'll be with you in a second," He said in a sickly voice before he rushed to an open sewer in a distance, he did not want anyone seeing him sick.

After clearing his head (and stomach) he now noticed the full park and the crowd inside the pub. But they were already there, and Zata could not give any damn. He returned to be with Devlin and once he was inside he wasted no time making his way for the bar, "Whiskey, on the rocks." He requested the bartender. The man rested his elbow on the counter and his hand massaged his temple in an attempt at bringing himself back together after the eventful day.

Josh Devlin          

☉

This was the first Zata had heard about the attack on Fallarbor. The first thing that came to mind was the question of why Rocket would want to attack such a small town. Perhaps its vicinity to Mount Chimney. But that's the least of his concerns at that moment.

Zata listened to the man's explanation of why he was there, of his hometown and family, thinking nothing more of it.

The bud of his cig lit as he took in another drag before he answered the question. His gaze fixed on his shoes as he kicked away a pebble. "Interrogating the dead." Smoke escaped with his words.

"Some buried here might have fought alongside my brother during the war, they might know a few things. How he died for first." The young trainer decided it best if he sat down for this, he brought himself to the wet cold ground, his arms resting on his folded legs as he stared at nothing. "But he wasn't buried here, so I have doubts. His body was sent back to my hometown in Oldale. You might think it's normal, but something's amiss. He hadn't been in Oldale since the day he left years ago. Why would they send him back when he clearly did not want to be there. If he died in war why wasn't he buried with his comrades in arms."

He rested his palm against his forehead with a tired sigh. "I hope you'd excuse my rambling. I don't know where I'm going with this." A momentary laughter. "I've been looking for answers, but the dead don't speak." He finished, taking in another long drag off his cigarette. This was his first at expressing his emotions since his brother's death. He wasn't one to show emotions but the exhaustion had taken a serious toll on him.

Gunner Graves

☉