At first Zata thought the man was nothing else but a teacher, mentioning kids and high school. But as the revelation dropped the man halted his movement and stood still. "You're Rustboro's Gym Leader?" He asked in disbelief, not because he did not trust the man's word, but rather how lucky he had been.

"I-" He did not know where to begin, his voice lost in his throat. He looked away, trying to regain his composure.

"Say, if one were to look for information regarding a ranger during the incident, where does one look?" He was completely lost in the fog, having no idea how the Pokemon world and organizations work. The one thing he knew was the existence of Gym Leaders, meant to guide ordinary citizens like him.

CIAN MAHER    

☉

"Oh," The disappointment clear in his voice when the other revealed that he was not there when the event took place. He should not have had high hopes from a random stranger, which was something rare coming from him. The case to look for information regarding the war and his brother's death had changed his demeanor toward certain things.

A curiosity later set in once he had gotten over the fact that he did not miraculously met someone who was present during the war. "Curriculum?" he raised an eyebrow, now his head turned to look at the stranger making sure he had not misheard the man.

CIAN MAHER    

☉

The situation was growing at an overwhelming rate until the Gym Leader pulled out another Pokemon of his. Being new to the Pokemon world Zata was unaware of the existence of legendary and mythical Pokemon but he could feel something different by the aura given of by the Zeraora, an aura unlike any he had sensed from other Pokemon he had encountered. It was a bit of a spectacle seeing it in action.

With the power off they were able to try and regain control of the situation, being an effective duo the Mantyke and Yamper fought well together handling a few couple of the Porygon on the side. Zata only observed from the backline.

When the last of the Porygon was dealt with the trainer returned the Yamper and Mantyke into their pokeballs. He approached the Gym Leader, now one would have said something akin to 'good work', or 'nicely done'. But instead Zata went straight to the point, "I was hoping to run into you. I wonder if you could tell me more about an attack that happened here, in Mauville, a few years back. I could offer you a drink in exchange." he waited in anticipation for an answer.

Josh Devlin

☉

PURCHASING/REDEEMING

welcome to the poké mart!

type 1 evo (snorunt → froslass) (100 PD)(-50% ice-type discount)

type 1 evo (onix → steelix) (redeeming)

TOTAL

do come again!

50 PD

Zata disagreed. "It's not pessimism when those are the truths."

He was aware that a lot happened. But just that, none of the details. "Say, what do you know about the Ultra Beast War?" He specified the disaster he wanted to know more about. Perhaps it could help narrow things down for the stranger.

CIAN MAHER    

☉

The thought of asking for names didn't cross his mind once, it's nothing personal though, he didn't even name his Pokemon. Deemed it too hard to figure out like an impossible puzzle. He simply called them by their official Pokedex names.

Looking around the place with a different perspective, a perspective of chilling and getting high, Zata realized how beautiful the scenery was. It was definitely the spot for locals.

"What changed?" he asked. His eyes fixed ahead and not glancing at the other as they walked. Despite his demeanor, he really hoped to get some information about what happened a couple years ago. It might give him the lead he had been looking for.

CIAN MAHER    

☉

As the last few workers made their way to the staircase, Zata scouted the area swiftly, sneaking past through the Porygons. He checked cubicle after cubicle when he encountered a terrified middle-aged woman.

He knew he must convince her to follow him to safety but when the time came for him to do it he got tongue-tied, dumbfounded on what to say. But with the help of some adrenaline he tried his best, "Hey, if you want to get out of here alive you have to follow me.".

Looking back at the moment, it probably was not comforting, but it was convincing. The already-terrified woman gave him a confounded expression but Zata took her by the arms and lead her out of there. As they ran a Porygon charged up its Tri-Attack at them, but the Mantyke came just in time to guard them against it. The woman ran down the staircase without further hesitance, almost crying from the experience.

Now that the area was cleared Zata aided Josh with the onslaught of Porygon. "Mantyke, Yamper." he mentioned their species name in that specific order. Through their training together, the Mantyke striked first Bounceing upon a couple Porygon before the Yamper followed up Nuzzleing its electrifying cheeks unto the Porygon, an attempt at paralyzing them.

Josh Devlin

☉

"Sure." He took the offer. Not wasting any time Zata moved towards the entrance. Though he took his steps slow and his hand rested on the Mudsdale in hopes of bringing some sort of comfort to it, which worked as the horse Pokemon moved slowly with its trainer.

"Have you done this before?" He asked, making more than just empty conversation, he might be able to gain some information out of the encounter.

CIAN MAHER    

☉

Zata and the Mudsdale's heads turned in sync to the unexpecting stranger. Their faces stoic, unamused by the cowboy reference.

The trainer looked at the mentioned cave entrance, "I am unfamiliar with the terrain, and I think my company here is too afraid to venture in." he answered, his tone and expression callous. It wasn't that he wanted to be cold and distant, but his inexperience socializing made him the way he was.

"Are you going in there?" he asked.

CIAN MAHER    

☉

taking with CIAN MAHER

Standing with Zata was a Mudsdale, who made a great mount traversing the rocky paths of the route leading to Meteor Falls; Another location which he heard held significant events during the Ultra Beast War. 

The novice trainer wandered around the cave entrance hoping to find something, a lead of some kind. He knew what he was doing was foolish but he had nowhere to start. He could only hope that one way or another he would eventually cross paths with something. He was intrigued with the formation of rocks and craters, he wondered of the stories behind them. But he had no one to ask. The rocks couldn't speak for themselves.

Zata wanted to see what was inside the cave, but he feared it would be too dangerous for someone unexperienced as him, and he could tell his stubborn Mudsdale was scared too. Which he found a bit amusing given the size of the Pokemon. 

CIAN MAHER    

☉

PURCHASING

welcome to the poké mart!

1X type 1 evo. (mudbray → mudsdale) (100 PD)

TOTAL

do come again!

100 PD

It seemed like unplugging the computer resulted into more Porygon appearing in the office. The older Boltund was quick to react when a Porygon charged to attack the Yamper, taking the hit instead. In the Yamper's eyes, the Boltund was now his, quite literal in the sense, hero. He looked up towards the Boltund and aspire to become one himself, maybe get a fancy saddle, but he doubt his current owner would ever want to mount him.

Zata heard the Gym Leader's instruction. "Understood." his response short and simple. From what he heard, his job was to protect the people, and he never saw a day like this to come. Protecting people meant caring about what happens to them, his old self would have found it ridiculous, but at that moment Zata must give a good impression to the Gym Leader if he ever want a chance at finding some lead.

He looked at his Yamper and stretched out his arm to point at a more open space in the building. The Yamper understood immediately and started barking and jumping, attracting the Porygon towards the open space. Zata decided to secure the staircase to make it safe for evacuation. He brought out a Mantyke to help him, who appeared happy to help. "Guard this area." he instructed. The Mantyke hovered over and spread its fins/wings forming a Wide Guard adjacent of the staircase. The few people left in hiding then bolted towards the staircase making an exit from the dangerous scene.

Inside, Zata hoped he had done well, this was his first protect and rescue mission. It felt a bit odd.

Josh Devlin

☉