Unlike Anakin Skywalker – or Nabi in this case, Koji didn’t have any sort of ill will towards the sand that was storming around them in reckless abandon. Perhaps he was used to it, perhaps it was the closest reminder he had of home that seemed to be in a near constant state of raining ash down from a nearby Mt. Chimney.

Whatever it was, hearing Nabi’s disdain as she screamed aloud about her hair brought a sly smirk to appear across Koji’s face. ”I can’t!” he called back. ”It’s Tyranitar, it just sort of happens.” just in time the grand dinosaur roared above the shifting sands.

Whether it be the storm or a general attunement toward calamity, the Dodrio appeared to stumble and stagger over itself with its legs criss-crossing back and forth as it wobbled through the climate. Tempting fate, Koji tossed out another Pokeball in hopes of its capture.

notes: capture attempt on Dodrio

Slowly but surely Koji would take one step backwards and then another, continuing this pattern to match the domineering Rhydon as it took steps forward towards him with its mouth agape, baring its sharp teeth toward the trainer. Tonka was still firmly hidden beneath the ground and apparently far out from the Rhydon’s recent memory.

A voice called out, pulling Koji’s attention over to the woman stood there watching with a Garchomp near and waiting to act. ”You mean this Rhydon? Far from it actual- his sentence was cut short as Tonka burst from beneath the floor at the Rhydon’s feet with a DIG attack that launched the pair of them up into the air. ”DRILL RUN Tonka.”

Being the lighter of the two, Tonka would reach higher in the air. His trainers call to action led to Tonka pushing his claws together to form a drill that spiralled violently as the mole fell downward into the Rhydon, making contact as both hit the floor with an almighty thud.

He walks forward and, perhaps in another timeline the scene set out ahead of him was a cause for caution. But any barks or yelps that came from the larger crowd were for encouragement rather than intimidation, it would be rude not to accept the invitation to sit. Koji flops into a seated position, legs laid out in front of him and his arms straight out behind to support him sitting.

”Nice!” he returns. ”I noticed a few new faces among the old guard, your packs really gotten big.” that would be when the Yampers came, attempting to climb into his lap. Koji happily assisted the small dog in the effort and promptly giving all the desired cuddles and attention that were wanted. ”Sorry friend, I don’t have any berries right now.”

”It’s tripled in size.” from the one to three. Suddenly Ikki (Tyranitar) weren’t so lonely – not tthat Koji had checked-in with him yet to see if the growing pack was something he wanted. ”Made a new friend just before coming here, actually. You want to meet him?”

The initial cobwebs soon gave way, and Koji was alert and well aware of the pinkly haired woman whom fell and who’s fall he had managed to stifle, if not catch. An awkward lopsided smile featured across his face, awkward because this wasn’t how he ordinarily became introduced to someone new. But life was full of surprises, and this would be filed under said category. ”I don’t think I really was either.” he commented to curb any embarrassment that could be.

Koji would let the woman move out of the position first, not move as well and cause further confusion. Taking her hand when it was offered to aid in helping him up from the ground as well. ”Koji.” he returned the greeting. ”You alright?”

His question would become irrelevant. Emerging from behind the line of trees came two Pokemon, aggression plastered across their movements. The bird seemed to take lead, issuing a Peck attack that Nabi responded to swiftly. Guess that meant the other was for Koji to deal with. Reaching to his belt, he unclipped one of his Pokeballs. A tap on the frontal circle emitted a red flash of light that would take form of his selected mon.

Visceral was the loud roar that came from the jaws of the green-armored dinosaur, and almost immediately did the wind within the immediate area pick-up, carrying with it rough particles of sand. It didn’t help with vision, as Koji held an arm up across his eyes to block the weather. He could make out the figure of his Tyranitar, knew the Kadabra was just ahead and likely caught by the sand as well. ”Ikki, get in close to CRUNCH!”

Ikki rampaged forward in the only way that a Tyranitar knew how to move, unbothered by the sand as it came up on the psychic Pokemon. Kadabra’s eyes fell pink as a same colored forcefield fell around Tyranitar, but as it let out another prehistoric roar the forcefield shattered and the tyrant burst forward, dark energy seeping from its jaws as it crunched down on the Kadabra’s tail. It lifted the Kadabra up in its jaws, tossing it away to skim across the floor. Reaching for a spare Pokeball, Koji threw it at the weakened mon that the ball consumed in an attempt to capture.

notes: capture attempt on kadabra

When an Anorith scuttled out from the green brush, there was a brief moment where Tonka had turned to his trainer with a look that translated into I told you so! And, well… he had. He had been keen to sense the pair of them weren’t alone. Perhaps this would be a teaching moment, a clear reminder that maybe Koji should listen to his Pokemon more.

We’ll see.

”You wanna battle this thing? Seems harmless/ Koji calls as he shifts in his seated position to clamber from the floor to his feet. The Anorith appeared unbothered, near ignorant to them both as it scurried along the floor without bad intention. Tonka shrugged. ”I get we gotta train, but. This might be bullying Ton-” his sentence came to a short close as his eyes fell upon the sight of a Rhydon that stamped on the ground, following a similar path to the Anorith. Were they friends? He looked pissed.

Picking-up a paw of sand, the Rhydon threw it at Tonka as a sign of disrespect. The mole held up its claw, piercing the veil of sand as it came with it having no effect other than to rile the mole up. Tonka stepped forward, arms at his side ready for a fight. Slamming its claws together to form a drill, Tonka jumped into the air and dived into the ground, burying itself under the earth with Dig. Leaving the battlefield to look as though the Rhydon was staring down Koji for a fight instead.

It was peculiar to be outside in the great expanse of the world, and within a great litany of thousands on top of thousands (if not millions) of Pokemon to encounter any in the wild and feel a familiarity about. But that’s what was happening here, or at least that’s what Koji’s gut feeling had been telling him. As he made his way through the desert-tundra in pursuit of his guides, he did think about what someone might say. A ranger warning him about the dangers posed should you follow a Pokemon in the wild, about how dangerous it is just to stray from the outlined path. Good lessons. But lessons that Koji had personally never taken too much notice of, for better or for worse.

He was being led up the garden path! Or rather the cliff path. Perhaps that was the moment he should have bailed but didn’t. These dogs seemingly had limitless stamina and were used to traversing the terrain without issue. Koji too was acclimatised within reason, but he lacked the same endless stamina. The higher they got and the further along the path they got, the more tiredness hit until Koji was walking the path rather than running or jogging. Just about keeping one of the canines in his line of sight to tell him the way forward.

By the time he reached the apex he was shattered, wanting to collapse into a ball and rest. He paid little mind to his surroundings, the collection of Pokemon that featured in the space. Maybe under other circumstances he would have some coherent thoughts but how now he would settle for a shrug and thinking Yeah, this seems normal.

Then a voice called above the barks and Koji lifted his gaze to find Ettie. Maybe he should’ve known sooner. ”Hey… Ettie. his words tiring. ”I’m… a bit tired after that trek… how’s things?

Thud! Thud!! Thud!!!

The thundering sounds of scales impacting on wood as a small, scaled dragon – Jangmo-o beats its head against a stoic standing tree. Steely determination burns behind its crimson pupils, undeterred in its execution. While it was likely that Jangmo-o was just training, the way it attacked was as if the tree trunk had wronged it somehow.

A brilliant flash of red light erupted from the Pokeball and took the form of Excadrill. ”Tonka?” KJ muttered in a low voice. Tonka was one of his late fathers Pokemon on the farm that for years had assisted in all sorts of needs related to digging. Integral was the word. Tonka had grown so strong since the little Drilbur that Koji had helped nurture to hatch and now it had decided it wanted to join Koji on whatever this journey might turn out to be.

Faux-reunions aside, there was a Jangmo-o to catch. ”Surprise it with a rapid-spin!” he calls and the subterrene mole dived underground at its feet. Beneath the soil its movements rumbled closer to the Jangmo-o until finally leaping from the earth, claws clasped together and Tonka spun rapidly into the Jangmo-o sending it across the dirt plain to a skidding halt. ”Hell yeah, Tonka!” but as Tonka raised its arms in celebration, a sudden tackle of mass from the Jangmo-o collided with the mole knocking it back.

”Go underground again!” Tonka would oblige and dive beneath the soil once more. It left the Jangmo-o uncertain, its head on a swivel as it tried to assess the oncoming threat that was posed. It was too late! Tonka emerged from the earth beneath the small dragon, striking it by surprise and launching both of them into the air. ”Drill run!” pulling back its right arm, the claw turned a steely-silver as Tonka struck the Jangmo-o sending it hard into the ground.

This would be the moment Koji throws out a Pokeball, the red flash pulling the Jangmo-o inside as a capture attempt was made!

Route 116 presented another option for Koji, a new direction leading to the Rusturf Tunnel and then to Verdanturf Town – if he so choose to follow the full length of the path. He wasn’t sure, he hadn’t really been sure of anything. He was still in that place of ‘I could do this, or I could do that’ and not ‘I will do this, I will do that’.

Infuriating, yes. But he had no one to blame except for himself.

With his hands tucked firm inside both of his pockets, Koji sauntered through the forest aesthetic with no clear idea in mind. Perhaps an opportunity to build upon his team might appear, maybe a stroke of inspiration would take him. His focus was diverted as he heard the beginning rumblings of a loud, absolute scream.

”What th-. he says turning around to face the direction of the high pitched scream, his words are immediately cut off when discovering the source of the noise as a body falls straight into a collision with him. Koji hit the deck first, cushioning the impact for the other person. The thud with which he hit the ground debilitating for a few short moments.

”What happened...”

A further of the way down the mountain side, Koji would begin to hear the beginning sound of running water. It was deafly faint, weak, but it was different to the majority ambience on these mountains that it stuck out in his head. He continued along heading toward the source of the noise. Shortly, Koji would come upon a small creek with the faintest run of water. Aside from the prominent bodies of water, there were these weaker trails that sprung up every so often.

On the side of the small creek, seated on the dirt bank was a figure. The closer that Koji steppe, the clearer it became. It was a Dewott. Sat on its lonesome and with a pebble in hand, ignorant to its surroundings as it tossed the small stone back and forth between its paws in a jubilant manner. This was an opportunity that Koji had been looking for. A chance to see which Pokemon of his late father had desired to come along with him.., but. The Dewott appeared to be so serene and peaceful, he couldn’t ambush that moment, could he?

Instead, Koji carried along his self curated path – throwing the Dewott a small wave in its peripheral vision as he moved on past it.

When your location wasn’t clear, the only correct direction was to keep moving forward – unless there was an immediate threat laid ahead of course. That weren’t true for Koji nor Tonka as every direction looked the same. Trees, bushes and plants ranging across the green tonal spectrum, with the odd dash of pink, purple or blue to spruce the aesthetic up. It didn’t help figuring anything out though. Least not Koji whom didn’t have the knowledge about plants to know whether one grew closer to Rustboro, or further away. He just mindlessly walked forward, blissfully ignorant in hope that this was the right way.

Until a voice pierced the ambient forest sounds calling out to him.

”Pfft, lost? We’re not lost. I’ve walked this way hundreds of ti-” the pause mid-sentence is brought about by the tug on his dark-colored jeans by his Excadrill. Koji looking down at the mole as it stared back unamused; really? his face read. ”Okay.., yes, we might actually be a little lost.” Koji accepts as his gaze returns onto the ranger. ”Forests aren’t really our forte, I guess.”

”Do you ever just like.., rest?” a valid question directed toward his subterrene Pokemon as it stands out ahead of him, sharpened steel claws at either side and its head turns from right to left and then back again, over and over as if it was expecting something. Koji was not. Instead, he was seated on a patch of grass with one leg extended to its length as the other bent at the knee for which he casually held an arm across. The sun seemed low, or at least had found a place to be just enough annoying as to shine bright in the corner of Koji’s eye and cause him to squint if he wanted to keep an eye on his Pokemon.

It had to be the environment they were in. Tonka had been so used to farm life, so accustom to the earthy terrain up on the mountains and unknowing of anything different. Koji could recall the time his father brought home an egg, telling him this would solve all his problems with digging plots on the farm. Tonka had, from being a mischievous little Drilbur that Koji had watched hatch to the seasoned worker he had become now. Very much like Koji, this was all new to Tonka as well but he had chosen to come by himself. Insistent if what Koji’s mom had told him to be true.

”Seriously dude, there’s nothing there. You probably scared ‘em all into hiding with your big ass claws.”

The way down from Fallarbor to Rustboro had been far longer than Koji could remember. Granted he was several years removed from having made the full trip but it didn’t seem so long when glancing at map. Maybe he was growing old, maybe his bones weren’t what they once was – maybe this was an absurd line of thinking for a twenty five year old to be running with. The saving grace was that it very easily could have been longer, much longer. While not specifically a ranger or a wanderer of the mountain, Koji had snuck out on the mountain as a daring teenager to have figured out his own shortcuts. Koji was all about the shortcuts. Whether it was blatant cheating on a test, or more practical with taking a path that would save on time. Koji had never met a shortcut he wasn’t daring enough to take.

He had long since departed from the well-trodden path that had been set out for a reason however many generations ago. He knew better after all, least that was what he would convince himself. Meteor Falls was firmly in the rear view mirror now, as was the whole largely brown aesthetic that he was so accustom to. Ahead there was only really the color green, greens of all tones and pigments, lush and vibrant and welcoming. Without a clear path telling him where to go, Koji was effectively following his gut. Rustboro is this way! it said, pushing him forward with every step forward that felt heavier and heavier.

At some point a flash of red color spilled from his belt and out came Tonka – the mole-like Pokémon caught surprised by the difference in their surroundings. All Tonka knew was the ash laden farm, so the forest greens were a whole new playground to him. Excited he dived into the air and into the ground, tunneling along beside his trainer just beneath the earthy that split fractured denoting his movement under. It was maybe not the best for the otherwise scenic and well kept route but, Tonka seemed happy enough. Occasionally he leapt out and then leapt back in, like a water Pokémon diving through the ocean and just as uncaring toward any habitat it might be affecting.

While not exactly an incredible amount of progress down the mountain had been made, progress in all its forms could be significant enough as to not be upsetting. The rumbling of an empty stomach over the course of the past hour might seem disagreeable, but Koji was yet to be hungry enough to have become delusional enough to argue with his own bodies outcry. His fingers coiled around the stem of a tall bush, his point of steadiness as he skirted down a medium sized bank of dirt and slipped into an open plot of land.

His hand relented over the bush, feet firmly flat on solid ground. His attention was quickly pulled in a direction by snarling noises; some Mightyena that were perusing around a spot, play-fighting. Though something about them felt familiar. Call it a gut feeling. ”Hey..! he calls, slow in his approach. Multiple heads turned to him and barked, though he was too hungry to infer whether the barks meant anything. ”Do I… know you?” another round of barks, followed by all of the canines turning on a dime and rushing off through the brush of the Falls wasteland.

Canines were always pretty good at finding things, food in particular. Pulling up his pants just a bit, Koji ran behind the pack to see where they might lead him.