New Country, Same Song and Dance [Mod]

[Jessica Cruze]

Route one... somehow it seemed to make sense to start her journey in Unova here. Not that it was really her start, but to pick up the first new addition to her team. Diablo tottled along ahead of her unsteadily, dodging in and out of the tall grass. The sight made Jess giggle slightly. After all, unsteady as he was, Diablo was quite the adventurer. He went head first into whatever trouble he could find... Just like Jess at times.

Jess glanced about, taking in the scenery as they walked. Midday on Route One... The sun was shining, and the local pokemon were going about their business almost completely unaware of her presence... but she knew that wasn't true. How could it be? She was a new thing in their environment. Then again, how many trainers come through here? They may be used to it at this point.

None the less, it was beautiful.

Her radio had said something about Zigzagoon swarming out here. The idea had confused her somewhat. She had thought only Insect pokemon could swarm. Maybe some water types... It had been the first she had heard about normals 'swarming'. She just simply had to see for herself. With her luck, the radio personnel on the phone had simply used the word to make the news seem more exciting. Not that it really mattered. There were so many types of pokemon to investigate. It would be amazing to see this swarm of playful zigzagoon, but just about any pokemon would make her day.

She's a little optimist it seems.

After all, even if she doesn't capture anything, Diablo could use the experience. He may be scrappy, but he isn't exactly a little powerhouse yet. Even if in his head he thinks he is. Speaking of, Jess couldn't help but giggle a bit as he managed to hop his way up to the top of a rock and started growling menacingly at nothing in particular.
But that's Diablo... always messing around.

Jessica snuck up behind the little orange puffball and scooped him up with ease causing him to squeak in a panic before realizing who had him in her arms. "Gotcha!" She teased in a playful tone. He let out a happy chirp and wiggled for her to let him down. After all, he was just having fun! And what harm could it do for him to wander a bit? This is Diablo we're talking about!
King of Route One.
Ruler of all that he sees.
Master of Flames.

Nothing could take him. Not on this route at any rate. No way no how, he's King of Route one, all Route One's. Hear him growl.

At least, in his head he is and besides, it's not like he was ever out of sight for long.

[Shikaru]

Pidgey | Normal/Flying-Type | Level 1 | Female | Keen Eye
Tackle | Gust

A Pidgey hopped along the path, pecking at the ground. She liked to pick up the crumbs dropped by the humans who traveled through the route. Perhaps it was her inexperience that caused the flying-type to stray so close to Jessica. For now, she seemed unaware of the trainer and her Torchic, content with her tasty scraps.

Wild Pidgey Appeared!

[Jessica Cruze]

Jessica chuckled as she let her torchic down to wander about once again. Immediately he darted off ahead of her, careful to stay in sight or at least not be out of it for long. As big of a trouble maker that he was, he didn't really enjoy causing her grief.

At least... most of the time.

Diablo spotted the Pidgey sooner than Jessica did, mostly because he was a ways ahead of her on the path. King of Route one and all that. He hopped inquisitively over to the apparently hungry Pidgey with a near childlike curiosity. Who was this? Was she friendly? Would he end up fighting her?
Would Jessica make them fight?

No probably not. The young trainer was more interested in seeing Diablo's reaction to the wild pokemon. She pulled out her pokedex, letting it scan the pokemon in front of her. A mechanical voice soon reported back, "Pidgey, the Tiny Bird Pokemon. It is docile and prefers to avoid conflict. If disturbed, however, it can ferociously strike back. Common in grassy areas and forests, it will chase off enemies by flapping up sand."

Well isn't that interesting? Hopefully Diablo doesn't piss it off, though her guess was looking at the Pidgey that he could take it in a fight. At the very least it didn't seem like a particularly strong foe, or at the very least experienced for straying so close to the duo. Still, if they did end up battling she'd try to capture the Flying type. Jessica sat on a nearby rock, ready to step in if need be.

Diablo hopped a little closer to the wild pokemon, wary. He didn't want to be caught off guard if the Pidgey attacked. What could he say? He was just about as curious as his trainer. /Hello there./ Diablo called out, not wanting to startle the flying type. That would just cause it to go on the defensive.
Either way though. A battle could prove to be a lot of fun...

[Shikaru]

Pidgey | Normal/Flying-Type | Level 1 | Female | Keen Eye
Tackle | Gust

The small Pidgey looked up and tilted her head curiously when Diablo approached her. <Hello,> she responded cautiously. A nervous glance towards Jessica showed that the flying-type had noticed the trainer now. So far there was no hostility, but it was clear that Pidgey was feeling uneasy now.

[Jessica Cruze]

Jessica stretched enjoying the sunlight beaming down upon her as she sat a little ways from the two pokemon. It was a beautiful day out after all. Not too hot, not to cold. The kind that had you eyeing the nearby mountain range thinking 'I can take it'. The weather seemed to beg for someone to do something exciting and adventurous. Anything really.

Or just sit still and listen to the insect pokemon in the trees and the flying types in the air. Occasionally the grass would rustle with something or other, but they stayed out of sight. How said. Pokemon were nearly completely at ease with other pokemon but the sight of a human was enough to send them scrambling for cover.
It's almost sad.

The thought was quickly banished as she returned her attention to her young pokemon partner and the pidgey. The little flying type seemed to tense up at the sight of her. Well doesn't that just reinforce what she was thinking? She made eye contact for a moment then busied herself finding something very interesting in her bag. What it was exactly, she didn't know, but her presence seemed to be spoiling her little experiment with Diablo.
If she looked like she wasn't paying attention maybe it would put the wild pokemon at ease.

If not then it wouldn't matter in the slightest.

Diablo cocked his head to one side and looked over the pidgey. She seemed tense... why? Because of his trainer? He couldn't understand that knowing Jessica. Though it could be simply because she's a trainer. Still he was more interested in the pidgey than the reason why she was so tense. /What are you doing?/ He asked. It was a geniune question. After all, wild pokemon seem to steer clear of the Routes. That's usually why Jessica normally travels off the path... You see more interesting things out there.

[Shikaru]

Pidgey | Normal/Flying-Type | Level 1 | Female | Keen Eye
Tackle | Gust

Calming down a little upon seeing Jessica turn her attention away, the Pidgey chirped a reply to Diablo. <There is a lot of tasty food left from the humans here.> She explained her answer as if it seemed obvious. Humans were messy and left all kinds of crumbs and trash, it meant a lot of tasty treats for the wild pokemon.

<What are you doing?> she asked the Torchic, giving the trainer another nervous glance.

[Jessica Cruze]

Diablo felt like a complete idiot when the pokemon responded to him. She said it like it was the most natural thing in the world. Like any life form on the planet would have known the answer, save the humans. At least the Pidgey wasn't mean about it... he already felt small as it was. She seemed as curious about him as she did about her though. That's if that really was curiosity and not wariness about his trainer. Why was she so jumpy about a potential battle?
They could be so much fun.

For reassurance he glanced back at his trainer for half a moment. Jessica was busy with trail mix of some kind that she had found, forgotten at the bottom of her pack. Sure, she could have tried to save it, but who knows how long it's been there in the first place.
Besides she had been digging through her pack for something in the first place, at least that's what it would have looked like from Diablo's friend's position.

Anything to keep up the illusion.

/Traveling./ He said nonchalantly. The answer seemed obvious to him. After all he was obviously not from around here. Unless there was a flock of torchics and the like around here that he didn't know about. She probably guessed that though, considering the nearby oblivious trainer. From the look she kept giving Jessica, the Pidgey probably didn't understand.
Well that was her loss really.

Who didn't want to see new horizons and mountain ranges? To feel the wind in their feathers and smell new scents? Who would want to stand still?

Not Diablo. For him, the world is something to explore, not just exist in.

[Shikaru]

Pidgey | Normal/Flying-Type | Level 1 | Female | Keen Eye
Tackle | Gust

<Traveling?> the Pidgey questioned. She considered the idea, leaving her home to go to unknown lands. It scared her, but also intrigued the young pokemon's curiosity. <What is traveling like?> she asked, hopping forward excitedly, putting herself closer to the fire-type.

[Jessica Cruze]

A smile passed over Jessica's lips as she watched the duo through her peripheral vision. Diablo seemed to be hitting it off with the wild pokemon. She couldn't have considered anything else a greater success. She had hoped that her little fire type would play well with others. It boded well for the team she was planning.
Still she decided to let the two continue, as there seemed to be no current hostility.

Which seemed to be fin

Diablo was a little taken aback by her question. And was she... excited? She certainly seemed it. This perked the torchic's curiosity even more. Was there a budding adventurer in this little bird, like in him? He shook himself so that he would be able to respond the her question.
Needless to say, he hadn't expected her to be interested. In fact, he would have been more prepared for her to make fun of the fact that he liked to travel. Maybe even slam his trainer.

Well those would be fighting words.

Still, she hadn't, leaving Diablo to shake himself back to reality and look out to the horizon. /It's... amazing. Each day brings new challenges, new sights, new smells... You never know what you're going to wake up to and that's what makes it so incredible./ the small fire type said, closing his little black eyes as he pictured the distant lands. /Pokemon of every shape and size, feats of strength, and... besides, when one has true friends like my trainer, there's nothing to worry about. We count on each other every step of the way.

But the best part? Is meeting cuties like you. He glanced over at her again, with a charming look on his little bird features.

[Shikaru]

Pidgey | Normal/Flying-Type | Level 1 | Female | Keen Eye
Tackle | Gust

<But doesn't it get scary, being out there away from your home?> the small bird questioned. Though her curiosity was still piqued, she was starting to sound hesitant again. The mere idea of leaving the safety of her home frightened her. Diablo's attempt to flirt was completely lost of the Pidgey. She was still too young and naive to understand his intentions. <Thank you!> she cooed, happy at being complimented.

[Jessica Cruze]

Jessica let out a happy squeak as she reached for something in the bottom of her bag... a small forgotten container of trail mix! Who knows how long it's been down there. Jess certainly didn't have a clue. But the salts looked like they preserved it so there couldn't be any harm in snacking on it in the midday sun.

Not like she had a heck of a lot else going on right now.

Torchic shook his little orange head in response to the pidgey's question. /Not really. We always look out for each other. We trust each other, and I know my trainer has my back against anything./ He glanced back out to the horizon seeming to think about something. After a moment he hopped around to face the young flying type. /You should come with us! It could be a lot of fun./ He said coaxingly. It would be amazing to have the young pidgey on the team. She seemed to be a bit interested on seeing things outside of her little forest. Then again having anyone on the team would be amazing.
Most wild pokemon run off without so much as a hello.

Jess is fun but it's not the same as playing with someone who can understand you.

/Besides, you want to see those distant skies too, don't you?/ Diablo continued, trying to make it sound as enticing as possible. Then again, it is the pidgey's choice in the end... unless Jess made them fight.
He was still hoping that wouldn't happen. Not with one so inexperienced and naive as this pidgey.

Jess leaned back until she was nearly sprawled across the rock and staring at the big blue sky. Somehow she always found it reassuring... No matter where she is, the sky is a constant. The stars illuminate her path at night... it's only in caves that she would have a true issue.

But it seems unlikely that she would have to go caving... or if she did, without Diablo.

[Shikaru]

Pidgey | Normal/Flying-Type | Level 1 | Female | Keen Eye
Tackle | Gust

The Pidgey considered Diablo's offer. Going with them meant experiencing this traveling that the Torchic was speaking so fondly of, but it also meant being confined in one of those pokeballs that humans used. Still, Diablo was assuring her it was fun, and she was enjoying her time talking with the Torchic. <It does sound fun..> she drifted off, still reluctant. <I-I think I would like to join you.> stuttering, Pidgey agreed, though it was obvious she was still scared.

[Jessica Cruze]

Jess glanced over at the two pokemon from her reclining location. Diablo seemed very excited about something. It was times like these that she wished she could understand pokemon. It would certainly make things easier when it came to 'what the heck were you thinking' moments. Her little torchic seemed to jump for joy about something or other. Yeah... It would be really cool to hold a conversation with a pokemon.

Maybe she should invest in a psychic type pokemon. She's heard that they can form close mental bonds with their trainers, even be able to communicate telepathically. Still, she wasn't sure how much faith to put into the rumors. She'd never seen a psychic type in person.

She popped a little bit of trail mix in her mouth thinking about it. It still wouldn't be a bad choice. Torchic was going to be a fire fighting type when he was fully evolved. Then that swinub she had been eyeing. A ground ice type... Yeah, a psychic type would be rather useful. Even if it couldn't communicate telepathically with her.

Though that would be freaking awesome.

Jess stretched slightly and sat back up, figuring whether Diablo was done or not they had to get moving soon. There was a whole lot more to see of this Route One before it started to get late. This is a trait both she and Diablo share... an inability to sit still for long.
There's just too much to see.

However the brunette was somewhat surprised to see that her little partner had run up to her without being called. He kept glancing back at the pidgey causing Jess to follow his gaze. It seemed a bit nervous, at least to her, but it didn't completely freeze up at her glance. What had they been talking about? Diablo ran back to the flying type and seemed to chirp in reassurance before turning back to Jess.
'Does he want... I wonder...' Jessica thought, opening a pocket in her bag and pulling out a collapsed pokeball... one of the three she was given at the start of her journey. With a touch of the button it expanded in her hand to it's proper size, and she glanced at the nervous pidgey. Was it really just going to let itself be caught?

Well she wasn't really out anything if it didn't.

Slowly and gently she tossed the ball in the air, so as not to startle the young pokemon. Here goes nothing.

[Shikaru]

Pidgey | Normal/Flying-Type | Level 1 | Female | Keen Eye
Tackle | Gust

Pidgey flinched and closed her eyes, but allowed herself to be sucked into the red-and-white sphere. With no struggle, the ball clicked softly to signal the pokemon had been captured.

Jessica has captured a Pidgey!
Jessica used 1 Pokeball

Zigzagoon | Normal-Type | Level 4 | Male | Quick Feet
Tackle | Growl

Meanwhile, a Zigzagoon was frolicking around a bush up ahead. He was out of view for now, but if the trainer started to walk she would find the pokemon and could choose to attack or ignore.

Wild Zigzagoon Appeared!

[Jessica Cruze]

Jessica blinked for a moment, unsure of what just happened. Did it seriously let itself be caught without a fight? Diablo seemed to understand what was going on, and celebrated in his own little way. She smiled, and hopped onto her feet to go and retrieve her newly acquired pokemon. Vetis… Yeah, the name had a ring to it. Vetis the Pidgey… and eventually the Pidgeot. Kneeling down Jess ruffled the feathers on top of Diablo’s head, in an attempt to reinforce the behavior.

After all, he had done extremely well. She had simply expected him to play with the wild pokemon, not befriend it and get it to join them without a fight. And Jess certainly wasn’t complaining. She had considered it but Diablo’s reactions to the wild pokemon intrigued her more than a new addition to her team any day. If anything showed that she was a breeder more than a trainer, that should right there. It wasn’t about making her team stronger.
It was about seeing their temperament and how they interact with one another. Diablo, though a little terror at certain moments, apparently gets along rather well with some types of pokemon.
Well, no one gets along with everyone after all.

Jess picked up the pokeball containing the Vetis. She’d work on training it one on one later… or actually, maybe Diablo would help make it an easier transition on the young flying type.

It would probably be a little jarring to go from the wild straight into a battle after all.

Diablo looked a little confused though. Wasn’t he going to get to play with his friend anymore? He did convince her to join after all. Besides that, there didn’t seem to him to be any reason to keep the pidgey cooped up any longer than necessary. Jess was the boss though so he didn’t question it too deeply. The trainer did have her reasons. The brunette flashed a smile at the torchic, saying, ”Race yah!” before taking off like a shot. It almost wasn’t fair. Diablo could be speedy but his unsteadiness and little legs proved him no match for Jess.

The trainer knew she wouldn’t have much of an advantage as he grew, so she might as well take all of the victories she could while she could.

She glanced back to check on her little friend, unaware of the zigzagoon that had been playing in the bushes in front of her. By the time she looked forward again, it was too late to abort and she tripped over the little fluffy pokemon and tumbled to a stop. ”Oww!” she called out, rubbing her head as Diablo came dashing to her rescue. Without orders from Jessica he growled a warning at the zigzagoon, attempting to draw it’s attention away from his minorly injured trainer.