{This is} Tsuki; Onwards and upwards! {A first...}

[Pikachu]

{{Pika;

Stowing his map back into his pocket, Tsuki slumped down, hauling his back-pack off his sweaty shoulders and spreading his legs out, lying spread-eagled on the ground. Running a hand through the lush, green grass that grew again either side of the peculiar river he was now facing, he sighed happily, allowing the cool air of the evening to wash over him. There was moisture on the breeze - rain was probably coming, but that wasn't a problem. He would welcome the cold weather after the hot, smoky climate of Magma volcano.

Wandering over to the river, he left his pack, proceeding to dangle one toe in the river. It was deliciously warm, and he could almost have gone for a late swim, if he'd avoided the patches of lava. Deciding against it, however, he reckoned the best plan of action would be to press forward to the next town as quickly as possible. If the sun set too quickly, then maybe that would mean they were not going to make it; if that was the case, there would be plenty of time for a swim then.

[Inu]

The river was nearby. A Charmander, Furchie, Firly, and Torchic were on the magma side, while a Mudkip, Squirtle, and Seel were on the other. They were playing a game of tag, the fire pokemon very careful about the water. Not one of them seemed to notice Tsuki.

[Pikachu]

{{Pika;

Tsuki looked around curiously at the pokémon playing, his tail swishing from side to side with curiosity. They didn't seem to have noticed him yet. Maybe that was a good thing.

Pulling two pokéballs from his belt, he let out Pikafloat and Eevee, deciding to let the tired Corleo rest up a little.
"You guys, have some fun. The water's nice and warm."
Eevee giggled, pawing at the air before dashing over to the water and leaping straight in, nearly hitting a glob of lava on the surface of the water. Pikafloat grunted, but it wasn't about to let the opportunity of a swim pass. After a moment's pause, he jumped straight in as well, swimming and darting about cheerfully underwater. Tsuki grinned as he watched them.

[Drake]

The furchie noticed the new pokemon, and then it's eyes followed them to Tsuki. A trainer... that was rarely good. Would he want to catch them all? Muttering to the others about this, soon all eyes were on Tsuki.

[Pikachu]

{{Pika;

Eevee was having far too much fun to notice the suspicious looks they were getting, but Pikafloat was more sensible. Twitching yellow-tipped antenna curiously, it turned its head slightly towards where all the pokémon on the bank were.
~Wha...?~ He followed their gaze, resting his eyes upon Tsuki, with a collection of Pokéballs (Mostly empty ones) strapped to his belt.
~Oh. Right.~ Lifting his paws in a cross between a helpless gesture and a shrug, he clambered out onto the bank where the other Pokémon were resting.
~Don't mind him.~ Pikafloat assured them. ~He's more wrapped up in his eggs to care about anything much else.~

And it was true; Tsuki had pulled two eggs out of his backpack and was gently stroking their surfaces. What would they hatch into? Only time would tell, but he found the feeling that there was a living thing inside each of them wonderful. He could almost hear the delicate heartbeat of the creatures that slept inside...

Having an idea, he stooped near to the bank, gently lowering each egg into the lukewarm water. Maybe this would stimulate their growth, make them hatch sooner? He had no idea, but it seemed like the right thing to do. Partly submerging them in the water, a smile curved across his face and his ears flattened back against his scruffy ebon hair.

[Drake]

The torchic looked back at the others. They all knew he couldn't be much of a threat. Breeders were usually fine, and they had assumed he was either a breeder or really caring... well, everyone except the charmander. ~How do we know he's not just caring for those because he has to, and so he can hatch strong pokemon to have his evil thoughts drilled into their heads from birth!~ The charmander was obviously quite paranoid, but it was enough to get some of the others skeptic again.

[Pikachu]

{{Pika;

Pikafloat snorted.
~Yeah, right. Like this guy would know the first thing about raising an evil army.~ One of the mouse's brows arched sceptically. ~Let's face it, he barely knows how to train Pokémon. He's not gonna be imprinting anything onto anyone.~

Tsuki had allowed his eyelids to creep partway over his weary eyes. His rings, scattered over his body, lit up with a gentle, pulsing glow as the sky turned slowly to a pale amber colour, and he started to hum. It was a low, resonating sound, echoing off the river and bouncing around the grass. Eevee closed its eyes appreciatively as the sound washed over him, adding his delicate voice to the song. THe pokéball which held the battered and tired Corleo began to rock gently; it seemed it was reacting in some way to the eerie song the two Eevarians (a new word I've been using for a while, to describe Eevee and its evolutions) were weaving to welcome in the night.

[Drake]

"It's some sort of evil attack! Next he'll be using physical moves, and we'll all be knocked out and caught!" The charmander, who would probably be great at writing conspiracy theories, yelled. The others weren't listening to him; they were intently listening to Tsuki's song.

[Pikachu]

{{Pika;

A soft /ping/ from Corleo's ball and it slipped out, the small cub-like creature inside blinking its eyes blearily. Dark burns littered its fur from its previous battle, but it slid gratefully into the lukewarm water with a sigh, resting next to Tsuki's eggs. It closed its eyes appreciatively as it listened to Tsuki and Eevee.
{Lovely music, for tired ears.} it crooned drowsily.

As the sky darkened, the rings on Tsuki's body grew in brightness. There seemed to be a strong correlation, but it looked like a natural thing. Tsuki didn't seem to be doing a thing to promote the glow of the ring on his tail, and the ones he had barely been aware of on his arms and chest. They lit the damp grass around him with a soft light. Apparently, it was meant to be intimidating; but the soft, blue glow seemed more calming right now than anything else. Pikafloat's eyes flickered from the pokémon waiting on the bank, to Tsuki, then back to the pokémon, cold eyes resting on the Charmander.
{I'm very sorry, my friend. But I'm afraid you seem to be a little bit crazy. Or paranoid, or... possibly both. The best advice I can offer is the warm, comfy cell of the arbetorium.} The cynical rodent seemed to enjoy taunting the Charmander. {I'm sure you'll enjoy it there; lots of time to write out your little conspirital theories, and plenty of friends.}
{You're probably overdoing it a little.} came the tired mew of Corleo, who was now fondling one of the eggs with a paw. {Wow, this egg smells jolly nice. All warm and... fluffy.} Corleo squealed, nodding its head. {Yeah... fluffy. Like a piece of pastel-pink cotton wool sort of fluffy.}
{Well, your brain seems to be full of the stuff.} A grin seemed to spread across the pokémon's mouth.

[Inu]

The Charmander said, ~Or maybe worse, he wants to cook us, and eat us! He's paying those Pokemon to act like he's all innocent. No, wait, maybe he'll train us, then eat our eggs!~ The Pokemon all gasped in terror and glard at Tsuki.

[Pikachu]

{{Pika;

The Pikafloat looked at the Charmander cynically, one eyebrow arched, before slowly shaking its head.
{Okay, I have to admit it. You win the prize for the dumbest theory ever.} He slapped a paw to his forehead, sparks crackling from the antenna perched on its head. {I mean, I can see you're not the brightest of pokémon. But I never thought you could be so utterly stupid.}
He rolled his eyes, then turned his back distainfully on the Charmander and the rest of the waiting Pokémon.
{Go ahead, knock yaselves out. You could stay up all night, guarding our tent, for all I care.}
He seemed rather content to leave the subject there. Corleo, letting out a plainative mew, tugged at a few temt-poles protruding from Tsuki's abandoned backpack. Glancing up, the morph's song wavered for a second, but continued, him drawing breath through his nose and out through his mouth in a curious and seemingly well-practised circle. He began erecting the tent poles; one by one, he set them up, and they stood start in the semi-darkness. Eevee, still trilling tirelessly, grabbed a sheet of tarpaulin in one paw, and together they began draping it over the soon-to-be tent.

[Inu]

The Charmander glared at the Pikafloat. It nodded to the Squirtle. The Squirtle jumped up and withdrew into its shell, then tried a rapid spin. The Mudkip used Mud Sport to lower the effect of Electric attacks, and the Seel tried to headbutt the Pikafloat.

[Pikachu]

{{Pika;

{Great.}

Pikafloat had been expecting something like this. You can't poke a fire and expect not to get burned, and he had been listening intently. A few grunts from the creatures behind him was all the excuse he needed to go on the offensive. Strong hind legs propelled him into the air, sending him away from his would-be attackers. He began to spin, slowly at first, then gaining more momentum, as if he were trying to do a vertical barrel roll. Taking a few short breaths, then a longer one, he began his Hydro Pump attack, spewing out gallons of water in a display not unlike a catherine wheel. It would have been enticing to watch, had it not been so deadly.

Satisfied for now, he dropped to the ground, rolling for a few feet before standing before Corleo and Tsuki.
{Quick. Protect the tent somehow!} He ducked underneath the hastily put-up tarpaulin, and the rest of them followed suit.

Tsuki's voice rose in pitch, becoming louder and more urgent. He closed his eyes, and the rings on his body glowed with a new brilliance as energy swirled about him, expanding to envelop the tent.
{I didn't mean it in such a literal way, but I guess a Protect move would work.} remarked Pikafloat, looking admiringly around.

[Inu]

((Pikafloat have flippers....))
That attack would have made them all faint if they weren't water types. The fire Pokemon had taken cover in their magma river, and still didn't come out. The Pokemon were enraged. The repeated the attacks at the same time.

[Pikachu]

{{Rai!;

(( Feet, flippers... what's the difference? XD ))
The Protect warded off all attacks for the moment, but it was wavering and Tsuki wouldn't be able to keep it up for much longer.
{It's no good.} he panted, the barrier flickering and beginning to fade. {I can't hold it; I'm not strong enough. You need to go and talk to them; calm them down, somehow.}
Corleo rolled its amber eyes. {You've got us into trouble again, floaty boy. Why do I get the feeling this isn't the first time, and won't be the last?}
The mouse's eyes narrowed. {Watch it, kitty. Or you're about to be puss filé.}
{This isn't the time to argue!} Tsuki and Eevee snapped in chorus. Eevee continued; {Corleo and Pikafloat, you both need to go. If it comes to the worst, you should be able to stun them with thunder wave, or something. I don't know; just go on!}

With resigned looks on their faces, the pair walked slowly outside the rapidly fading protective barrier. They nudged each other nervously; then Corleo cleared his throat.
{Okay, how do I begin... we don't mean you any harm, and we're sorry to have caused a fight like this. We but beg your company on the riverside, and room to spend the night. We're not at all hostile-}
{And anyone who disagrees must be blinder than a slow-worm.} Pikafloat abruptly cut in. Corleo headbutted him hard in the ribs.
{Wonderful, Mr. Diplomatic. I can clearly see why we're all such good friends around here.}
Pikafloat muttered a stream of stifled curses below his breath, but decided to be smart and keep his mouth shut.

[Inu]

The Pokemon looked at the tent, then at the two Pokemon. The Charmander said, ~We don't want to attack your shelter, only that Pikafloat. You made us so mad, we felt like throwing a fit like Aipom (monkeys). We want a fair fight to settle this. If you win, we'll lead you to the next town, if we win, we get some food. Deal?~

[Pikachu]

{{Rai!;

Tsuki, who'd been listening attentively to the discussion, slowly allowed the protective barrier around his tent to fade. He then began weaving one around his eggs; a small private shelter for them, and a ward against any wayward attacks that might be thrown their way.

{You wanna fight, huh?} With as much winded bravado as he could muster, Pikafloat drew himself up to his full height, though admittedly that still wasn't very tall. {Which one of you?}

He was getting himself worked up, and his antenna were twitching with anticipation and emitting small sparks that leapt around his fur.

[Inu]

The Pokemon looked at each other. No matter who went up, there would be a disadvantage. The Mudkip jumped up and said, ~I am.~ Mud started flying everywhere. The Mudkip was using Mud Sport so that the Pikafloat no longer had an advantage with its electric attacks.

[Pikachu]

{{Rai!;

Tsuki had apparently decided it was time to step into his role as a trainer, and take command of the battle.
"Okay Pikafloat! Use-"

But it seemed that the rodent was content to fight the battle of its own accord. Hissing as the mud fell around it, it leapt into the river. Moving with a sinuous grace through the water, it excecuted its move. Slowly, copies of the pokémon split off from the original, until there were nine Pikafloat swimming abreast.

Turning, the squad swept out of the water, seeming to float in mid-air for a few seconds before beginning their descent to land.
"Pikafloat!" Tsuki yelled out to the mouse. "You need to find some way of getting rid of the mud!"

The team seemed to consider this for a few seconds, before nodding and turning back to the opponent. Spreading out into as much of a ring as they could manage, they used Supersonic as one, the wavering pulses of sound spreading out in the area. Tsuki realised what they were doing.
"They're trying to reflect any stray waves back at the opponent using their bodies." he murmured to himself. "But surely that's a risky tactic - some of the doubles could become confused themselves. I guess Pikafloat's counting on luck to stop him from being affected!"

[Inu]

The Mudkip tried to escape, but couldn't. The Pokemon was hoplessly confused. It tried to use Mud-Slap, but failed and hurt itself. When it tried to run away, it ran in the opposite direction and fell in the river. If it couldn't walk right, there was a high possibility it couldn't swim right, either.

[Pikachu]

{{Rai!;

Pikafloat smled triumphantly as the dazed Mudkip stumbled into the river. Its tactics had worked! However, it had come at a cost; at least four of the nine double-teamed rodents standing in the ring seemed confused, and another two seemed dazed. Tsuki held his breath as the clones came together again.

But the real Pikafloat, apparently, was only dazed. Giving a triumphant squeal, it launched itself into the air, before bringing down a Thunderbolt onto the river where the Mudkip was hiding. If it could electrify the river, Tsuki mused to himself, then the Mudkip would not have much of a chance at dodging, short of burrowing into the mud lining the riverbed. Of course, you could never tell with pokémon...

[Inu]

The rest of the Pokemon jumped out of the river, hissing. Suddenly, the blue and red mix turned bright yellow. The Mudkip jumped out. It had used Mud Sport soon after hitting the river, and coated itself with mud. It jumped forward with another Mud-Slap.

[Pikachu]

{{Rai!;

Pikafloat gave a squeal as the mud flew at him, bringing up his arms to shield it. He crouched down low to the ground, pausing to wipe the mud from one of his eyes.
"Pikafloat!" Tsuki's anxious voice came from the bank. "You need to clear that mud from your eyes. Try leaping into the river!"

Half-blinded, Pikafloat staggered towards the river, falling in with a small plop sound. The current began to pluck the mud away as Pikafloat, feeling better, dove down to the riverbed. There it seemed content to wait, and store up power for its next attack.

[Inu]

The Mudkip dived in. Now with the Pikafloat in the river, it could do a lot more damage. The Pokemon used Whirlpool. The current stopped, then continued, but going in a circle around the Pikafloat. The current turned into a whirlpool, that started to close in on the Pikafloat.

[Pikachu]

{{Rai!;

Pikafloat squealed in alarm as the current began swirling and closing in around him. He shook his head to free it from the last of the mud that had been obscuring his vision, and glanced at Tsuki.

Tsuki stared as the current turned around Pikafloat. It would be trapped soon. Tsuki met the baleful eyes of the rodent - what did it expect him to do?

Unless...
{Pikafloat, I got it! Ride the whirlpool!}

The rodent seemed to understand him, but it was nearly too late. Winging slightly as water snapped around his flippers, he leapt up onto the turning side of the whirlpool. Flippers acted strangely like water-skis, and he allowed the water to spin him around, before launching a Thunderbolt attack into the river.

[BirdyBot]

"Mud!" Mudkip cried as he was zapped. Ouch. The entire whirlpool lit up; water conducts electricity. Luckily for Mudkip, it was part ground type. It used yet another Mud Slap.

[Pikachu]

{{Rai!;

(( Just saying, I don't think Mudkip gets its part-ground typing until it evolves. It learns a few ground moves, but AFAIK that's it. ))

Pikafloat squealed as mud smacked against his stomach and flippers, stinging and dampening his electricity slightly. But a triumphant look was on his face - he seemed to be winning.
{Pikafloat, you're doing well! Try another Thunderbolt at point-blank range!}

Tsuki new he was taking a risk, but as the Mudkip was confused (it might have worn off by now if he was unlucky) it could very well pay off. Using his extra momentum from the Whirlpool, Pikafloat leapt at the Mudkip with surprising speed and launched his Thunderbolt attack. If this hit, it would likely do a fair bit of damage.

[BirdyBot]

((Hm.))
Mudkip screeched as the high-voltage shock spread through iits body. When it was over, it slumped to the ground. Fainted.

[Pikachu]

{{Rai!;

This was... awkward.

Pikafloat turned his head and watched with a satisfied expression painted across his face.
{Anyone else want a go?} he asked, turning to look at the pokémon watching from the relative safety of the bank and pumping his arms, sending sparks dancing up them in a rather impressive display. {After that little warm-up, I'm feeling pumped-up!}

Despite the roden'ts bravado, Tsuki had been watching closely and it seemed that he was out of breath. His chest was heaving, and he seemed tired and slightly dazed. He'd used up more energy than he was willing to reveal. Still, it had been a good training excersize, and it was true - he did seem stronger.

{That's quite enough, Pikafloat.} came the sharp voice of Eevee, breaking out of its song. Tsuki hurriedly changed key to close the gap. {Anyway, these guys have a promise to fulfill. Don't you?}

Eevee subjected each pokémon waiting on the bank to a few seconds under its peircing soft amber gaze, as if it were trying to see into their souls. It then turned its head away and scampered back to where Tsuki was gently caressing his eggs, murmuring words under his breath.

[BirdyBot]

Charmander rolled his green eyes. ~Fine, we'll take you to the town.~ He motioned for Tsuki to follow, then looked back. ~Well? Are you coming or not?~ He said. He was clearly angry at the loss.

Mudkip moaned as it tried to get up, but it just fell back down. This would be a good time to catch it!