Recruitment, pt I (Mod)

[Prince Pony Age]

In not very long, a small NidoranF wandered by, distracted a moment by the trainer resting against the wall. She ultimately decided that the girl was harmless, as she'd hardly moved at all in the few seconds that the Nido watched her, and so decided to move right along.

In a few more seconds, a NidoranM came from the same direction, possibly following the female before him.

[Admiral Striker General]

Kali slowly became aware of her surroundings as the smaller Pokemon starting coming back out from hiding, but looking around wearily from her place on the floor, she decided all these were likely harmless and not worth her time unless one proved her wrong. Maybe it was the exhaustion that came with being made to fear for one's life, but the floor was surprisingly comfortable at the moment, and quite frankly she just didn't feel like getting up. She ignored the three new Pokemon, then, and began to rub her face with both hands. She sighed heavily, though she wasn't really sure why; maybe she'd just felt a little short of breath. ..Eh, whatever.

[Prince Pony Age]

Another Natu hopped in from the opposite direction, giving Kali only a passing glance as she hopped on by, and began up the stairs the other Natu was hopping down.

A Skarmory flew by the window outside, but did not stop to land.

Somewhat nearby, a loud shuffling noise could be heard. Something got up, and began to move.

While the Garchomp did not actually go into the room Kali was in, she walked by the door--and froze when she saw the human.

Don't...make...any...sudden...movements...It looks fairly asleep...Maybe, if she was quiet, she wouldn't wake it up...

The Garchomp had seen others of this one's kind a few times before, and each time they attacked her and threw weird multicolor...round pebble-things at her that opened and magic'd her in, but she managed to escape each time--though only barely. She avoided humans wherever possible.

[Admiral Striker General]

Kali heard a bit more noise, and slowly lowered her arms, lazily turning to--

.......................... You've gotta be fucking kidding me. Was there anything IN this tower besides wimpy low-level Pokemon and utter powerhouses? Fear gripped her for some moments, but after she realized the Garchomp was both looking at her and not attacking, she breathed a sigh of relief and very cautiously began to sit up. Well then.. If this-.. she looked to the fin and identified it as female, if she was seeing right from her- girl was less violent than her kin, no complaining. Maybe she could be reasoned with, then.

Of course, a Garchomp was a little more dangerous if she suddenly spooked than a Gligar, so Kali would rather not be the one to get so close herself.. Well, time for a diplomat then. Some of her Pokemon were a little hurt by now, and most would be spooked by the massive dragon in at least some degree. Barring Ronen, who did not know fear and was likely to attack, she needed her very bravest Pokemon- one who could speak openly to the Garchomp with next to no fear of the beast. Fortunately, Kali had just so brave a Pokemon.

Shifting to subtly bring out a ball, Kali pressed the button and released her courageous knight: Nibbler.

"Sweetie, could you go try to talk to that Garchomp over there?" she half-whispered. Nibbler blinked, looking to the dragon and to Kali and back. He then shrugged; eh, why not? He'd taken down a Gabite in just a few moves; how tough could a Garchomp be for such an awesome Pokemon as him?

Confidently, then, almost smugly, the Rattata trotted toward the Garchomp, an easy smile on his face. <Hey there~> He blinked as he realized-.. <Are you okay?>

[Prince Pony Age]

As she saw the girl look at her, the Garchomp flinched. Okay, so maybe the best option would have been to make it out of the doorframe, not caring how much noise you made until you were out of sight. She took a mental note, just in case this specific situation happened again.

...Then again, that was assuming she could get out of this one.

Unsure of what to do now, the Garchomp stood there, trying to decide, until she saw Nibbler at her feet.

As he asked how she was, she was rather surprised. So...the girl wasn't going to attack first, ask questions later? She blinked, and slowly crouched down so she could converse with the small creature better. <'Is that your...uh...Master? I--well--honestly, I just don't want to be chased again--I--I just want to be left alone... But the humans always, ALWAYS, every single time I've seen one, has chased me to hell and back...'> The Garchomp did a bit of a sweatdrop as she said this. Some almight and powerful dragon she was, eh? Especially compared to the earthquake from earlier--unless she was mistaken, she knew the Garchomp that was likely to be responsible for that. Few other Pokemon in the tower were stupid enough to try something like that.

[Admiral Striker General]

Nibbler tilted his head, cocking an eyebrow. ..Seriously? <Er... Not to sound rude, sister, but.. Have you ever considered just going along with one? That would stop any others from chasing you..> He sat down himself now, then raised up so he was almost 'standing' in a nature typical of cats and rats. Not that this did MUCH to even their heights, but eh.

[Prince Pony Age]

A few blinks, and the Garchomp looked at the Ratatta quizzically with a slant-wise mouth. <'And do what? Wither breed or fight I have to guess. Sounds...less than appealing, honestly. Sure, the running and hiding gets old, but I can always go down the actual gorge itself. I come up here for food, basically--and to be away from the majority of my move-happy species, as you...'> She took a look at the Ratatta's clean coat and undamaged skin, <'...probably didn't see earlier. I've always been...off. From the others.'> She shrugged. <'I don't suppose there's any way you could convince your trainer to let me go?'> She figured it was a long shot, but maybe she could use a quick Dig to escape to another floor when the Trainer was focused on her mouse giving her information.

[Admiral Striker General]

Nibbler tilted his head. <So... If I understand you right... Your entire life consists of running and hiding from both humans and your own kind, you live in a giant hole, and you have to hunt on your own every day to survive. ...And.. a quiet, comfortable life, chance to travel and see new things, and guarantee of free, easy food daily sounds... less appealing?> He blinked a few times. Man. He was certainly glad he wasn't ever like this. Nibbler had decided LONG ago that a life of hiding was no life at all; that's why he really didn't care if he was a foot tall and considered trash by most. He was going to make the most of his life no matter what!

[Prince Pony Age]

Hm. Once he put it like that... <'There's always the problem of freedom, though...and of course, that I can't just decide one day that I'd leave--not unless my hypothetical Master releases me--which, really, you know that's just not going to happen. Ever.'> Come on, go back to your girl already... Digging to get out of here would be nice... On the other hand, free food did sound nice, too... NO. She would not allow herself that frailty. She'd been evading humans and their little spheres for quite a long time--she was in fact one of the oldest of the Garchomp of the gorge. Not THE oldest by any means, but she WAS the oldest that went to the tower regularly to hunt. Most Garchomp who went to hunt were captured by humans, sooner or later.

The Garchomp found herself wishing furiously that the little purple fuzzball would take his Master's attention for a second already. ...She also found she liked him less and less the longer he kept her here.

[Admiral Striker General]

<But why would you want to?> he asked flatly. <I lived in the wild, too, you know. It was boring and noisy and no one took me seriously.> He glanced back to Kali for just a split second and smiled, though his attention was back on the Garchomp before she'd have time to escape. <My Girl does, though. She's helped me get strong! We go places all the time, and even her homeplace is nice.> He became suddenly quite smug at this. <It's much more peaceful than my old home, mostly since I started enforcing that peace~> His grin now turned absolutely wicked. <OH, and there's her pale man-friend. He's quite fun to poke at, and he keeps these, just-... DELICIOUS little things! I can't describe them fully if you've never had them, but they're crunchy and sticky and SO SWEET<3 Delicious!> He'd grown quite excited talking about his new world, really. <Honestly, how could the desert be better than THAT?>

[Prince Pony Age]

<Your, uh, Girl. Does she live in a cliff? Or maybe a cave? Or something I could dig in without being punished? I doubt it. And anyway, girls always seemed meaner when coming after me, honestly. As for strength--that's great for you, but really--I've no need to be any stronger than I am. You--I have to imagine you enjoy the fighting she's had you do? I'd just really rather...not. It's a nice life I live, just annoying at times.'> Like now. And the stupid rat was making it so much more aggravating. She was beginning to wonder if she didn't prefer grave injuries to dealing with egotistical dicks like him.

[Admiral Striker General]

Hm? Now why did that matter? Ah well.. <She lives in a building, but that's in the middle of a lot of sand. She lets us wander a lot, so you could always go outside and dig..> Really, a PokeBall would be as good, but.. Eh, he really didn't feel like explaining the workings of one right now. <And of course I do; who wouldn't enjoy winning all the time?>

He shrugged then. <I could beat you in just a few moves, you know. At this rate, you don't really have much choice the way I see it. You could give humans a chance before making your decision and then run away eventually if you don't like it, or I can prove why good guidance shouldn't be underestimated. Take your pick.>

[Prince Pony Age]

<'...Well, okay I guess...'> she said to the Ratatta. However, she planned on Digging the moment she saw the chance. While it was true she didn't really believe the little purple prick could beat her...well, the girl had somehow quieted the OTHER Garchomp. She'd really rather not risk a battle.

[Admiral Striker General]

Again Nibbler looked over his shoulder only a brief second, letting out a small chatter to get the girl's attention. Kali had simply remained sitting, resting, and watching all the while, wondering how the conversation had gone. Seeing Nibbler give a small 'come here' gesture as he looked back up to the Garchomp, Kali smiled and slowly stood. Grabbing her bag, she limped toward them, wincing every other step. Nibbler sighed and shook his head at the Garchomp, half-smiling. <She's a little stubborn sometimes, but she tries hard.>

Looking to the Garchomp, Kali started, "Er.. Hi." Step. Wince. Step. Wince. She tried to think of something else, but didn't exactly know what to use for conversation at the moment that wasn't potentially risky.

[Prince Pony Age]

...Really. Just--whatever. <'Fine. Whatever. Later, prick.'> She didn't realize that her words heavily implied they'd meet again, just saying whatever was quick and easy and wouldn't cause delay that ended up in her being caught. On the word 'later,' she stuck one of her talons into the stone floor, then used all of her might to Dig into the floor as an attempt to escape.

[Admiral Striker General]

IJWEJIOEwJE-- OH HELL NO. Within moments, Kjaerlighet had been released once more, her ball tossed down so as to spawn almost below Kali; she climbed on in another moment. Nibbler was about to pursue, quite pissed himself, when he noticed Kali and decided it may be safer to join her, leaping up. "Earthquake!" she called, seething. Kjaerlighet reluctantly complied, sending the building shaking. If it didn't collapse before it won't from this, Kali told herself.

[Prince Pony Age]

"Gaaaaaaahh!" The Garchomp was still mostly in the floor when the Earthquake hit. She expected SOME sort of reaction, but--well, she'd thought the earlier Earthquake was from a Garchomp she knew--apparently not, then...

The surprise at being hit with the Earthquake, as well as a piece of stone digging into her vulnerable underbelly, caused a Critical Hit.

She landed on the floor below on her side, causing even a bit more damage. The Garchomp was sure that another attack like that, and she'd be done for, and probably even overkill. She whipped up a Sandstorm, hoping to hide herself in it with her Sand Veil ability and maybe even damage her unseen foe.

[Admiral Striker General]

In fact, Kali had quite forgotten she was on a second floor- or not exactly that, but rather that it meant the Garchomp would be falling to the one below. Upon seeing the remnants of the Sandstorm blowing up through the hole in the floor, Kali moved into better position on Kjaer's back and nudged her forward. As the dragon nodded and flew down through the new portal into the sand, her rider found a PokeBall and reluctantly recalled the rat. Kjaer could take the Sandstorm much better-... unlike Kali herself, who squinted furiously and coughed a bit as they entered it, trying to ignore the incessant scratching at her skin. "Aerial Ace," she managed to get out.

[Prince Pony Age]

Despite her raised evasion in the sandstorm, the Garchomp was hit by the never-miss move. She squinted, trying to make out her enemy through her sand-veil. A...Flygon? The Garchomp had seen others of the species once or twice before, and was certain ther was nothing else of that shape. ..Well, the Sandstorm had been fairly useless, then, hadn't it? ...They floated, too, so some of her strongest moves wouldn't do squat.

However...wasn't it a dragon, like her? Dragon fire was one of the worst pains she'd felt, second only to that one trainer with the Ice-type. That had been a close one...

She shook her head and used the first attack using it that she could think of--her body was suddenly covered in small, bluish flames, and she hurled herself forward at her foe, using Dragon Rush.

[[OOC: Did I screw up? Your 'forgotten she was on a second floor' or whatever makes me think I was wrong in saying that. o.o;; If so, sorry for continuity error. 8'D;;]]

[Admiral Striker General]

^{[xD Not at all. She WAS on the second floor, and I'D forgotten when I typed the Earthquake response. I remembered like five minutes later, but I was like "meh, guess Kali actually forgot then". x3 And like it says, not so much the fact she'd climbed stairs, but the fact it meant Dig = going to lower floor.]}

Kjaerlighet found herself clipped by the rushing move despite her efforts to avoid it, taking about half the force of the attack and being sent into a wild spin that sent Kali flying- and then after landing, skidding- across the room and Kjaer eventually plummeting into a wall, which certainly helped make up for her luck in avoiding part of the Dragon Rush. Growling, Kjaer awaited an order only to find there was none to be heard. Panicking, the dragon-fly began flutting about through the storm, keeping her eyes peeled for either dragon or human.