[Log] 012 | Action for Blackthorn - New Bark

[samsa]

Who: Kaneki Ken, Maka Albarn, Envy, Heather Mason, Henry Townshend, Micchy, Mai, and anyone else who wants to come help!
What: Bats are pouring out of the Dark Cave at an alarming rate, terrifying some poor Phanpy on Route 45. Somehow, they must be tamed.
When: Early June, Shock-Blocked event
Where: Route 45, Dark Cave, wherever Bat Pokemon and Phanpy are sold

Whether you're like Kaneki and hadn't been anywhere near Blackthorn or New Bark when Moon Prom happened, or you were expecting shenanigans to happen anyway (given the fact that we were just on the moon, and all), there is definitely a ruckus on route 45. The Dark Cave being full of Zubat, Noibat, and the like isn't unusual. What is unusual is the fact that the bats are flying out of it, screeching and fluttering about in a frenzy.

Said frenzy is proving to be a terrifying situation for a group of Phanpy nearby, who are scattered all over the route in various states of panic.

Someone's going to have to do something about that.

[OOC: This is a mingle log for taking care of the issues happening between Blackthorn and New Bark! Feel free to make top levels and tag at your leisure. This post is open for whoever wants to come and help, not necessarily just those listed!]

Comments

[grapeeater]

[Micchy does not like bats.]

[He had to deal with entirely too many bats from the Rockets, because apparently at least every third local Rocket had to have one of the squeaking monstrosities.]

[So much as he dislikes this Pokemon, he's useful. He tosses out a Pokeball, and a Kadabra appears in front of him. His tone is cold as he addresses it.]

Reflect, then use Psybeam on any stupid enough to come close.

[He turns to the Phanpy that are nearby, and his expression breaks out into a gentle smile. He tosses out another Pokeball, this one with a Rapidash.]

Yuko, please run around and try to herd them back this way. All right?

[The Rapidash tilts her head, and dashes off to try to get the panicked Pokemon in a little bit more of a clump.]

[dancermai]

[She stood back a moment, watching as he started to control the situation, slight admiration in what he could do. Micchi always knew how to fix things. He always had some plan.

As she moved a little closer to him, there was a slight twinge of sadness from the weekend just past. She couldn't quite put her finger on why she was sad but...something had to have happened. Why couldn't she remeember it? In any case, she tries to keep a happy expresion as she now approaches him.]

Micchy! Is there anything I can do to help?

[Jam jumps up on her shoulder and there is a little togepi wriggling in her arms. The rest of her pokemon safely tucked away in their balls.]

[grapeeater]

Ah... when they get over here, they'll probably need someone to help calm them down. You're good at that. ... Do either of them know Sing?

[He's guessing Jam doesn't, but he doesn't know much about Togepi.]

[dancermai]

[She shook her head and looked down at the little pokemon wriggling in her arms and let him go to go to walk around in circles for a moment.]

He doesn't really know too much. He was born with quite a few moves but nothing, I think that will help. If they're already asleep there's a few things he can do. ...um..sleep talk and snore?

[She thought about her other pokemon but they're not really geared towards this situation either.]

If only Yachi were here...she'd be able to help...

[As she tried to think further, one of the stray bats flew in their direction and with a small yelp, she jumps behind Micchy, grabbing onto the back of his top.]

[grapeeater]

Sleep Talk and Snore only work if your Pokemon is asleep, not the other Pokemon. It's all right.

[He positions himself between the Zubat and Mai, glaring at Yoshiro.]

What are you doing, you idiot? Teleport and Psycho Cut.

[The command is practically growled out, and the Kadabra rolls his eyes before complying to chase the Zubat away.]

Ah... sorry, Mai-san... he doesn't listen to me if I'm nice...

[dancermai]

[Ah, she still had a lot to learn and study in regards to her pokemon. Really, she should battle more but it seemed so mean and she spent more time dancing with them instead.

It took her a short moment to calm down and peer out from behind Micchy, slightly embarrassed as to how she reacted. She shook her head slightly.]

I need to be more help. I can't just keep hiding behind you.

[She tries to laugh it off and then tries to bravely go near one of the terrified phanpy that were close by. It was wildly panicking but perhaps if she could somehow...calm it down.]

[grapeeater]

It's okay. I don't mind...

[One of the Phanpy looks up at her, ready to attack. Micchy watches warily, ready to push her away if it looks like it's going to charge.]

[dancermai]

You think...maybe if I make friends with one of them, the rest would like me too?

[She looked back to smile shyly at Micchy a moment before she edged closer to that phanpy. As she was just a few steps away, she crouched down to appear less intimidating and reached out a hand. While she did this, Tami, her little togepi wandered over and patted the phanpy on its foot to also try and make friends.]

[grapeeater]

Maybe.

[The Phanpy trumpets loudly, but doesn't attack. It stretches out its little nose to sniff at her and Tami, and Micchy watches carefully as more start to wander over, driven by Yuko.]

Do you have any food? That might help.

[dancermai]

[She thinks about it for a moment and then signals for Jam to roll over to her a small container from her backpack full of little sweet poffins. That should do the trick. Trying to move slowly to not startle the pokemon, she opens the container and lines up a small row of them in front of her.

There's a gentle smile on her face as she then sits just behind the row of treats. Tami now wanders over, picks one up and starts snacking on it.]

My name's Mai. I just want to be your friend...

[grapeeater]

[The Phanpy cautiously wanders closer to her, Micchy watching warily. Yuko keeps her distance, not wanting to scare them now that the two of them seem to be handling it.]

You're doing fine, Mai-san...

[dancermai]

[The encouragement that Micchy has brings a smile to her face. Micchy was always better at things than she was so it was always a wonderful feeling to get some positive feedback. As she tended to the phanpy and her togepi, she glances back towards him once in a while.]

Hey, Micchy...do you ever get a feeling like you're forgetting something important?

[Something that may have happened recently..?]

[grapeeater]

... Sometimes. Not all that often though. Why?

[He sighs and digs some berries out of his bag, holding them out to another Phanpy. This one approaches him cautiously, but quickly gobbles up the berries as soon as he's in reach.]

[dancermai]

[She shrugs and shakes her head.]

Just feels like since we arrived in this strange place that I'm forgetting something but it can't be that important if I can't remember it.

[Mai settles down now with her little treats and small ground of phanpy milling about. There had to be a way of making them feel safe again. She glances to the cave.]

Think we should be...going in there to find out what's making them act like this?

[grapeeater]

[... Important - oh. Well. If she doesn't remember... no point in making her feel bad.]

Maybe... Yoshiro, teleport over there for a moment. Let me know if there's a lot of them.

[The Kadabra snorts, and... stays where he is. Go over there yourself.]

... Ugh. Fine. We'll get to it in a minute...

[samsa]

[It sure was an experience, being on the moon one moment, and then the next...back in Johto. They all had seen the way the landscape was being changed right before their eyes, after all, but winding up all the way across the region wasn't what Kaneki was expecting at all. He's back in his normal clothes, anyway, with Rikki on his shoulder and Hide clinging to his back like a spider monkey.

His brows furrow and he turns to get his bearings...only to shout and immediately hit the deck when dozens of Zubat suddenly come screeching from the cave he didn't realize he was standing right in front of.

It takes a moment for Kaneki to recover long enough to realize what just happened, shakily reaching into his bag and pulling out a pokeball to toss into the air. His Pidgeot appears in an instant, flapping his wings to keep himself aloft as Kaneki calls from the ground as Hide and Rikki climb off of him.]

Use Whirlwind to try and push them back inside!

[With a nod, the bird takes off into the air while Kaneki looks down at Rikki, then.]

Use Protect to keep them back if they come too close. They're really upset...

[He wishes he had a Pokemon that could calm them more effectively, but from what he knows about bats, having them out in the open sun is just going to make them more agitated. He's probably going to need some help, no doubt.]

[foolishwren]

_{[As the whistling winds of the Pidgeot's attack bluster by, whipping up rocky sand and pine needles, there's a shout from a nearby rocky outcrop.]}

Cujo, Roar!

<sub>[A MAJESTIC VISION appears at the top of the hill, creamy mane winking in the morning sun!]

[... It's an extremely fat Growlithe.]

[Who, despite looking very affable and nonthreatening, does proceed to let out a deafening bark that echoes through the slope and seems to scatter some of the Zubat-frenzy.]

[Shortly thereafter, a somewhat disheveled-looking girl climbs up to stand next to her dog, cupping her hands around her mouth and shouting down to Kaneki.]</sub>

HEY!

You okay down there?

[samsa]

[The roar takes both Kaneki and Lee by surprise, the Pidgeot stalling for a moment in midair as he looks over at the source of the sound. Actually both...shocked and impressed that he could make such a noise, really.

Meanwhile, Kaneki nods a little as Rikki comes closer to his side, watching Heather and Cujo along with him.]

I'm okay, yeah! They just keep coming, though...!

[Even as Kaneki says that, a cluster of Noibat suddenly flutter into view, shrieking and bumping into one another as they try to escape into the trees.]

[foolishwren]

Yeah, I can see that!

Hang tight down there, let's see what we can do about that!

<sub>[The girl twists around to beckon to someone out of view, before starting to climb down, herself.]

[The Growlithe barrels ahead of her, partly because he is a dog and therefore literally brimming with enthusiasm, and... partly because he's heavy and his own momentum sends him scuffling down the slope at a speed that is probably not entirely within his control.]

[By the time he gets to the bottom, he literally made the last leg of the journey down just sliding on his butt. This does not seem to concern him at all, since he immediately gets up, shakes off (scattering a big cloud of rock dust in the process), snorts loudly, and then starts to amble over to Kaneki and his Pokemon, tongue lolling out.]

[8] HELLO NEW FRIENDS!!]</sub>

[exeggutorhead]

[Well, there's one thing about Roar: it makes everyone in the vicinity pay attention to it. Envy'd seen the cloud of bat Pokemon swarming up into the sky and decided that maybe he ought to stay well clear of them, but the roar? Draws his attention, which in turn gets him listening enough to hear the shouting.]

[He recognizes one of those voices!]

[And it's one that gets him to turn right around from his beeline away from the swarm, pulling out a Pokeball to release his Clefairy. Maybe not the most intimidating Pokemon in the world, but might come in handy for this.]

[As he comes out of the trees and into actual view of the small group, he waves one arm over his head and calls out.]

Heey!!

Charon, hit those with Gravity!

[Charon obliges, twirling around once as he waves his stubby fingers at the Noibat. The attack might not hit all of them, but the ones it does will be forced right down to the ground.]

[no_ufo_ending]

<sub>[Some Pokemon trainers are better at solving problems than others.]

[But most Pokemon trainers didn't have to wander through a moldy hellscape filled with batbugs so when Henry crested the hill along with his friends and saw the sky-darkening swarm of unhappy squeaking creatures, he instantly grabbed up the nearest branch.]</sub>

I think...I think we should turn back. I can't--this isn't...

_{[And then he hears the distant sound of terrified baby elephants. Henry lowers his weapon long enough to ask:]}

Does anyone hear...tooting somewhere?

[samsa]

[Meanwhile, near the cave entrance...]

[Oh my god. Oh my god that was adorable. Kaneki almost forgets their current predicament as Lee goes streaking off after the Noibat up above while Rikki keeps a barrier up near the entrance to the cave. It doesn't stop them, but it helps a little.

Before Kaneki can bend down to greet Kujo, his Smeargle comes padding up excitedly to him, waving his tail dripping with green paint in greeting.]

You've got a pretty big bark, you know. Do you have a big bite, too?

[He says with a slight smile.]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[That sure is some tooting.]

[Heather almost hadn't heard it at first under the clamor of all those bats, but something's making that noise. Leaving long scuffs in the dirt from her heels on the slide down, she brushes herself off and straightens up, shading her eyes against the harsh sunlight.]</sub>

I can't... tell from here.

<sub>[Meanwhile, Cujo sits right down and leans EVER SO HAPPILY (AND HEAVILY) on Kaneki's leg, shaggy tail thumping in the dirt. HE IS HAPPY TO MEET KANEKI. HE IS HAPPY TO MEET THE SMEARGLE! HE'S HAPPY ABOUT EVERYTHING.]

[But judging by this teeth, he does indeed have a big bite.]

[Fortunately, he doesn't seem like the type to use it.]</sub>

[exeggutorhead]

[Envy can recognize the signs of an potential Henry Freakout at this point, and edges a couple of steps out of the range of that branch.]

[And with the closest bat swarm pinned to the ground, he can take a second to actually listen.]

It....might be? It doesn't sound happy.

[no_ufo_ending]

I wouldn't be happy either.

_{[Henry swung at the panicked creatures overhead again, backing further and further away and nearing the sound of the frightened mini stampede. He'd take tooting over the horrible thrum of wings.]}