The tall rich green grass swayed in the warm spring breeze as the flowers sprayed the field with there scent. The noon sky was a magnificent light blue, and puffy clouds floated freely. Three young Nidoran scurried across the peaceful scence.

A young girl of thirteen sat in these fields, tending to them with care and letting her starter frisk in the beauty. Rui smiled as her playful Vulpix frolicked in the flowers around Morningleaf Town. She stared into the sunny haven with a contented smile, daydreaming about her journey that was soon to start. After this rest all she had to do was grab her bag and ask her parents for money. Rui happily gazed into her fox's ruby fur, imagining that playful fuzzball actually fighting a battle. Her thoughts trailed, and she started imagining names for her furry partner.

Fira? Ruby? Ember? Amber? She shook her head, golden-brown hair flowing as she chided herself. None of the names were anywhere close to describing the friend she had found in the lovable Vulpix.

Rui was snapped back to reality as her young Vulpix started Embering the fields. Rui yelped in surprise and started stamping out the flames as the starter continued her Embering. Rui grabbed up the Vulpix and finished smothering the flames, worrying for the beautiful fields her family had taken such good care of.

Rui glared sternly at the sheepish fox in her hands. The Vulpix licked Rui's nose apologetically. She smiled, placing her starter on the ground. Vulpix dashed away, scampering back every few paces to lure her new trainer into playing. Rui laughed gleefully and started in hot pursuit of the furrball.

"Vul!" The Vulpix playfully bounced from one part of the field to another, cheerfully refusing to let her trainer catch her. She was a Pokemon, so was obviously speedier than a human.

The two were still frolicking around when an older girl walked by with her Pokemon, a beautiful, well-groomed Ninetales with silky cream-colored fur and intelligent ruby eyes. The older girl was just as pretty as her Pokemon, and waved sweetly at Rui.

"Hello there!" she called. "I'm Mia! Do you remember me?"

Mia was a trainer who had started on her journey several years ago, and was revisiting her hometown of Morningleaf for a few days.

Rui turned her head to greet Mia, not seeing the upturned root her foot struck.

"Hi Mi-AHHH!" Rui shrieked as she plummeted to the ground. She bolted into a sitting position, holding her nose as it sprayed a few drops of blood. Mia dashed over to her friend.

"Oh, Rui! Are you haha, oh-okay? Teehee! I'm so, ha, sorry!" Mia tryed her best to look concerned as she stifled a laugh.

Rui stood up, dusting herself off. "I'm fine, really Mia." The rookie looked over at the evolution of her starter, giggling as Vulpix tormented her evolution. The regal Ninetales proudly ignored the rowdy fox kit.
Rui grimaced, would Vulpix be like that when she evolved too?
Mia smiled, "So, hows about a battle, Rui? I've been wanting to put my new Ledyba to the test. It's a little less than twice higher than your Vulpix by level, but you have a type advantage."

Rui grinned, calling to her pal, "You got it, Mia!"

Still smiling, the older girl took out a PokeBall and threw it into the air. With a pang! noise and a flash of white light, a Ledyba came out of the ball. The bug Pokemon buzzed happily and settled itself in the air, wings blinking rapidly. It was prepared for battle.

Seeing that it was not needed for this, Mia's Ninetales curled down a couple of meters behind its trainer, contentedly watching the battle.

Vulpix lv5: 100% HP
Ledyba lv8: 100% HP


((Just one thing: Please don't control other characters except your own and your Pokemon from now on - if you want to do something, you can hint at it, and the mod will try to go your way. ^^ It's just to prevent 'godmodding'. :3))

((Oh, sorry! If you want I'll edit it so Rui challenges Mia))

Rui smirked, "Ok, Vulpix! We can do this! Charge at it with a Quick Attack!"

The six-tailed fox darted foward, missing the Ledyba by a fraction. The bug took off (is it OK to make the opponents Pokemon dodge or attack back?) as Vulpix staggered back, dazed. Shaking herself, Rui's starter fired off a Growl attack at her adversary. The flying Ledyba looked slightly taken aback at the ferocity of Vulpix's attack.

"Use Quick Attack again Vulpix!" Rui shouted, "And use Tail Whip as you fall back down!"

Vulpix was quick to obey the orders, throwing herself at the Ledyba in hopes of catching it off guard. She rammed into the bug's head, knocking it backwards towards a tree. Vulpix quikly turned and tried a Tail Whip, but the bug had been knocked back too far by the Quick Attack, so it only grazed Ledyba's foot. Vulpix started to fall to the ground.

Drat. Vulpix can't defend herself in the air, Rui gritted her teeth, waiting to give out the next order.

((No, you cannot control other people's Pokemon in any way - you give a command to your Pokemon, describe how they attack, and the result is described by the mod. ^^; ))

Mia smiled and called out, "Ledyba, confuse it with Supersonic and then immediately follow with Tackle!"

While Vulpix was still in the air, Ledyba unleashed a wave of different-frequencied sounds, the air suddenly vibrating around Vulpix and sending it roughly to the ground. Ledyba then shot forward again, charging into Vulpix head-first with a Tackle attack. Unfortunately, due to Vulpix's Growl, Ledyba hesitated a bit and the Tackle didn't succceed to full strength.

"Good job, Ledyba!" Mia praised. "When it gets up again send another Tackle!"

Vulpix: 87% (hurt by Tackle, Confused)
Ledyba: 90% (hurt by Quick Attack, attack lowered)

(Oh, ok sorry! This is my first RPG.)

Rui grimaced, "Ok, Vulpix, Ember!"

Vulpix tottered for a second wondering who to attack. She shook her head vigorously and fired a series of small flames at the Ledyba. Rui smiled as it made contact and singed the Ledyba.

"Quick Attack!" Rui yelled.

The Vulpix suddenly cried out and fell to the ground as a result of confusion. She shakily pulled herself up, glaring upwards at her flying opponent and used another Growl.

(( That's alright. ^^ But um... you can't decide whether your Pokemon's attack succeeds or not, though - results are always decided by the mod, but you control your charas. ))

"Your Vulpix is pretty strong, Rui," Mia noted. "But my Ledyba won't be defeated easily!"

Vulpix's Ember weakened the Ledyba but as the fox Pokemon fell it flew back for more, Tackling the Vulpix as it struggled to stand.

Rui's Pokemon struggled again, but managed to fire another Growl.

"Don't mind it! Be aggressive, Ledyba!" Mia called out. "Take Down!"

Ledyba shook its head and flew upward, reading to dive down and unleash another attack.

Vulpix: 78% HP (Confused until you snap it out of it)
Ledyba: 70% HP (-Attack)

(Oh jeez, sorry...)

Rui gasped, "Vulpix! Hang in there!"
Vulpix struggled to get up.
"Quick Attack and Ember when your in the air Vulpix!" Rui shouted.

((So I don't have to repeat things over and over in multiple topics, I just made a topic in the Guides board. :3))

Hearing her trainer's voice, Vulpix jumped into the air, dodging Ledyba's Take Down, which ended up crashing onto the Earth. The fox Pokemon hovered over the enemy for a split second, and then streaked down with Quick Attack, moving so quickly it was only possible to see a streak of light.

Ledyba was pushed down to the ground.

"Knock it off!" Mia shouted. "Then Tackle it!"

Vulpix prepared to use Ember, but the Bug Pokemon managed to shake Vulpix away, knocking its Fire attack off course.

Ledyba zoomed past the small flames and hit Vulpix hard on the side.

Vulpix: 69% HP
Ledyba: 60% HP

(Ok, I'll read it before I mess anything else up. <=3)

Rui gasped. Come on Vulpix, you can win this! Lets see, if Ledyba takes off, Vulpix can use a Quick Attack and Ember. If it doesn't, Vulpix can Growl and Tail Whip it untill it does take off.
She smiles, not seeing how the plan could fail.

"Alright Vulpix! Use Tail Whip and Growl untill it flies away! Then hit it with a Quick Attack from below and Ember it to the ground if you can!" Rui ordered confidently.

The fox rushed towards the bug, her fangs in a snarl using Growl and readying her tails to Tail Whip the Ledyba as soon as she got close enough.

((Nice =D))

"You look like you're thinking hard, Rui," Mia noted. Her expression was slightly worried. Then turning to Ledyba, called, "Ledyba! Get out of the way!"

Vulpix leaped over the Bug Pokemon with a Growl, but Ledyba flew off to the side so the attack missed. Responding to this evasive maneuver, Vulpix twisted its body so Ledyba received the Tail Whip instead. It then shot off with a Quick Attack, but Ledyba evaded by flying behind it in the air.

Why didn't she just use an Ember? Mia wondered. Growl and Tail Whip are pointless against my Pokemon...

"That's it! Ledyba, get it confused again!"

The Bug Pokemon shot off a Supersonic just as Vulpix unleashed pellets of flames. Both attacks hit, and both were knocked away from each other. Vulpix slammed against a tree trunk, falling to the ground. Ledyba's wings were damaged by the flames and it buzzed weakly, falling to the ground as well.

Vulpix: 50% HP (Confused)
Ledyba: 40% HP ("near-crippled" o_o;)

Both Pokemon had been severely weakened.

((Thanks! =3)

Vulpix staggered around, trying to clear the stars from her vision.

Rui clenched her teeth. How she dreaded confusion (adding a little me there, I hate confusion. It shall die! >83).

"Ok, Vulpix!" She encouraged her starter to get up. "Try a Ember again! If that doesn't work use Quick Attack! The Ledyba shouldn't be able to dodge if you time it right!"

((Hello? Anyone there?? PLEASE???))

((Eee sorry. D:))

Vulpix struggled to get up, hearing her trainer's encouraging voice. The Pokemon blinked around, trying to pinpoint the location of the enemy. She could see it lying on the ground, desperately trying to get up as well, but the image was shaking.

The fox Pokemon powered flames in her belly and unleashed another round of Ember, aiming it everywhere she saw the Ledyba.

"Ledyba! Fly away!" Mia commanded, a note of panic in her voice.

But alas, the Bug Pokemon, with its wings damaged, really couldn't do much except duck and scramble as far as it could. It looks like the odds were in Vulpix's favor!

Vulpix: 50% HP (Confused)
Ledyba: 30% HP

((xD Yay! Thankies!!))

Rui smirked in pleasure at her Vulpixes attack. "Quick Attack, Vulpix!" She roared gleefully.

Vulpix staggered, the effects of confusion dulling her senses and dostorting her vision. In the distance, she heard your voice, telling her to use quick attack. Her head still ringing from the supersonic, she couldn't quite figure out what you meant. Quick attack what? That red shiny thing, the one that made the painful noises? No, that was a car. At least it looked like a car. It did seem to burn when she breathed fire on it, which she was fairly sure cars did not do.

While Vulpix was very lost in thought about cars, the crippled Ledyba siezed the chance. Scuttling forward frantically, it rammed the dazed Vulpix as hard as it could.

Vulpix started forward, her dazed feelings gone. Being hit by a car! That meant death sometimes! It certainly hurt now. Was she dead? Most likely not-- she expected death being something like being held inside a Pokeball, except not being able to go out. And here was the car right in front of her, looking remarkable small, not to mention a bit burned...

Well, why not add to that? Changing her mind on your orders, she blasted the Ledyba with a full-force ember. The bug Pokemon squealed as its already-damaged wing membranes caught fire again, and it fluttered them frantically, trying to dislodge the flames. It didn't work. The heat became too much for the insect, and it blacked out.

Vulpix: 35% HP (Still lightly confused)
Ledyba: 0% HP (knocked out)

Mia smiled and recalled her Ledyba. "I suppose that's what I get for sending out a bug Pokemon against a fire one. Good show." She reached into her pocket and pulled out several brass coins-- Pokedollars. She handed them to you.

You gained $80!
Vulpix gained 80 experience and grew to level 7 (5/45 exp to go)

"It's tradition that the losing trainer pays the winner a little something," she told you, smiling. "Besides, I always save money just for that. Now, remember strategy in battles-- you can't just go randomly calling out techniques. It never works. Plus, some techniques just don't work when used in succession. Take your Vulpix's growl and ember, for example-- if it used those at the same time, it would just end up with a burned tongue and the opponent laughing at it. Remember-- strategy is the road to success!" She gave you a thumbs-up and skipped away, leaving you with the nagging feeling that she had let you win intentionally.

Rui stared blankly at Mia for a moment, and then smiled.
"Sure thing! Thank you!"
The golden-brown haired girl picked up her Vulpix with a smile. She cradled the fox in her arms.
"Well done, Vulpix. Now what shall I name you." Rui thought aloud. The girl thought back to her heritage, and smiled.
"Rikku. You are Rikku."

The Pokemon seemed to smiled up at her owner. Rikku shook her fur, licking down a spot on her chest where the fur was ruffled.
Rui smiled and set the fox down. It was getting to be around noon, and the girl wanted to start her journey.

She ran to her house, Vulpix at her heels. The girl, panting, opened the door.
"Dad? I'm back, and ready to start on my journey." She announced, and then continued a bit awkwardly, "can I have some, um, money?" She bit her lip nervously. It sounded so puchy to ask her father a question like that.

Rui's father looked up from the chair he was sitting in, folding the newspaper he had been reading and setting it on the chair as he stood to greet Rui. "Hi, Rui," he said. He looked down in surprise at the Vulpix that followed her in. Kneeling, he smiled at the little Pokemon. "Hey there, Vulpix," he said, a warm glimmer in his eyes.

He straightened, looking back at Rui. "You need money?" he repeated. Then he nodded absently. "You'll be going out on your own journey. Of course you'll need some money." Rui's father dissappeared down the hall into the house, then returned.

Rui receives $500!

Rui's father embraced her in a huge hug. "Please be careful while you're out there," he said. "Be sure to call, too!"

Rui smiled widely and gave her dad a huge hug. As she was snuggled in with him she whispered, "I'll miss you dad," a single tear ran down her face.

She broke away from her father and wiped the tear away, picking up her vulpix, Rikku, and smiling even wider than before. "Tell mom that I said bye, I wish I could. Where is she?" Rui asked, looking a bit upset. Rikku licked Rui's ear, seeming concerned. The girl absentmindedly pet her fox as she pocketed the money.

Rui's father leaned against the chair. "Your mother's at the park, watching the Pokemon Coordinators practice," he said. "She's always dreamed of becoming a Coordinator." He smiled a little and laughed. "Coordinating isn't for me. I'm too old to seriously travel like I used to, but in my heart I'll always be a Pokemon Trainer."

Turning his head, he looked over to a ledge of pictures. His gaze found one near the middle, of a young man with a thick head of brown hair, smiling proudly with one hand resting on the head of a powerful-looking Persian.

Rui's father switched his gaze back to Rui. "You'll do well, Rui. I know you will." He smiled.

Rui nodded, looking nonplussed. "Oh," she trailed off a bit, blinking away the sadness. Then she grinned, a wide, happy grin. "I'll train and be just as good as you were with Persian, Dad!" She promised, looking determined. It was definitely going to be an adventure to remember. Rikku yipped loudly once beside her trainer, tails wagging with excitement.

"Bye Dad!" She yelled, dashing out of the house with a smile painted on her face. Her long legs fanned out in front of her as she pelted through the grasses. At the top of a hill, she stopped; looking at Morningleaf town again. She sighed a bit, letting the wind blow her hair in the breeze.

Rikku yipped again, looking up at her trainer. Rui snapped out of her trance and looked down at her Vulpix. "Well, let's go!" She announced, trotting out into the middle of the town, heading for the forest on the edge of town.

As Rui headed for the forest, a light breeze tugged at her hair and clothes. Rikku turned her head to face the wind, the curls of maroon fur on her head becoming ruffled. Eyes gleaming, she looked up at Rui before shaking her head to restore the curls to their proper place.

On the outskirts of the town, the pathways transformed from a dirt and gravel mixture to plain grass, bordered by longer grass and weeds. A twisting path led to the forest, which stood dark and looming ahead of the girl and her Vulpix.

Where Rui stood, the grass path split to the left, snaking away until it was lost. Vulpix stopped at it, tilting her head in question. The path led to the park, where Rui's mother was. Then Rikku took a step or two down the trail to the forest, confused. She looked up at her trainer before moving down either path.

Rui looked down the path to the park longingly. How she wanted to see her mother again! She knew she had to continue on her journey, and shook took a deep breath. Dad'll tell her I said bye, the teen told herself, standing up a bit taller with resolution. Indecision was a beastly thing, but when you'd decided, you felt oh so much better.

The girl turned to her Vulpix, smiling. "Keep on going, we're heading for the forest," she said. Even as she said this, Rui felt a pang of guilt. But there was no going back now. The Pokemon and its trainer trotted into the forest, eyes alert to anything that'd take her mind off her mother.