4.0 Dedicated to its Members and Fans of Pokemon A Pokemon Sandbox RP
Pokémon Dubstep (ft. Lindsey Stirling)
W
elcome Adventurer to EPOCH! A Pokemon Sandbox Rp set in the original region of Nue. Everything you need to know will be in the Guidebook and PokeDex 101!
EPOCH uses the Manga and is built on the Original ideas suggested by our members.
We are more than just a Pokemon RP, we're a friendly community with a goal on being a memorable experience for those that look in.
Golden Rule: Treat others as you wish to be treated. If you find yourself content with being an asshole EPOCH and its members will not tolerate you.
RULES
Understand We're All Human. Respect the staffers as well as your fellow members and guests. We all have flaws, tempers and quirks. Be patient with one another, but if issues involving other members come up please don’t just grin and bear it. Contact a staff member, informing them of what's going on so they can address and resolve the situation. The staff won't know what's bothering you unless you tell them.
EPOCH is PG-13. Proboards’ Terms of Service:
Sex; When you get under the clothes, fade to black.
Violence; Do not go into extreme nauseating detail.
Cursing; This is so fucking allowed, but don't go overboard.
Suggestive Content; In avatars, signatures and templates can attract the wrong kind of attention. So be careful.
With summer approaching, days had become warmer and longer lasting. Sometimes the temperature was high enough for people to walk around Bayonadaville in short sleeves. This was one of these days. Julia was walking through the town’s streets doing some window-shopping and enjoying the peaceful morning of a well-deserved day off. Camille, her Azurill, was bouncing on its tail alongside her trainer. ‘What a beautiful day we have today, don’t you think so Camille?’, Julia asked the tiny blue mouse pokemon with a tender smile. Camille answered to her question with a happy bouncing dance until forcing the young Gym Leader to a smile.
Bayonadaville surely had nothing to do with Evergrande City, but it somehow felt more homely. People in town were truly kind and warm-hearted and it was impossible not to greet everyone with a smile. Trainer and pokemon had been walking for about twenty minutes, when the Azurill suddenly demanded Julia’s attention. ‘Azu- Azurill!’, it claimed while energetically bouncing on the ground. ‘What is it Camille?’ Julia responded. Camille’s eyes averted to the showcase of an ice-cream and juice parlor. Of course, she was thirsty. Water pokemon needed special care when kept outside the water and although Julia let hers stay at the Gym’s underground lakes, sunny days like the one they were having could still make pokemon thirsty.
She went on her knees and took Camille in her arms. The ice-cream parlor was a little crowded and the Azurill was so tiny it could be easily overseen by the other customers and get accidentally hurt. ‘Okay, how about some orange juice?’, Julia asked her pokemon as she took a look at the drinks menu. ‘Azu…’. Camille’s answer did not sound quite convincing, so Julia tried with another offer. ‘Would you like peach juice better?’ Yes, that was the right choice. Camille answered happily with multiple nods and the young Gym Leader paid for the drink. She put a straw into the glass bottle and hold it in front of Azurill so that the pokemon could start drinking. Julia was so focused in feeding her pokemon, however, that she did not really watch where she was stepping until she finally bumped into someone, her juice and Camille almost slipping out of her hands. ‘Ow…’, she complained for a brief moment. ‘I-I’m sorry!’, she then apologized, her cheeks flushed in crimson color. ‘Are you okay? You didn’t get stained with juice, did you?’ She finally asked as she decided to look up and meet the person she had bumped into.
POKÉMON
CAMILLE
AZURILL
FEMALE
HUGE POWER
MOVESET: BUBBLE BEAM | BOUNCE | DOUBLE TEAM | SLAM
'Azurill spins its tail as if it were a lasso, then hurls it far. The momentum of the throw sends its body flying, too. Using this unique action, one of these Pokémon managed to hurl itself a record 33 feet.'
In the early morning, fluffy balls of cotton filled the sky. The world was lit by the purest veil of blue that was combined with the bright rays of yellow that breathed light through the clouds. The soundtrack of waves of sapphire blue roaring against the cliff side was only countered by the hustle and bustle of voices that would emerge shortly after. Pristine tan pressed firmly against the ground below and the occasional virgin leaf would fall from its resting place and press against porcelain skin for but a moment before becoming victim to the occasional, crisp gust of wind that brewed once every few minutes. Summer casually moved through the streets, her long blue cardigan swaying casually with Titani moving at her side. Occasionally she would let out a loud yipping noise in excitement to response to the other Pokemon that trailed behind their trainers, or the people that stopped to take a second glance at the excited fairy Pokemon. Her small form would occasionally dance alongside Summer, causing the trainer to let out a smile chuckle and respond with dance movements of her own.
She loved Spring. Her time in Bosky Hamlet with her family gave her a true admiration for the season. She enjoyed the smell of fresh blooming grasses and flowers, and the swift wind that carried behind. The weather was never too cold and never too hot, less she lived in Iceburgh where it stayed cold year round. But what made her love the season more than anything else was the abundance of Pokemon that appeared from their hiding places and made their appearances known once again. There was a plethora of Pokemon that were known to hate the cold months and it was for this reason that they learned to adapt to weather and find ways to counter it. Many slept through these months, while others left in search for warmth. However, the result of Spring remained the same. The little creatures pulling themselves from behind the thickets and burrows that once housed them to interact and enjoy the weather once more.
Doe eyes looked to the streets in search of the commotion that was currently brewing. An ice-cream parlor? She hadn't been to a parlor in what she estimated to be years, so following the crowd was instinct to her. Bending down she scooped the pink star in her arms, allowing the creature to snuggle into her chest before she continued moving again. Her arms wrapped around her petite frame she occasionally moved them to push the pink locks from her face. Thinking, Summer smiled at the idea of tasting Bayondaville's ice-cream. She had only ever tasted the ice-cream of Bosky, namely the ice cream her older cousin made for her when she was but an infant. He was a man of many talents, that boy. A jack of all trades, but cooking seemed to be his most prominent talent (aside from battling). He had even become so known in the town that he would sell his recipes to the locals, but they never had his magic touch. No one could deny this, and for this reason despite her excitement she couldn't help but feel a bit skeptical and critical of the flavors soon to come.
Continuing, Summer ducked and dodged through the crowd making an attempt to slip past the crowd who already had their purchases in hand. Making her way to the front, she sighed, it was like trying to get through a herd of Milktank; which isn't an easy feat mind you! Just as she was about to place her order, she felt something crash into her. An opposing body that sent her and Titania stumbling backward in a scene one could only call dramatic.
"WOAH!!! HOLY CRAP!!!!"
Using her palms as an anchor she caught herself on the ground and immediately pushed herself back up. Titania was now clinging to the front part of her shoulder, proceeding to turn to glare daggers at the culprit. Her small eyes staring deep into the pools of brown gem stones, before softening after seeing the small water-mouse she carried. Summer took a deep breathe, glancing down at the small stain that now accompanied her black button down. For but a moment she thought of screaming in rage, however, after hearing the flaring apology that accompanied the fall she let out a small smile in an attempt to keep her cool. She had more clothes in her backpack anyway so there was no point in screaming.
"It's okay, no one got hurt and I have more clothes anyway. The real question is, are you okay?"
Julia could feel the tension in the air as the girl she had bumped into stood up. Thank Goddness the pink-haired had good reflexes and had been able to catch herself on the ground, otherwise the consequences could have been even worse. Not that staining somebody with juice would be the detonator of an apocalyptic catastrophe, but Julia was way too concerned with perfection and good manners. So, to her, dirtying the stranger’s clothes was pretty close to the world’s end. ‘Oh no…’ She muttered worriedly as she looked at the stain. How could she be so clumsy and not watch where she stepped? Her mind started to process multiple solutions at the speed of light. She could offer the girl to wash it for her, but that would probably feel uncomfortable, as she didn’t really know the person standing in front of her. ‘I know!’, she then suddenly said as she clapped her hands with Camille still in her arms.
The little Azurill, happy as it innocently was, clapped along and started to sing. ‘Azu- Azurill!’ It did of course not know what its trainer had come up with, but as long as it meant something good it was worth a little singing. Julia looked at the pink-haired’s eyes and then at her cute little Cleffa, which was obviously not very happy with the recent accident. ‘How about I treat you and your Cleffa to a drink to compensate for what just happened?’ To Julia, this could be a good way to calm things down and also earn the Cleffa’s forgiveness. She was then glad to see the girl’s expression soften and ask if she was okay. That, however, was unexpected. Julia was still a beginner when it came to socializing and sometimes she could not really understand people’s behavior. Why was the girl concerned about Julia being alright if her clothes had just gotten dirty thanks to her clumsiness?
Consequent to this unexpected question, another light blush tainted Julia’s cheeks as she hugged Camille closer to her. At least she was not alone and did not have to confront this situation all by herself. ‘Oh… don’t worry’, she said timidly as she looked up again with a shy smile. ‘I’m perfectly fine. I’m just worried about your clothes’. One good thing a lack of social interaction had is that Julia was extremely straightforward and always expressed her thoughts sincerely. To be frank, the young Gym Leader was more worried about the girl’s clothes than her own well-being, but it actually felt good to have someone other than your parents worry about you.
Camille, who had been observing the Cleffa with a constant smile, suddenly started to talk to it. ‘Azurill, Azu-!’ It said as it wrapped its tail around the glass bottle of peach juice her trainer was holding with one of her hands. Julia let go of it immediately, almost hundred percent sure of what her pokémon’s intentions were. As expected, Camille extended its tail towards the Cleffa so that it could drink a little of the juice. ‘Azurill!’, it said again, as if trying to convince the little fairy pokémon to try a little of that refreshing drink. Now that one of her hands was free, Julia extended her right arm to the counter, reaching for a glass with many colorful straws. She took a pink one, thinking it would fit the Celffa, and put it into the bottle of juice. Now two straws were in it, a light blue one and a pink one.
POKÉMON
CAMILLE
AZURILL
FEMALE
HUGE POWER
MOVESET: BUBBLE BEAM | BOUNCE | DOUBLE TEAM | SLAM
'Azurill spins its tail as if it were a lasso, then hurls it far. The momentum of the throw sends its body flying, too. Using this unique action, one of these Pokémon managed to hurl itself a record 33 feet.'
It reminded her of her family's trip to the Kalos Berry Fields. The sweet smell of berries filling her nostrils and leaving a sweet taste in her mouth as though she had just eaten a handful even when she hadn't even eaten one. Mentally she recalled when the field's farmer allowed her and Titania to water the plants and mingle with the wild bug Pokemon that appeared ever so often. His daughter and her cousins giggling amongst themselves, her aunt and uncle speaking with the owner. A smile swept over her face, but vanished just as quickly once her mind dropped her back into reality. Sometimes she wished she could be stuck in her fondest memories. Summer looked down at her attire, spotting the large orange colored stain on her attire. Her brow raised and she let out a large, and rather unsettling, laugh.
"Man, that's gonna be a bitch getting out, huh?"
Placing Titania on her shoulder and moving her hands to her backpack, she stripped off her cardigan and pulled out a black basketball jersey. Instantly, she threw the jersey on, the turned her attention to Julia. Each gesture, facial expression, hand motion. Even the smallest of movements didn't escape her watchful eye as she watched her intently. The redness of her cheeks and the soft messages that pulled from her eyes. The long brown hair that only served to match her towering demeanor over Summer's small frame. She then turned her attention to the Azurill that was snug deep into the girl's chest. The small blue, water-mouse Pokemon was now breaking into song and dance. Doe pink eyes eyed the creature curiously in the same manner as she had done its trainer. She knew there was something unique about every individual Pokemon and there were certain motions and mannerisms that gave way to these qualities. Her aunt told her once, you could even tell a Pokemon's potential simply by mannerisms alone and that even the smallest Pokemon could destroy the toughest mountain.
Instantly, holding her arms outward, she watched with curious eyes as the two fairy Pokemon began interacting with one another. Titania puckering her lips before letting the sweet liquid fill her senses, her small eyes beaming in response. "Cleffa, Fa-!" Lifting her small arms in the air, she turned back to Summer then back to Azurill whom she was now graciously thanking. Sipping from the pink straw, she would occasionally look back to Summer and then to Julia before continuing.
Yawning, Summer continued to watch the little Pokemon drink before she scooped the larger of the two into her hands. Moving over to an unoccupied table and gesturing for Julia to follow. Sitting down, she smiled.
"Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Summer Grey. And that's Titania."
Good thing the pink-haired had another jacket in her bag, although that didn’t make Julia feel less guilty. She was lucky that Camille had actually preferred peach juice instead of orange juice; otherwise the stain in the other girl’s clothes would be quite difficult to erase.
With all the tension gone, Julia used a few seconds to take a closer look at the newcomer. From her appearance, the Gym Leader guessed her age around fifteen or sixteen years old; a blooming adolescent full of energy. Her almost matching light pink eyes and strawberry colored hair only softened her features more, making her look, in Julia’s opinion, cute. Looking at her, Julia could only wish she could’ve had a sister like her –although maybe that wouldn’t have been a very good idea since she would’ve probably treated her like a doll; always messing with her hair and doing the make-up for her–. She was therefore happy to see the girl moving to a table and inviting her along. Timidly, Julia followed after her and took a seat.
Camille decided to softly jump on the table and wait for her new Cleffa friend to join her. As long as the little Azurill didn’t get too carried away with its bouncing and singing, Julia didn’t mind it playing with the other pokémon. She then redirected her attention to the girl who had now introduced herself as Summer Grey. Ah, what a fitting name that was, although to Julia the pink color of her eyes and the matching pattern of her hair reminded her more of Spring and its blooming flowers. ‘Nice to meet you, Summer’, she said before making a pause and gifting Summer’s Cleffa with a smile ‘and you too, Titania, of course’.
Surprisingly, those words had come out naturally and without the need of any previous thoughts. Sometimes it was difficult for Julia to interact with other people. She would usually avoid even talking to strangers and unintentionally give them mean looks, but that did not happen with Summer. ‘I’m Julia Kersey’, she then introduced herself before placing her hand on Camille’s back so that the Azurill would face Titania’s trainer. ‘and this little mouse here is Camille’. Julia would have told Camille to say hello, but that was not necessary. ‘Azurill!’, exclaimed the blue pokémon as it started to bounce happily on the table. Julia’s hands then reached for the Azurill in order to bring its moment of ecstasy to a stop.
The Gym Leader sighed before letting go of Camille with a smile that clearly said ‘What am I going to do with you?’ It was a small pokémon, but it probably stored more happiness in its tiny body than any other creature. With her eyes finally returning to meet Summer’s gaze, Julia resumed the conversation they had started. ‘Are you from Bayonadaville, Summer? Or are you just passing by?’ Bayonadaville was a town where almost everyone knew each other so it was rather surprising that Julia hadn’t met Summer before.
Summer watched her with peaked curiosity. She was interested in the girl whose name in Latin meant youthful. "Julia?" The girl mused before her eyes trailed down to the small water-mouse that was now bouncing happily on the round tail that it used as a lasso. She was so small, so frail and naive. It shook Summer to her core watching the interaction between Camille and Titania, and so she turned her attention back to Julia. Her eyes never once returning to watch the two fairy Pokemon dance along the tabletop. Looking at Julia, Summer couldn't help but admire the woman whom she assumed was well beyond her years, but looked as though she fit the age rank. There was something about the maturity in Julia's voice that clawed at the bank of her mind. Like a monster so desperately trying to escape its cage. Maybe it was her own maturity that so desperately wanted its time to shine, but Summer still lived in her youth. And though she admired Julia, she didn't want to become her any time soon. Her youth had only just began, and by the tone in Julia's voice, her youth was nothing more than responsibility and motherly work ethic that sent shivers down Summer's spine.
"The pleasure is all mine..."
Rubbing the back of her head as she spoke her mind went blank once she began to ponder her place of origin. She wasn't from Bayadonville nor had she ever been here before, up until she left her family's farm in Bosky. But even then, she wasn't originally from Bosky since she had originally made her appearance at an orphanage in the Kanto Region. She also wasn't exactly passing by since she had been in the city for a little over a month now, but then again she usually strayed on the outskirts of town and only returned when night had fallen. Mentally pondering what she would respond with, she scratched the back of her head as she finally began to speak through curled lips and glazed eyes.
"Well, I'm a little bit from everywhere, y'know? Not passing through, not staying permanently. My life's a bit, complicated right now."
Laughing, she slipped her hands onto the table before proceeding to let out a small sigh, through her thin lips. There wasn't too much she could say about her life since, as it stood, it was undeveloped and most of her time was spent on a farm with Pokemon that her family cared for. But even then, there was no assurances that they were her actual family nor was there any actual evidence that she was from Kanto. Hell for all she knew she could have been from the Johto Region, or from Sinnoh. Rubbing her hands through her hair she looked back up at Julia.
"What about you Jules? You from here or just another passerby trying to get a vacation from the big city?"
Maybe her question had not been appropriate for the situation? Julia watched at Summer’s reaction as a feeling of uneasiness started to make her feel tense again. It was obvious that the pink-haired was not comfortable with talking about her place of origin, even Julia could notice that, but did that mean the young Gym Leader had made a mistake by asking her such a question? She didn’t know. She lacked so much experience in social interaction it was impossible for her to determine what was socially acceptable and what not. Maybe asking someone you just met about where he or she came from was rude or uncalled for.
From her vague answer, Julia could also tell that Summer did not feel comfortable at all with that topic. ‘Ugh… Julia, you should be more careful when asking personal things…’, she thought. A feeling of guiltiness pressured her heart as she saw the other girl’s now glassy-looking eyes. Summer obviously tried to dissimulate that fact, giving out a lough that didn’t convince Julia at all, yet unable to stop a sigh from escaping her lips. ‘Oh… I understand’, was the only thing she could manage to answer, her eyes looking down at the wooden table. Man, the first person she met in Bayonadaville with the potential to be more than just another stranger in her life, and she had to mess things up. Now Julia was the one sighing.
After a few seconds of awkward silence, Julia reverted her attention back to the younger female when she was asked the same question. ‘Me?’ She didn’t expect Summer to be curious about her life. And she had called her ‘Jules’. Only good acquaintances or friends give you nicknames, right? Did that mean she wasn’t mad at her for asking her where she came from? But Julia didn’t have the time to clear the mess in her head up. She had to answer her question. ‘I’m originally from Hoenn, concretely from Evergrande City’, she spoke, her right hand playing with the tips of her hair. ‘I just recently moved to Bayonadaville, but I have to admit I don’t miss the big city as much as I thought I would’. Indeed, the tranquil life of Bayonadaville was definitely more suiting to her personality than the sleepless city.
She then glanced over her Azurill and the Cleffa. Both pokémon seemed to understand each other pretty well as the little blue mouse tried to pull the pink fairy into the dancing session. Julia giggled. Then, something popped in her mind. ‘If you travel that much...’ she began.‘I assume you are a trainer?’ The question had come out involuntarily and now she was afraid to have made another mistake. Making assumptions about other people was a rude thing to do, wasn’t it?
Her family never let go to Ever Grande City. They assumed that its closeness to the infamous Victory Road combined with her budding curiosity was a recipe for disaster. It was for that very reason that they never allowed her near Flash City either. Though, in likeness to Julia, she enjoyed the tranquil towns of Bayonadaville, Bosky Hamlet, and Shui City. Her hands slipped back onto the table, reaching out to touch Cleffa for but a moment before dropping back to her lap. Her posture shrank as dropped down to eye level with Titania and Camille, doe eyes watching them intently as she mused Julia's question. "A trainer?" She had never once thought of herself as a trainer, though it was something she enjoyed. But there was a reason for this. She had never actually battled anyone outside of her farm and she hadn't actually caught any Pokemon since her departure with the exception of Miel and Drifloon whom she sent back to the farm only moments after.
Moving back up and adjusting her posture, she looked at Julia and smiled at the wide-eyed brunette.
"I guess you could say that. We just started not too long ago, and well with Titania still being an infant, as with all my other babies, I'd consider us a trainer in the making, yeah?"
She laughed softly, instantly, patting Titania on the head as the fairy-Pokemon now turned to face her giving away a soft smile and a sweet incantation of its affection by rubbing against her palm. "Cleffa, Fa!" was all she uttered before turning her attention back to the water-fairy. Leaning in towards Julia a grin plastered across her face. She couldn't help but ponder whether or not the girl was a trainer n the making as well, nor couldn't she help but secretly wonder if they could travel together as a pair of misfits.
There was nothing more inspiring than young trainers with lots of energy. Julia could not really guess if Summer was an experienced trainer just by looking at her, but if all her Pokémon were still as young as she said, there was only little she could have travelled. However, seeing as her Cleffa liked her so much, Julia was almost sure the pink-haired would have a marvelous future with Pokémon. ‘Don’t rush yourself, enjoy every moment of growth as a trainer’, Julia said calmly with an encouraging smile drawn on her fine lips.
The brunette raised her hand in order to catch the waiter’s attention and ask him for some juice. ‘Could I have another peach juice, please?’ The Gym Leader asked before turning her attention back to Summer. ‘What would you like to drink?’, she asked the female trainer. ‘It’s my treat, so don’t worry. I insist’ After all, that was the least she could do after ruining her cute cardigan.
She waited for Summer to place her order before answering to her next question. Her story? Julia blinked in surprise for a few seconds. Now that was another unexpected thing to talk about. Did she even have a story? The Gym Leader had never thought of her life like that. To her, her life had just been ordinarily boring, maybe a little lonesome to the eyes of others, but still nothing out of the normal. Or at least that was what she thought, which obviously differed from what an objective observer would opine. ‘I moved to Bayonadaville to legally assist the fishers and the steamship companies of Nue, though my services are put to the service of just any maritime operator’.
Her expertise in Water Type Pokémon therefore combined pretty well with her daily job. ‘Yet, that is only one of my occupations’, she added after the waiter arrived with their drinks. ‘I’m one of Bayonadaville’s Gym Leaders’ To her, however, being a Gym Leader was not something particularly special. To her, what made the title special was to be recognized as one of the best Water Type trainers.
A brow raised as she pondered what she wanted. She had to consider Titania's taste as well as her own, history would only suggest that the pink-fairy was prone to taking a few sips as well and as such every thing had to be considered. Finally, after a few moments of taking Titania's taste in account, she looked back up at Julia then at the waiter.
"Guava juice would be fine, thank you..."
Turning her attention back to Julia she listened intently to the girl's story. She was truly fascinated by Julia's less than humble life, her doe eyes peering up from behind her pink locks, watching her as she nonchalantly explained her life. She had heard of many people moving around Nue for various reasons but coming here specifically for maritime operating was rare, since she was all but sure that many other towns had their own maritime operations. Ever Grande City had a waterfall right on the edge of the city, so there wasn't too much of a reason for her to leave less there was another reason.
The world seemingly fell silent at the mention of Julia being a Gym Leader. Summer didn't quite know how to explain her surprise to being int he face of a gym leader. The curiosity behind Summer's eyes could be seen clearly now, as she pondered what would come of the battle she would eventually have to have with Julia. She was a trainer and Julia was a Gym Leader so it was only natural that, at some point, they would have duel to decide whether or not Summer was worthy of the Pokemon League. In this given situation she couldn't help but to register Julia as an opponent whom she wouldn't show mercy no matter how good of friends they would become.
A quick breathe was drawn before she spoke, her voice being low and almost unheard.
"That means...we're going to have to battle at some point..."
Looking back up she smiled at Julia, now she couldn't help but wonder something, she wanted to more about Julia's life. Grabbing hold of the juice she took a small sip before placing it back on the table and allowing for Titania to take a few sips of her own.
"Julia...how did you go about becoming a Gym Leader? What led you to wanting to be a master of water...?"
Was it because she was a lawyer or because she was Bayonadaville’s Water-type Gym Leader? Julia blinked in confusion for a few times as she observed Summer’s reaction intently. There was something going on in her mind, the brunette could totally sense it, but she was at a loss as to guess the reason behind the pink-haired’s silence. Camille and Titania had both fallen silent as well, waiting for Summer to speak up. ‘Azu…?’ The little Azurill hopped closer to the youngest of the trainers, its head slightly titled to the side.
Finally, Summer spoke and a sigh of relief escaped Julia’s lips unintentionally. So that was the reason behind her inner debate. But… was it a bad thing to have to face each other in a Gym battle? ‘Well…’ The brunette started, giving another sip to her juice. ‘If you’re willing to become a real Pokémon trainer I suppose you will want to take the Gym challenge’. It could seem as an obvious thing to say, but not all trainers wanted to challenge the Gym Leaders. Some just enjoyed battling but did not pursue any concrete goal. ‘I have to say, though, that as a Gym Leader I’ll be really happy to battle you someday, Summer’. Her words had been sincere; her smile, comforting. If both of them could make a step forward and not see each other as strangers or mere acquaintances, but friends, Julia would surely enjoy the battle even more than she usually did when facing other challengers.
Summer’s final question took the brunette a little by surprise, not because it had been an unexpected question, but because she had never really thought about the answer. ‘Hmm…’ With her index finger resting on her chin and her eyes lost in the parlor’s ceiling, Julia thought about her reasons to become a master of water Pokémon. ‘Actually, I never really thought about training any Pokémon until a few years ago’. After all, her primordial goal had always been to become a lawyer, not a Pokémon trainer. ‘But… during my years in college I met Itaca, my first Pokémon, and found my first real friend in her. I guess that made me realize about Pokémons’ existence and think about doing something else besides studying and memorizing.’ That was one part, but why water-type Pokémon? ‘As for why I decided to specialize in water-type Pokémon, I’m afraid the answer won’t really satisfy you. I just feel connected to them. I don’t sympathize with other Pokémon types. Don’t misunderstand me, it’s not that I don’t like other Pokémon, it’s just that I don’t feel like I have anything in common with them. Water-type Pokémon inspire me, they give off an aura of freedom and spirituality you will not find in any other type. Of course, that’s my personal opinion and I’m pretty sure many Gym Leaders have a similar opinion regarding their own Pokémon’.
Julia smiled, satisfied with her own answer as she took another sip of her juice. She then looked back at Summer. ‘What about you?’ She dared, little by little feeling more and more comfortable around the young trainer. ‘Why did you decide to become a trainer?’ There were many options out there after all, and many people disliked battling and instead preferred to breed Pokémon or participate with them in beauty contests.
There was something about the way people talked about their dreams that made Summer oh so curious.
She listened intently, mentally processing each word and pondering whether or not she had what it takes to be a Gym Leader, or even battle a Gym Leader at that. She was but a farm girl and nothing more, however, so were her cousins and somehow they managed to rise to the occasion and travel off to become Trainers and Coordinators. They were skilled in their craft, and she, well, Summer was beneath them in every sense of the word. Her training methods were only so so and flawed, her Pokemon were all infants and by all means weak, and Summer herself? Well she was too scared to even dip her foot in the water that become a trainer seemed almost impossible by all means. At least that's what her cousins had told her.
Despite her personal quarrels with the matter, she smiled at Julia's response, her doe eyes glancing down at the small water-mouse that she had now assumed to be Julia's more favored companion. Should Julia be right, the small Pokemon and her would share a bond that was thicker than blood and deeper than the darkest of ocean trenches. She fund empathy in water Pokemon in the same way that other trainers found empathy in their respective types. Mentally she agreed with water Pokemon did seem free, as free as any bird though at the same time confined to the water as other Pokemon were trapped on land. Summer couldn't help but to wonder what answers she would get should she go ask another Gym Leader how they felt about their respective Pokemon type.
Her brow raised. Summer didn't quite know how to explain why she became a Trainer. Rebellion, maybe? Love for the battle? The thrill? The excitement? The day she left the farm she never gave her aunt and uncle a reason behind her leave, she simply grabbed Titania and said she was leaving to become a trainer. In her defense, she was growing weary on the farm and its tediousness so maybe that was her reason.
A quick laughter was released before she spoke.
"The sad thing is, I don't really know. One day I just woke up, packed my things and said I was leaving. I was never really interested in it growing up, but there was something about watching all my cousins do great things that it kind of made me want to do something great too. Sure working on the farm was fun and all but at the same time, I was growing bored...tired even. I didn't excitement, adventure, I needed something new.."
Her answer was piss poor and she knew it. There wasn't really a good reason for her decisions it was just something that happened, and frankly while everyone may have thought her to be a fool she couldn't help but smile at her decision. Because becoming a trainer was one of the best decisions she could have ever made.
