Nakano Saito
Date: July 24 (26yo)
Location: Safari Zone, Johto
Pokemon Team: Mudster the Swampert, Aero the Aerodactyl, Silenus the Sceptile, Hattie the Hatterene, Chu the Pichu, Fluffy the Flareon, Brute Tooth the Barraskewda, Orochi the Zweilous, Paldean Blaze Breed Tauros, Chikorita, Mienshao
Interactions: Theo Hightower (Sir Krazz), Johnathan (Red Gallade), Esther Sophys via message (kyuukestu), Ron Towers via message (Hecotoro)
Theo needed to realize that the Pokemon world was going to be dangerous, and that nearly dying was a normal part of a Pokemon adventure. Almost every trainer had at least one, or even two, near-death experiences, and those unlucky dozens end up having more than five near-death experiences. The older one was and the more they adventured, the more dangers they'll stumble across, even if they were careful to avoid them and stayed close to the cities from the adjacent routes.
She wasn't even going to mention Galar's Wild Area to Theo. He'll figure that out on his own.
His analogy to the Pokemon Center healing had made Naka laugh, and even more so when he wanted to get into the medical field. Ohhh... The machine healed major status effects (like burns, poisons, freeze, paralysis, and involuntary sleep), major exhaustion - physically, elementally, or spiritually - and minor to moderate injuries. Severe injuries and elemental-based sicknesses (like an Electric-Type being overcharged or undercharged) had to be handled outside of the machine as it couldn't heal those. Those were mostly biological issues or were far beyond the scope of energy healing. He'd be seeing a lot more reasons to stay away from adventuring if he even attempted the medical field.
Theo asked if she should look for a Psychic-Type instead, and she smirked at his teasing, but still answering his quip seriously. "I want a Grass one to calm me down. I'll show you my catches when we get out of here in..." She looked at her watch. "An hour. Anyway, see ya."
With that, she left Theo and Johnathan to head towards the mountain surrounded by forestry. It was neighbors to the watering hole the two men were going to, so she was sure they'll be fine and - if not - she can just come down and help. Given it didn't take her too long.
About ten minutes in, she met the base of the mountain and found the forested part here very thick. This wasn't the proper area for a Chikorita. However, as she was walking here, she saw a huge thick chasm cutting into the mountainside, so she went there.
Inside, she saw the most beautiful grove. Lush, green grass dotted with pretty flowers. The mountain's river from the mountain summit's lake, after passing through several cavern systems from the ground due to pressure and interesting physics, led to a waterfall down to the plains, which had a river cut through the field and led back into a set of caverns into the mountain again. Naka only wondered if there were water treatment areas throughout the mountain, as some parts of the Safari Zone - while attempts at trying to keep it as natural as possible - had to have some man-made features and were created by man to accommodate other Pokemon.
As she walked through to beautiful, flowery plains, she finally saw the Pokemon she wanted.
Of course, against her bright, fair skin that was a bit red from the Tauros's fire and the sun's rays, the Chikorita - who was playing with a Mienfoo near a cave entrance that led up the mountain - saw her. He darted up the cavern at the Mienfoo's behest, and Naka went after the two of them at a running start.
Zubat and Golbat dove towards Naka, but were batted away by her hands and were unable to catch her as she zig-zagged. Pulling out earplugs, she plugged them into her ears to avoid getting absolutely destroyed by Supersonics. While it did affect her balance due to the vibrations that tickled the cochlear portions of her ears - which regulated balance - the sound didn't cause her ears to bleed so she was able to ignore a little of the balance-skewing soundwaves.
She jumped over Aron, dove out of the way of an Aggron's tail, avoided the rock throw of a Larvitar, and she was so
so close. Only for the Mienfoo to grab the lagging Chikorita, put him on her back, and continue even faster than before, dodging up and out of a small hole to the surface of the mountainside. Seeing them go up via the direction of their shadow's disappearance, Naka only knew they went to the summit. The hole was too small for her to travel through and, even if she could, she didn't have the spryness of a Mienfoo to get up there.
This led her to believe that the Mienfoo was close to evolving. She was bigger than normal; the red fur around her arms, her whiskers, and her tail were longer than normal; and even her color palette was changing slightly. The yellow and red hairs were gaining a lighter complexion, but it didn't fully turn into a greyish purple. There were even slight claw marks from the growing claws on her feet that dug into the cavern flooring and walls to allow her to jump into the hole and carry her friend to safety.
If Naka didn't do this correctly, she was going to have to face a Mienshao, and she knew she was going to be in a world of hurt if that happened.
However, as she finally left the sprawling, ascending caverns and found her way to the summit - a mausoleum-styled temple and concrete flooring stood around a moat - she found herself in the midst of Fighting-Types. Fighting-Types she was more than knowledgeable in, and not for what they were, but their movements. The evolutionary lines of Machop, Tyrogue, Torchic, Makuhita, Meditite, Chimchar, Riolu, Tepig, Timburr, Scraggy, Mienfoo, and Jangmo-o, and that of Hawlucha and Falinks.
In the middle of the large grouping, the Mienfoo stood with the Chikorita behind her, and spoke in yips and hisses. Naka had no idea what the Fighting-Type was saying, but she figured it was a warning from capturing her friend. She figured the two didn't want to be captured
at all, and considering that Chikorita was a starter Pokemon, usually sought after for their healing and calming capabilities as well as their nurturing plant powers and myriad of spores, there likely was a very good reason the Mienfoo didn't want to lose this one.
After getting her breath back and sensing the tension in the air as the Fighting-Types stared at her, she held up her hands, pulling out the earplugs. "Look, if you want to come along so you may make sure your friend is safe, you can. But I'm in dire need of spiritual help." She looked at the Lucario of the group and extended a skyward open palm gesture. The bipedal jackal stood defensively, but noticed by her aura she did not mean any harm. "See for yourself and talk amongst yourselves if you'd like. I've been blessed by the jewel of the sea after proving my Pokemon's mettle and my strategy in combat, but the blessing is more of a curse. The Pokemon of water affect my emotions and spirit, so much so I can't even tell if it's my own or theirs." Her voice held sincerity, but the Fighting-Types' defensiveness did not waver. "Come and see if I'm lying."
The Lucario grunted, then came forward. Knowing Fighting-Types, they were mostly structured monks or held some kind of code that was built around honor and respect through strength and discipline. She had to follow by their rules if she were to get help. As the Lucario came close, the jackal's hair-like extensions lifted from their resting place on the sides of his head and stood up in horizontal lines, his eyes glowing a bright blue as the hair extensions jittered and glowed with the same color. Naka felt her body was being seen right through into her soul from his gaze, but did not waver, showing an iron will to the intrusion she allowed.
With a bark, the Fighting-Types looked amongst each other. There was understanding in their eyes, and while they didn't stop being wary, their defensive stances did shift to more neutral poses. The Lucario looked between the Mienfoo and Naka, then sent Naka an aura-based message. Fear. Anger. Worry.
These were the emotions the Mienfoo was feeling, no doubt. Maybe even exacerbated due to the Chikorita's own mirrored emotions, too.
Naka looked back at the Mienfoo, sighing as she relaxed her hands at her sides. "I'm sorry. But I really do need your friend's help. Are there any other Chikoritas?"
The Mienfoo's defensive posture turned into a more cautious stance as she regarded her. Then, she shook her head.
This was the last Chikorita in the mountain's grotto, and Naka's eyes widened. The surprise and worry was felt by the Lucario, who relaxed his own aura to release a sense of calm to the others. She was okay. She was an understanding, reasonable human.
Naka sighed and looked at the Mienfoo, a daring glint in her eye. "How about this: You and I fight to see if I can not only prove myself to you, but as competition? If I win, I take you both with me. If I lose, you two get to stay, and I can find some other help some other time or I can come back and fight for your respect and permission again."
The Mienfoo's eyes glared at Naka, but they held much less venom. The Fighting-Types looked amongst each other and began to create muscle-bound boundaries with their bodies, standing in a large circle. The Lucario stared at the human, confusion imminent on his face. Humans against a Fighting-Type? They were capable of shattering large boulders, much less breaking bones, and the strength of this Mienfoo was not to be underestimated. But if this human thinks she can beat the Mienfoo, he wasn't one to underestimate the human's ability either. But, he still cast a doubt laden aura message towards her, expressing a warning to her and reassurance.
Naka didn't know what, but she assumed that if she were too injured, one of their own would take her to the Safari Zone's entrance. She also felt restraint from the Lucario, and his gaze to the Mienfoo clued her in that the Mienfoo was to be restrained in the fight. By what, Naka could only figure it was to do with using actual Pokemon moves.
The Chikorita bounced towards their end of the circle, getting herself between a Falinks and a Scrafty as she watched on with worry, hoping the human didn't get too injured while she rooted for her dear friend.
Naka calmed herself and put the ear plugs back in her pockets, her body aching from the run over here and the bucking bronco she rode previously. Then, her feet shifted smoothly across the tiled concrete flooring, her body leaning forward with hands in front of her, knees bent at a near right angle. There were approving grunts from the Makuhita and Hariyama side. She was using their style of fighting, one they were pretty familiar with but figured she was leaning too much forward, figuring her sense of balance would be too skewed forward and she'd go down quickly.
The Mienfoo saw this too and rushed forward, jumping above Naka to land a kick from above to her back. The fox then saw her move smoothly and change direction in one fell swoop, spinning on her back and twisting about to land right back on her feet. The agility of this human was rather impressive, and if the scars she showed proudly across her body was anything to show for, then it was likely she's been in plenty of fights.
With that thought, the Mienfoo charged, then skipped to both sides quickly, becoming a blur that Naka couldn't focus on with her eyes. However, her ears still worked. Closing her eyes, she heard a stone scuffing sound that sounded different from the other side lunge scuffing. Feeling a presence to her right, she rolled forward again and swung her legs in the air, sending the Mienfoo to the ground, but she rolled right back up right as Naka stopped spinning by doing a handstand and then standing upright, the Pokemon realizing she was copying a Hitmontop's fighting style.
Her stance changed to one of a jumping, shifting stance that had her limbs focus on being fast and loose, similar to how an Infernape would act. The Pokemon looked at this human strangely. Considering sumo wrestlers were a thing, they thought the human was copying from her people's bastardized styles, but no she was copying their own. A human taking the fighting stances and styles while trying to copy their own Pokemon attacks in this fight.
Some considered her attempt at mimicry too much, as if she was trying too hard to be like them, while others considered mimicry a form of flattery, and respected her more for it.
This Mienfoo only saw the mimicry as an obstacle, but couldn't help but feel like she should give this human some level of respect. And by that, she was going to treat the human like she would treat the other Pokemon. She had to be equal, of course.
The Mienfoo went to trade blows with Naka, getting up close and personal as she fired off a series of punches, jabs, and kicks. Naka, for the most part, kept herself moving and bouncing around, angling away and twirling to dodge the more seemingly bone-breaking blows while going with a quick jab or low kick due to the Pokemon's height. While Mienfoo were normally barely three feet tall and Mienshao were a little over four and a half feet, this one was about four feet tall. Of course, that meant nothing because the Mienfoo was far faster than her, far more agile. It was clear that this one had been training for some time, and was testing her.
The Fighting-Type did a roundhouse kick, which Naka instinctively blocked with her upper arm and immediately regretted it. She winced in pain, grunted, and gritted her teeth as the attack landed, her humerus bone feeling like she just got stabbed there. She probably just incurred a fracture, but she was still able to move it. A bark from the Lucario and the Mienfoo switched gears. Naka caught the message.
Pain? Was it pain under duress? Were they trying to rattle her?
Claws of shining Normal-Type energy flexed out of the Fighting-Type's paws and she danced and twirled with grace and speed, slicing the human's skin and summer clothes until they were nothing but rags hiding the needed parts of her. The human's skin trickled with blood from her arms, stomach, chest, and legs, but she continued to stay standing and fight regardless, even somehow ducking from a rather nasty Fury Swipe attack aimed at her face to give the creature an uppercut, modeled after the Pokemon move Sky Uppercut.
The Mienfoo flew high from the impact, and as the creature descended, Naka jumped forward onto the ground and pushed off with all her might (even as her arm screamed at her to stop and she wasn't even using that arm that much), rushed the Mienfoo down with an axe kick similar to their Pokemon-styled Axe Kicks and sent the creature into the slabs with a thump accompanied by the scared squeak of the Chikorita. While the human's momentum was swift and did some damage to the bipedal fox, it didn't break the slab concrete the Pokemon were used to doing themselves.
Retracting her leg so as to not accidentally hit the ground with it and hyperextend her knee, Naka stood back up and watched the Mienfoo warily, her movements becoming relaxed yet still like a statue, her hands up to her face. This was a style similar to that of two Pokemon, with the boxing stance from Hitmonchan and the stoic stance of the Machop line. Well, to a degree.
Naka was getting tired. She didn't think she'd last very long. But as the Mienfoo stood back up, her body lit up with a shine. The Fighting-Type's body changed before Naka's very eyes, and as the light dissipated, Naka felt the pit in her stomach deepen. The creature before her was a bigger-than-normal Mienshao. It was five feet tall, just several inches shorter than her.
The Mienshao proceeded to do a slew of movements. First, she closed her eyes and focused her body, her side facing Naka as she threw her arms out, the hair-like whips getting dangerously close from Naka, then kicked out as she swung to the other side with her arms into the air before crouching and sending her arms out the same way she did earlier, the whips almost hitting Naka if she hadn't leaned back.
Then, it was as if the creature was flowing like water and air, the creatures movements becoming difficult to follow as she used Shaolin Kung Fu and the whip-like hairs on her arms danced out and snapped the air with cracks. Naka dodged what she could, but getting hit by the hair stung her skin and burned them red. She lunged forward as she found an opening, or so she thought. Unfortunately, the creature immediately took her jab with grace, moving her arm out of the way as she dodged seamlessly to the side, and the two traded blows, moving each other's arms and trying to trip the other as Naka tried her best to copy the Mienshao's movements, something she was succeeding at more and more, even as she had to use her other, uninjured arm to cover for her throbbing upper arm.
However, the Mienshao's moves got faster and faster as she continued, and Naka couldn't keep up anymore. She was then suddenly pummeled by a flurry of punches and was sent back with a kick and then forced onto her back with a whip to her chest.
Body sore, Naka rolled around and back until she was on her feet, her body bloodied and bruised, her arm likely fractured, but she still looked on with no waver in her spirit. The Mienshao lunged closer to continue her onslaught, with Naka rolling with the punches and kicks as best she could and even got a few hits of her own in. This woman was strong, strong enough to cause the Mienshao to actually wince from the blows dealt. However, the Pokemon - being a Pokemon who trained all her life - overpowered Naka and managed to get her in a hold, her whip-like hair wrapped around a leg, grabbed Naka's already damaged arm, and sent her to the ground using her body's weight against her with a pivot.
However, Naka grunted with strain, pain, and effort as she pulled her arm out of the grab and spun her body around to grab the Pokemon with her legs and went to move the Pokemon's own body against her own weight with a pivot she managed with her hands, putting most of the weight on her uninjured arm. However, the Pokemon intelligently got out of the hold, not wishing to be smashed into the ground.
It was clear this human had much to learn. The Lucario, sensing what the Mienshao wanted, barked at Naka and sent a stream of aura to help her understand.
Endurance.
Did she already prove her strength? It seemed like this whole battle was a test instead of competition. Naka stood ready, even as the Mienshao got into a different stance this time and kept her distance. A blue orb began to form between her paws, and Naka's eyes widened.
They were going to pelt her with an Aura Sphere???
Putting her arms in a close, vertically parallel block across her torso with her fists blocking the underside of her face, she stood at ready. The Mienshao sent an Aura Sphere at the human, the blue sphere of pure aura energy hitting her arms and sent her body skidding back, but she held her ground.
However, it wasn't the physical pain that hurt the most, it was her soul. The very substance - spiritual or otherwise - that holds or emits aura based on her vitality and/or her soul's sound state, depending on whatever theory one came up with, reverberated painfully. Her emotions felt the turmoil, fear, and anger within that sphere. It wasn't as strong as it could've been if the Mienshao's mind wasn't so clouded with emotion, but maybe that was intentional. The Mienshao didn't want to kill her after all.
Aura Sphere worked by taking aura from the soul, the being's life force or both, and it gets stronger the more sound the body and mind are to produce a sound soul, and the soul needs to be at least aligned with the body and mind to even allow them to be sound in the first place. Some Pokemon - like Lucario - gain more strength the more pain they undergo, their pain causing their souls to reach a higher zen state that made their states more sound to allow a greater concentration on their inner self and make their aura-based attacks even stronger, and if their goal and aura state aligns with that of a trainer who also trained in aura or were aura sensitive, they can gain greater control of their aura from their trainer - not unlike those with Battle Bond.
Due to the Mienshao's need to protect the only Chikorita of the Fighting-Type's mountain's flowery grove and the fear of being taken from her home or being separated from her friend, the Mienshao let her emotions seep into her aura and gave her Aura Sphere impurities to make it weaker on purpose.
This Mienshao was impressed by Naka's mettle, and the Lucario proved to be an impartial referee, watching the state of Naka's soul throughout the fight and giving the Mienshao its thoughts.
This human had a very strong soul, one that was not so easily wavered, even in the midst of pain and potential severe injury. And even as the Aura Sphere tried to destabilize Naka's own aura, it held strong and nearly still. Her concentration, her will, was exceptionally tough, and so was her body.
To see a human so strong-willed, it was interesting why she needed the aid of a Chikorita. Was the emotional cluttering of water Pokemon that destructive to her will?
Naka took in a deep breath through her teeth, and her eyes stared at the Mienshao with a hardened gaze, her feet sliding across the ground as she stepped back to where she was, ready to take another. The Fighting-Type fox was taken aback. She was definitely trained by Fighting-Types. Even in the midst of a fight where her life was in danger, she still never backed down.
The Mienshao hated it, but she actually was starting to respect this human more and more. She had what it took to be strong both mentally and physically, had an iron will, was agile for a human, and adapted to her movements, even as the fox evolved. Better yet, she respected their code of honor and respect, showing fairness despite being at a biological disadvantage.
But it just made the Mienshao more frustrated.
She had to prove herself to the group she lived within. She worked so hard, only to be bested by some newbie human who couldn't even shroud her attacks in the same energy as a Pokemon... How dare she mimic them. To hell with her feeble attempt at respect and honor! She should be punished! But, she must remember to be calm within her rage, use her anger as a tool instead of being consumed by it. Otherwise, she'd disappoint the clans she lived with.
The tension in the air changed, and the next Aura Sphere had more impurities as it was sent forth. The human was sent back, her arms stung, her will threatened to shatter from the hatred and anger the Mienshao let loose. Yet, she hung true, her body skidding back but she remained standing. The Chikorita, knowing this was wrong, lunged to the two and cooed loudly to get them to stop fighting. Yet, the Mienshao didn't let up. It didn't even think she heard. She sent forth more weak Aura Spheres at a quick rate. The third and fourth Aura Spheres would have connected if the Chikorita did not stand between the two fighters, sending forth a shining wall of light that completely blocked the Aura Spheres from reaching Naka, taking the attacks head on and being sent back towards Naka. Still, she stood up like a faux Fighting-Type, albeit with struggling legs.
Horrified at what she did, the Mienshao bowed her head in shame, but the bark from the Lucario had her lifting her head in confusion. It seemed the two deliberated for some time, but the look of intrigue on the Mienshao's face had Naka questioning what was going on. Then, she felt the intended message from the Lucario.
Water.
They wanted her to test if her bearing held true? Why not do this earlier? Was it to assess how bad her aura was?
Probably, but now wasn't the best idea. Still, before she could even get out a retort, she felt the sudden feeling to stand up straight and flex her arms. She stood up straight, but fought the urge to flex her arms, knowing it'll really hurt her injured arm if she tried. She looked over to see a Poliwrath standing just several feet from her, having come from the moat around the temple. The Poliwrath channeled some emotion, making Naka feel... Inquisitive? No, confusion, surprise. The feeling indicative of respect filled her, and then sadness. Sad?
Before Naka could stop, her eyes misted up, almost tearing up as the Poliwrath also teared up. Loss. Grief. Pain.
A bark from the Lucario had the Poliwrath stop, and he walked away. The Lucario had sensed Naka's aura, seeing her waters, which were still before despite the emotions from the anger-laden Aura Spheres from the Mienshao, had made her metaphorical waters murky and stirred with greater force. It hurt Naka, and he sensed it. He felt pity for her.
The Mienshao's surprise as the Lucario further spoke to her only further to confuse Naka more until the Lucario gave her a message through aura.
Teacher.
Was the Mienshao going with Naka to help teach her?
Acceptance. Victory.
She won the tests?
The Mienshao walked forward, holding out her paw, seemingly begrudgingly. Naka smiled, standing back up normally to take the Mienshao's paw and shook it once, before retracting it and suddenly bowing with both her hands together. "I won't disappoint you, sensei." She grinned, feeling a bit silly, but the Mienshao gave a hum of acknowledgment, then pointed at her probably fractured arm, her scratches, and at the Chikorita. They needed some TLC.
Chuckling, Naka nodded. "Yeah, we should heal up, huh? Oh." She held out two Safari Balls, and she saw the Mienshao's face twist into a scowl. With a defeated huff, the Fighting-Type tapped the ball herself, getting sucked inside and allowing to be caught, while Naka tapped the other ball to the Chikorita, getting a thankful sigh from the Grass-Type before also getting sucked inside and the ball locked.
Then, the effects of the anger in her aura seeped under the surface, and Naka groaned in pain. Her insides felt so strange, as if she felt her own rage bubble within her, but it wasn't even her own. She knew who the owner was this time. The Lucario who stood before her tapped her shoulder, her aura feeling cleansed. But only slightly. She received another message.
Grass. Cleanse.
"Thank you. I will get Chikorita to cleanse me." With a smile, she patted the Lucario's arm for his concern, the Fighting/Steel-Type finding the gesture odd but not preventing her from doing it. The Lucario looked at the Machamp, who grunted in acknowledgment. Stepping forward, he picked up the weakened human with his upper arms, set her on his shoulder, and began walking down the mountain and through the cave system. The creature's sheer, palpable strength scared the cavern-dwelling Pokemon and kept them away long enough for their travel to be unimpeded by a challenger.
Finally, they reached the base of the mountain and the outside of the grove. Looking at Naka, the Machamp checked her further, assessing if she should go alone or if he should take her back. Scurrying from behind alerted them to a Riolu darting out of view and towards the lakeside, likely scared of her tainted aura.
Huh, hopefully Theo sees that later.
The anger was still palpable within her body, twisting her organs - or what felt like it - into knots, but she knew that was the stress of her aura taking on the impurities. She groaned, but tried to keep a straight face.
Seeing she was worse for wear and was trying to hide it, the Machamp let out a chortle before walking the rest of the way back to the Safari Zone, saying something that Naka likened to teasing about her state in some way. It took some time, but they set the human by the Safari Zone's border, the Machamp bowed with a fist to an open palm, then turned on his heel and left as Naka shared the same courtesy.
Watching the Fighting-Type walk back to the mountain, she turned back to see security walk out to her.
"You done-..." He paused, assessing Naka's injuries. He sighed before speaking on the walkie. "Medical attention to the entranceway."
The walkie spoke with some static. "Ten-Four."
Naka chuckled sheepishly, scratching the back of her head. "Yeah, I think my upper arm is fractured a little, too. Oh, and can I have the Chikorita out with me after he's healed, too?"
The security officer sighed before nodding. "Sure thing. Just make sure it doesn't cause too much of a fuss while we help you."
And with that, Naka got her new Pokemon healed, regained her stored Pokemon, and sat on a chair while field medics and a Nurse Joy came around to assess her injuries before the field medic went about patching up her scratches, gave her a new change of clothes, and put her upper arm in a splint with her elbow locked in a right angle. All while her new Chikorita sat on her lap and sent out a healing aroma with his leaf to aid in Naka's slow, but steady aura cleanse.
Naka petted the Grass-Type's head, earning a happy trill. "Thanks, Chikorita. I'll have to give you a nickname later, huh?" With a nod, the Chikorita rested on her lap on his side and seemed like he was sleeping. For some reason, Naka had the understanding he was resting with his eyes closed instead of sleeping.
With a Paldean Blaze Breed Tauros, Chikorita, and Mienshao in her possession, she wondered how she was going to get their continued trust and respect (well, new trust and respect from her first catch).
She wondered how Theo and Johnathan were doing, now that her time was cut short due to being injured. Oh, she wondered just how worried Theo would be when he saw her. She laughed a little at the thought.
With a wonder how Esther and Ron were doing, she shot them both an identical message to each of their separate DMs:
"Ignore if you're busy. Got three catches from the Safari Zone. The new Safari's addition of Paldean Blaze Breed Tauros, a Chikorita, and a Mienshao, newly evolved, too. However, I uh... Did something a little stupid and challenged the then Mienfoo into a fight so I can nab both Chikorita and the now Mienshao for... Uh, yeah. Did I tell you about my empathy for Water-Types? I got blessed by that weird thing from Whirl Cup. It's so strong, I can barely feel my own emotions and it just clouds whatever I have with their own and I copy them. It's horrible and after a while it hurts. So I got a Chikorita to help cleanse my aura with his scent and calm my emotion-copying empathy, and the Mienshao is now going to be my tutor for this stuff, but uh... I don't even know if lessening the strength of this empathy or controlling it is possible. I'm wondering if it's aura-related. Anyway, I'm at the Safari Zone getting checked out for injuries, so I'll be out soon."
