Race to the Finish

Lumina trotted through the forest path, colorful leaves crunching cheerfully underfoot. She glanced around as she entered the dungeon. She couldn't believe she was actually doing this, but the Gengar who had begged her to finish the mystery for him had been so pleading that she really couldn't have turned him down. Apparently the Gengar was banned from the forest or some such nonsense -perhaps he had gotten on the bad side of the gang of pokemon that lived here? Anyway, the Gengar had plenty of leaves to solve the island's mystery, only missing a few key components to solve the puzzle.

Apparently the mystery could only be solved for a reward for a few more days, then the prizes would all be gone. The Gengar had given her a bunch of leaves and had told her what the answer to the puzzle was, though she hadn't really appreciated that bit, seeing as how she had wanted to see if she could solve the puzzle herself. Ah well, when she got to the puzzle she'd make sure to read the puzzle and try to figure it out herself anyway; just to check the Gengar's solution, anyway.

Lumina looked around. Now she had to find some leaves, as apparently they were key in solving the riddle at the end of the dungeon. She had a pile of leaves in her sack from the Gengar but apparently she was missing two important leaves - a white leaf, and a purple leaf.

Miss T: {22 - 11 = 11}

The Misdreavus hovered begrudgingly towards the forest she had visited only once before. Someone had already beaten her to solving the riddle, and even had the moxie to brag about it around the town. They never gave away the answer, of course, for bragging rights, but they did mention that it was at the shrine, what they received from the shrine, and their bragging rights. This angered the know-it-all, because she knew from the start what she could do to solve the riddle. Ever since she first came here, knowing about the riddle meant a lot to her, especially because she'd read every book on journeys and mysteries, and knew all the tricks about solving them. Now she came back to prove she was just as smart without any hints.

Flying across the lake area, reaching the island, and floating through trees nonchalantly, the ghost began her aggravating search once more for the ingredients necessary to unlock the shrine. Hovering by her side, shrouded in a purple glow of ghost mist, was her pad and pencil, ready to write down anything she learned about solving the puzzle.

When she originally came here, she was searching for ingredients to her potions in the shop she had come here to start, but now, things were much different. She knew exactly what she was looking for, and in a specific place. Not even the jarring reflections from the brightly colored leaves could stop her from doing what she was even more intent on than creating her shop. It was to prove her success and intelligence.

Energy: 25 - 11 = 14

Lumina blinked, looking at the two leaves in her paws. She was currently sitting on the ground, comparing one of the leaves the Gengar had given her, and a leaf from the trees around her, and found herself to be very confused, as they looked nothing alike. Maybe the leaves the Gengar had given her were something given by the dungeon rather than the actual leaves strewn about the forest? If that were true, it really explained everything about why the leaves were so special -since they were only ever given by chance.

She sighed and put the Gengar's leaf away, shaking her other paw to get rid of the useless leaf she had picked up from the ground. She glanced around aimlessly. She really wasn't sure where to get started now. She wished the Gengar had been more specific about where to find the leaves, but it was too late now.

Miss T: {11}

Miss Treavus spotted a Vulpix as she entered the dungeon, but thought nothing of it. For a moment, she thought it might be a wild Pokemon, until she noticed the band on its arm and the way it was investigating the leaves. Miss T could have easily explained how the leaves might've become such a color, but instead she stuck to being the mysterious Misdreavus she always wanted to appear. She floated by, continuing her search for odd leaves in a straight line, looking down, and passing through a tree out of the sight of the living animal. It was fun to try and spark curiosity into the minds of lesser beings, and this also allowed her to do what she intended while looking such a way.

If the fire-type might refuse to notice her presence, perhaps she should either give up, or try more. Genevieve just had a tic like that, always wanting the strange attention. Back at home, she never got it, because every ghost at the summit was just another ghost, treated the same, and barely ever conversed with one another. Especially since, back then, she was barely even a decade old when she discovered no one cared. It took centuries, even, to decide to go somewhere else to live her dreams. This shop she was making, she hoped, would get her all the poke and attention she needed in the afterlife.

Lumina blinked at the sudden flash of a pokemon, but it was gone behind the trees before she was able to identify what it was. She hesitated to follow, though. She was more of a solitary pokemon, and didn't really enjoy the company of others as much as some 'mons did. Still, it could be a wild pokemon trying to pull a trick on her, and she really didn't feel like getting attacked.

She crouched down against the leaves, knowing that her red pelt would stand out in the forest, though maybe the abundance of red and orange leaves would cover her. She crept forward and looked around the tree, only to spot nothing. She blinked. Had she just imagined the pokemon? Was the forest playing tricks on her?

"H-hello?" she called into the suddenly quiet forest. Her ears fell flat against her head and she felt a chill down her spine. Was something watching her? Waiting to jump on her the moment her back was turned? She glanced around at the trees warily, tensing her muscles in case of a surprise attack.

Miss T: {11}

When a voice sounded, Miss T's smile split broader at the sign she was recognized. She hovered out of hiding and faced the mammalian Pokemon, revealing herself to the curious little darling. Miss Treavus herself now could see the Pokemon better, which was similarly-sized and rather small in terms of comparison to most others, and what might be considered "cute" to many.

Like how she always starts, she refused to speak. Gina was far more likely to talk around ghost-types like herself, but when it came to somewhat normal Pokemon, she would seem as mysterious as possible. The weak-leveled ghost knew she wasn't nearly strong enough to win a battle, much less defeat any wild Pokemon here, as she had fainted almost immediately the last time she came here. It was her first time in a dungeon after all, since she'd only ever stayed inside and read all her life, or experimented with potions, so she hadn't the chance to train her battle skills. If this Pokemon dared to attack, she would result to guerrilla warfare techniques she read about in order to win; staying in hiding, attacking, and disappearing again, which would be easy for a ghost. Now just awaiting a response, the Misdreavus bobbed up and down as she levitated in place.

Lumina jumped in shock as the misdreavus appeared out of nowhere. She took a careful step back, her hackles rising, ears still flat against her skull, and her teeth baring in threat. The pokemon didn't say anything, increasing Lumina's suspicions that the pokemon was feral.

She growled lowly, backing up another step as she did so. "Don't come any closer!" she warned skittishly, knowing it was for naught if the pokemon was a feral. She focused inwardly and prepared her inner fire for a fight, ready to launch an Ember if needed.

Miss T: {11}

The Vulpix appeared quite surprised, and must have felt threatened by her presence now. It snarled, snapping at the ghost and jumping back. Meanwhile, Miss T remained perfectly calm and continued the same gaze she had once she floated out. It might appear to the fire-type that she has no emotions whatsoever, but she wanted to show the fox that she meant no harm. Hopefully it was foolish enough to use Scratch, or Tackle or the like so Treavus could get away unharmed, but who knew what the puny thing was capable of.

The ghost made no move to back away, but nor did it make a move to attack her, simply staring at Lumina with a blank expression. Lumina felt chills going down her spine and growled lowly. She really disliked ghosts like this -silent, creepy, and unemotional. She couldn't tell what was going through the ghost's head, so she had no way of predicting what move it would make next. She took another step back.

Lumina was no coward, it was true, but she also wasn't stupid. Ghosts were dangerous. They had plenty of tricks up their non-existent sleeves that Lumina knew if she wasn't prepared for, she would easily fall prey to. She would not make the first attack, but nor would she let her guard down.

"Can you even understand what I'm saying?" she asked, the growl still apparent in her tone.

Miss T: {11}

Miss Treavus could sense an imbalance, a different sort of feeling directed towards the ghost that made her pupils a little smaller momentarily. The reaction didn't seem simply offensive, but a little more hatred... The Misdreavus could tell the difference between emotions so well, because ghosts in her town were able to tell the difference between ghosts' emotions, which was extremely subtle. It was so easy to tell all these Pokemons' emotions, they might as well just state their feelings every second.

Next, with a mean tone, the Vulpix asked a question. The atmosphere felt a little safer, and Miss T got over the feelings of being hated instantly, and nodded slowly, her eyes still set on the other's. She was anticipating an attack, even though she did not. Maybe her movement would've spooked it.

Lumina blinked as the Misdreavus nodded at her question. She hadn't been expecting that, for sure. Surely if the pokemon was feral, it wouldn't be able to understand her? Maybe... maybe the pokemon was mute, and that's why it hadn't said anything? Lumina warily straightened out, losing her crouch as her hackles slowly fell and her ears perked up. She was still wary of attack, but she'd give the pokemon the benefit of the doubt first.

"Are... are you mute?" She asked curiously, eyes still narrowed in suspicion.

Silver carried out 3 launched of one Fallen Leaf Copse :

, ,

Miss T: {11}

The Vulpix seemed to be calming down, which was a good sign. It seemed far less likely to attack Miss Treavus out of the blue. It followed with another question, which forced the ghost-type to think about it for a while. She wanted to tell the truth, but at the same time, she didn't want to be pressured into talking. She turned to look at the tree, deep in thought, not necessarily trying to evade the answer.

A shuffling sound in the trees above brought her attention to the sky.
Oh no, not again...
Thinking over the happening in a quick millisecond, she realized that if a Pokemon attacked, the Vulpix might blame it as an ambush the Misdreavus set up. Miss T widened her pupils, trying to make her surprise as dramatic as other Pokemon she'd seen do it before, just enough to make sure the fox could tell she truly was surprised. She was from the start, of course, she just needed to exhibit it. She cautiously directed a Psywave at the source of the noise, hoping to scare the Pokemon off, or even defeat it if possible.

Energy: 14 - 8 = 6

Lumina's head turned up sharply at the rustling in the trees. She noticed the Misdreavus aim a psybeam upwards. It caused a pokemon to drop from the trees and onto Lumina's back. She was forced to the ground, her legs splayed out beneath her as she tried to regain her breath from being knocked out of her. The pokemon on her back made a noise not unlike the crunching of the leaves beneath her and then- PAIN.

Her back felt like it was being doused in water -and for a fire pokemon, that was really bad. She shrieked and rolled over on top of the pokemon, trying to crush it beneath her, only to hurt herself on its apparent spikes. She whimpered and rolled back over, trying to reach the pokemon with her legs but failing.

Miss T: {11}

A whole mess of action happened immediately after here attack.
This is just wonderful... she thought nervously and sarcastically. The Vulpix seemed to be harmed greatly by the Pokemon that landed on it, which made Miss T even more surprised. If she were to attack it, it might threaten to accidentally hurt the fire type half-acquaintance. The Cascoon didn't even use a move to damage the fox, so using Spite was out of the question. She resorted to a measly Growl, which wouldn't even really do anything, but it was better than nothing. She wanted to try to levitate the bug-type off of it, but that would result in further pain for it.

Lumina writhed under the pokemon that was clinging to her back. She whimpered; the pain was all-consuming, making it hard to think clearly. But she suspected what kind of pokemon was on her back from the sphere-like shape and the spikes. She held her breath, focusing inwards onto her inner fire. The longer she held her breath, the hotter her skin and fur got. Though she couldn't really ignite her fur, she could make it unbearably hot to any pokemon but another fire pokemon, which was her aim.

As she focused on making her body exude terrible heat, the pokemon on her back started to tremble a little, making distressed noises. As she upped the heat, it suddenly launched itself away from the heated fox pokemon. Lumina then let out the breath she had been holding, sucking in the much-needed air as her body collapsed from the loss of energy, the tension in her muscles relaxing for the first time since she had entered the forest. She really hoped the misdreavus was on her side, for right now she was vulnerable to any attack it might choose to make.