A Guiding Wind

Energy: 16 - 5 = 11
Now being a part of Grassveil’s Guild, Trucy flew confidently into Pecha Forest, without any fear. Donning her violet ribbon around her left leg, she flew from tree branch to tree branch with grace.

Along with her was Julie, a zangoose who she met at Grassveil Town, the two have become fast friends, all due to some drama that happened with a couple of others. Since then they joined Grassveil’s guild and founded Team Sacred Scribes. Julie was Trucy’s first friend, so saying she was important to her would be an understatement.

Trucy finally settled on a fairly thick tree branch, and decided to look around for any sort of threats, holding her right wing above her eyes to block the little amount of sunlight leaking through the leaves and branches. Too bad that she didn’t even notice that she kinda left Julie in the dust...

Energy: 22-5=17

Julie's ribbon was tied into a little bow around one of her ears, and she wore it proudly with her knew friend as they went into the forest. Julian didn't even know where they were going, or why, she was just following Trucy a while after getting their ribbons.
With all current jobs either waiting to be torn down because no one took them or having already been taken, there wasn't really much for them to do, not that she was complaining.

With that said, despite her new job she wasn't the fittest Pokemon and she was beginning to have some self-doubts already, since she's with a flying type who by default can go so much faster than her. Asking her to slow down feels wrong... but it wouldn't be much better if she decided to get even further behind. Should she just book it, push herself harder to get to Trucy quicker? She isn't that far away yet...

Eventually Julian saw Trucy land, and she decided to speed up a little to close the distance. At least now she had an idea as to what she was doing...
Julian may be a bit of a pacifist, only ever fighting if she absolutely needed to and likely being emotionally overwhelmed in the process, but the prospect of danger up ahead did intrigue her. It was the thoughts of if she could handle it, how good Trucy was at dealing with threats, if fighting would be involved, and many more that got her neurons firing with anxiety, but also curiosity and intrigue.
She certainly wasn't bored, that's for sure.

"Hey," Julie called out to Trucy from the ground, trying to hide her breathing as she caught her breath, "do you see anything up there?" She stretched out, raising her butt up a little as she extended her front paws, as she waited for a reply.

Trucy looked around vigilantly from her vantage point, skimming the immediate area about once or twice. The coast seemed to be clear... for now. “Nope, nothing.” She said in response to Julie’s question. “Honestly, I was expecting this place to be crawling with feral pokémon, but...” She looked around the area again, there was not a single clear difference between her first look-around and her second. “It’s looking pretty barren to me, though that will probably change soon.”

Trucy couldn’t shake the feeling of anticipation about fighting their first enemy as a team. She didn’t exactly have the greatest fighting catalog, not to say she was completely inept when it came to fighting, though, she did have an ace in the hole.

After a little bit, Trucy looked down from the tree branch. “I figure before we fight our first enemy, we should know each other’s strengths, I don’t know, just a thought.” Despite being partners with Julie, there was a lot of stuff she didn’t know about her, and vice versa. “Here, I’ll start.” She said from above. Trucy then turned away from Julie and struck a pose, before calling out one word.

“Tailwind!”

Shortly afterwards, a turbulent wind formed behind both Trucy and Julie, making the branches of the nearby trees go haywire. “Pretty neat right? And that’s not even the best part!” She said with a smug look on her face, before zipping from tree to tree. “We both get a speed increase with this in effect, try it out!”

Julian suddenly felt a heavy wind blowing from behind her, making her thick fur go wild as it blew against her. Smirking, she got on all fours, before making a dash toward Trucy faster than she ever had before!

The chubby zangoose was at first anxious, but now she felt ready for a fight...
She chuckled and panted softly as she slowed to a stop, "W- wow... that felt amazing!"

Reinvigorated, after regaining her composure she got ready to show Trucy a special move of her own. She was able to scratch her toes with her claws obviously, and though not all that intimidating or fast usually her stare was debilitating to a small degree at least and she did know Quick Attack, but she had an ability she felt was worth showing off.
"Watch this," she cooed as she reared back a claw, aiming for a tres away from Trucy, "alright, Razor Wind!"
Wind was caught around her claws, and began spinning like mad as she charged it up, a miniature tornadoes forming on her claws of which she effectively threw at the tree.

Trucy felt rather proud of herself, hearing Julie describe her special move as “amazing”. She was always one for praise, so hearing it come from her own partner’s mouth was even better! “Heh, it was, wasn’t it?” Trucy said proudly. However, her gloating was cut short by a simple “Watch this,” which made her a bit surprised. “Huh?” Trucy said in a surprised tone. “Does Julie have something to show me akin to what I just showed her?” she thought to herself. “Alright, the show’s yours.” She said before Julie got into a pose of her own, aiming at tree away from the one she was perched on.

It didn’t take too long for Julie to finally unleash her own attack, Razor Wind. Trucy couldn’t help but gawk when she saw this move in action, not only did it look powerful, but it made Tailwind look like a joke. Now even though both moves have their own uses, Trucy couldn’t help but feel a bit inferior when it came to both of their respective special moves. For the first time in her life, she truly felt...

Shown up.

“W-wow, that was... amazing...” she said sheepishly, flying towards the tree that once stood tall that was now clearly losing it’s footing. Her once proud and prominent flaps now turned slow and a bit weak, so much so that she ended up landing halfway during her flight towards the tree. She looked at the tree, and then back at Julie, and asked a simple question. “H-how did you become so strong?”

Julian smiled, looking at what she had just done to the poor tree nearby. She didn't even notice something was off about Trucy at first.
"Thanks," she began, turning to face the fletchling with a soft smirk, "I learned it from my d- father."
She didn't seem comfortable calling her dad a dad, for some reason. Strange.

The chubby zangoose looked at Trucy, noticing her half-hearted expression. "Hey, you
okay...?", she asked, before thinking about why Trucy would seem so sheepish, "It wasn't that strong, you're move was still amazing!"

Trucy blushed, realizing how obvious her expression, along with her tone of voice was for Julie to read. Even through her embarrassment, she did catch her hesitation surrounding calling her dad, well, dad. She figured she would ask her about it after she got herself sorted out.

“I’m... not so sure about that...” Trucy said with a halfhearted look, digging the hole of self doubt she had created by herself and only herself.  “Even if my move is useful... I can’t exactly utilize as well as someone such as you, I mean I have speed in spades, but the only offensive move I can use is... Tackle... big whoop.” Her halfhearted expression seemed to worsen. Trucy quickly glanced at her small pouch and then back to Julie. “And plus, nobody wri-” Trucy stopped herself, realizing what she was about to say, but not just that, she could’ve sworn she heard a sound in the distance.

“Huh?” She quickly faced to the right, and audibly muttered “A feral?” her halfhearted expression quickly turning into a vigilant one. “I can’t mope around, not now! I have to prove my worth to not only Julie, but myself!” Trucy thought to herself. She suppressed her sheepishness and was thus was ready for the coming encounter.

Keeogree carried out 5 launched of one Pecha Forest :

, , , ,

Julie couldn't help but feel... a little proud, at least. But this feeling made her feel bad - it was arrogance! Why was she of all Pokemon being arrogant...?
The chubby zangoose pouted, and was about to rest a paw on Trucy as she ranted on about how useless she felt, before they both heard a sound.

Another Pokemon? Trucy immediately assumed they were feral, and Julie felt like almost panicking. She really should have seen this coming, this came out of nowhere and was genuinely the worst time this could have happened.
"Oh Arceus, oh no-", she mumbled to herself as she stepped back on her hind legs, her expression taking on a more serious look.
She couldn't let Trucy down. Besides, they were out here to train, so train they shall.
Honestly, Julie really needed the training. She just really wasn't much of a fighter, despite her knowing a move that Trucy was just so amazed by.

"A- alright, which direction are we headin'?!", she called out as she tried to keep her anxiety hidden from her voice.
Maybe if Trucy saw how pathetic of a fighter she really was, Trucy wouldn't feel so bad anymore...?

“See that bush there?” Trucy signaled to a rustling bush she heard the ominous sound from. “We should probably try to get the jump on whatever the heck that thing is, I’d say.” She said trying her best to keep quiet. She shot up to a neighboring tree and looked down at the bush, and saw... nothing? “Wait, what? that can’t be right...” Trucy said, looking frantically in the general vicinity of the bush, but there was nothing. “I... guess it was a false alarm...?” she stated, not even truly believing her own words. She could’ve sworn that something was in that damn bush! She was confused and frustrated. Which were the perfect mix of emotions for a feral to exploit...

Trucy, still perched high up on the tree, was completely blind to the fact that the source of the mysterious sound was dancing around her, and was now ready to strike. Trucy looked back at Julie “Sorry for scaring you like that... I guess I was just a bit on edge.” She smiled weakly, just then, an odd, purple powder rained from above the tree Trucy was currently on. “H-huh?” She said, completely bewildered, she didn’t even realize that she was currently sitting in a barrage of Poison powder! “What... the...?” Trucy started to feel sick to her stomach, thus making her lose her balance. And with that, she started quickly falling towards the ground. While thankfully the fall was a short one, the impact of it plus the sick feeling she was given was almost enough to make her faint outright, but by a thread, she hung on.

Meanwhile, atop the very same tree...

“We got the bird, Moving on to Phase 2.” A mysterious voice muttered. Just then, a group of 6 eerily similar looking shadows began to depart down the tree, hopping from tree branch to tree branch. As they got further down the tree, it became immediately became apparent that this group was the egg Pokémon, Exeggcute, the ones responsible for the cloud of poison powder, and to say that they weren’t too thrilled with intruders in their territory would be an understatement.

As the group of assailants dropped down from tree. Trucy struggled to get herself up, still stuck in the same position as she was when she first fell. “Defeated with one move? Am I really that pathetic?” she thought to herself as she laid stationary on the forest floor. She wanted to just curl up into a ball and die. But one thing kept her from doing so, and that was Julie. If she gave up, then Julie would be in danger, and that wasn’t something Trucy was just going to let happen. Through a painful headache and a weak but power sapping poison, Trucy, slowly but surely, picked herself up
from the grassy terrain.

The Exeggcute at that moment finally made their way down the tree and began what they called “Phase 2”, an all out attack against Julie. Under the Exeggcute’s radar however, a turbulent wind started to stir...

Julie watched with an intense glare as Trucy flew up to the tree branch near the bush. She took heavy but slow breaths as she waited for a response. But even she was taken back when Trucy called out that it was nothing.
"A- alright, false alarm then...", she sighed out as she was about to get on all fours.
But not quite yet, she caught a glance at a dark purple cloud descending upon her friend and team mate, jumping toward her with a claw outstretched, "Trucy watch out!"

But it was already too late.

Julie rushed to her bird companion as fast as she could, noticing how they struggled to move from the pain they must have been in. "Oh Arceus, oh no- are you okay?", the chubby cat-ferret cried out as she stayed close by, only noticing then that the Eggsecute were attacking her now.
Julie noticed the wind pick up and with intense determination she jumped at the Eggsecute, swinging her claws down to scratch at least one of them.

"You stay away from her!"

Trucy stood up, leaning on a nearby tree for support. She stood there with a smile on her face, a determined smile. Both her and Julie were backed into a corner, a horrible situation, but she smiled nonetheless. The strong winds were due to her move, Tailwind, obviously, as it was the only thing she could use in her weakened state. After hearing Julie’s heartfelt scream as she jumped towards the Eggsecute, she couldn’t help but join in.

”Let the winds guide you Julie, crush every last one of them!

The eggsecute, taken aback by Julie’s sudden and quick attack, were caught directly in Julie’s assault, taking out two of the six, one from each claw. The Eggsecute, reasonably angered by the Zangoose’s actions, used their only other move, Barrage. All of the remaining four Eggsecute threw themselves at Julie. The move was weaker then usual, due to the loss in numbers. Despite this, they did not waver, all four of the remaining Eggsecutes charged at the Zangoose, each one aiming at different places, 2 for each leg and arm.

As of all of this happened, Trucy could only just watch on the sidelines, unable to do anything due to the poison and damage from the fall she recently sustained. Once again she found herself frustrated, as she could do nothing to help. Her determined was look slowly shifting into a one of sadness, she closed her eyes and sighed. “On the sidelines, as expected, why can’t I do anything rig-“

“Shut up!” a voice in her head cut her off, making her perk up, confused, she thought to herself  “Wha...?” she was cut off again, ”Keep moping and you’ll NEVER get stronger, y’hear me? Help your teammate in any way you can until you’re confident to take on the frontline!” The voice said in an angered tone. The voice sounded vaguely familiar to Trucy, though she couldn’t put her talon on it. As quickly as the voice entered, it exited, as Trucy opened her eyes. Confused on what just happened, she decided to ponder on what the voice had told her.

“Help your teammate in anyway you can, huh?” She said quietly, her energy and determination slowly making their way back to the forefront, as she a familiar smile appeared on her face.

Julie looks back at Trucy and feels a swell of determination fill her... only to turn into anxiety when she turns back to see the Eggsecute's attack.
Each one lands due to her panicking.
"O- ouch, what the hell was that?!" She cries out in utter annoyance. She feels the wind still blowing, and rather than relax and just try and calm down she readies another attack. She knew she didn't have time to just sit there rubbing her booboos.
Wind collects on her claws, forming a small tornado around them hat she proceeds to throw at the Eggsecute.

Trucy witnesses the ongoing battle with a newfound resolve, watching intently for her chance to help. She sees Julie get hit by the Eggsecute’s full combo. She winces at the sight of this, but she still doesn’t strike, waiting for the most opportune time to make her move. She had only one shot until her guise of being on her last legs would disappear, she needed to make it count!

With the Eggsecute’s plan turning out seemingly flawlessly, they couldn’t help but become a bit cocky, each one of them making a smug grin. This enraged the tiny robin. “Those bastards...! I’m gonna give ‘em hel-“

Just then, Julie once again formed a tornado and threw it at the Eggsecute, which caught not only them, but Trucy too! The tornado sent the Eggsecute upwards. Trucy didn’t even have to think, she jetted up into the air as fast as she could in her weakened state, she flew up to the Eggsecute and attempted to tackle all of them at the same time, as unrealistic as it was, she tried nonetheless. She tacked into the group, and only hit two of them, which sent them back towards the ground. “Julie! Finish em’ off!” Trucy said, as she landed along side the Eggsecute. She was caught up in the adrenaline rush that had just transpired, she didn’t even notice the remaining Eggsecutes slowly make their way towards her...

Trucy and the Eggsecute are back on the ground, including the two Trucy knocked out. After Trucy's amazing mid-air stunt and landing back on the ground, Julian turns her attention to the remaining Eggsecute surrounding Trucy. Words escape her, there was no time for words right now. She needs to strike now or they'll hurt her friend!
Julie furrows her brow, clenches her teeth, her paws shaking in anger as she nods to Trucy, and then she runs forward before lunging to slash at the remaining Eggsecute before they attack her weakened friend again.

"These damn things are resilient! Why can't they get a hint?!"

Trucy was initially shocked by Julie charging in her general direction, She was completely oblivious to the fact that the two Eggsecute behind her were even there. However that would soon pass as Julie, angrily slashed at the two Eggsecute before they were able to back attack her, sending them towards a tree which injured them good enough for them to be scared, as they ran off.

With the last of the Eggsecute’s defeated, Trucy couldn’t help but be angry at the two that had just turned tail and ran. “Bastards...” she said, out of breath. “Can’t even stay around help their friends, what a pair of unforgiva...!” She was cut off, she felt out of energy, Her injuries, the pain in her stomach caused by the poison, along with her recklessly overexerting herself was all coming back with a vengeance. “Ah... geez, that battle really did a number on me... honestly I’m surprised I haven’t fainted yet or anything...” She raised her wings up into the air and felt a small, yet nagging pain that made her wince. “Damn...! looks like I’m not flying back, then...!” Trucy said with a bit of a disheartened look. “We should prolly try and head back before any other jerk tries to jump us, eh?” She said to Julie, with a bit of an exhausted look.

Trucy wanted to recover from her wing injuries as soon as possible, and to do so would require exiting Pecha Forest, and ending their first expedition, however, while she was focused on her injuries for a bit, she couldn’t help but remember a certain tidbit that she refrained from asking about, she figured now was a better time as any. “Uhh... Julie?” She asked the Zangoose, “Back when you were telling me about who taught you you’re signature move, I couldn’t help but realize that you hesitated a bit when talking about your father...” She said with a tinge of curiosity. “If you want me to forget about it than I will.” She added hastily, she didn’t want to make her friend feel backed into a corner.