beginning AGAIN (dojo)

[Lucas Night]

As a reward for his cooperation, Ichen had earned a visit to the dojo. The fact that Ember would have never visited and was in fact mourning the loss of her favorite plush toy didn’t particularly matter. Even Lucas’s entitled expectation that Ichen would participate only made it all the better.

Ichen was going to be a winner. It was all the better than Lucas unquestioningly relied upon him.

“One status move and two physical attack moves.” He tucked his glasses back into a breast pocket after reading his pokedex. The machine was closed with a plastic click. “The attack moves aren’t the issue. Your species doesn’t benefit from an opponent with a lower attack.”

The little grass type scoffed. As if he was even going to use that worthless status move when he had two incredible attack moves! One of them gave him a same type attack bonus and the other made him even stronger! He crossed his arms, giving Lucas a single eyebrow raise to make it clear how little this all bothered him.

The insubordination did not bode well with Lucas, but he had precious few options for the moment. He let out a soft exhale. “I’m sure you’ll learn a move that will be more useful than growl. Or, I’ll purchase a technical machine for you later. For now, show me how you execute the two you have.”

That was what Ichen wanted to hear!! Absolute reliance on his inevitable victories! With a proud lift of his chin, he pumped himself up! Time to show off that Vine Whip and Power-Up Punch!!

OOC: 266 words, ichen the chespin

[Gardeon]

[dojo]C0478bA8

[Lucas Night]

Another visit to the dojo was in order. As much as Ichen’s enthusiasm (demanding nature, really) was appreciated for Lucas’s intentions, the limited nature of the team was going to quickly become a problem. Lucas had no interest in a large team or managing numerous reserves…

But, really, what could one grass type do? (Using Ember was, of course, out of the question.)

Regardless of all of that, the Night heir stood with his arms crossed and eyes narrowed. He and Ichen had come to an impasse.

“Just take the Ember.”

“No way!!” Ichen stomped his foot. “I don’t NEED to use my stupid Overgrow ability! I’m plenty strong without it! Why would I let myself get hit?!”

The blonde pinched the bridge of his nose. “You will inevitably be hit. You must get used to using the ability.”

“Then, what’s the point of givin’ me the oran berry?!” The chespin waved his held item to drive his point further.

Thoroughly exasperated with his difficult second starter, Lucas spoke through his teeth. “It is insurance.”

[Gardeon]

[dojo]GWy34|eK

[Lucas Night]

Ichen was improving each visit. The grass type would likely hit a plateau soon enough that would only be resolved via actual, pokemon-to-pokemon battles. For now, though, these visits to the dojo were worth something.

Actually, with that in mind, Lucas needed to expand his team and quickly so as not to waste time. He frowned, going over what selections might be worth his time.

While Lucas was overthinking things, the chespin was practicing his Vine Whip. He still wasn’t crazy about Lucas’s whole “lean into using Overgrow to power up Vine Whip” plan.

“So,” Ichen began. “You know I have another move.”

“Rollout is going to be extremely situational in use.” Lucas didn’t look up from where he was writing notes. If Ichen was his starter, he would need to consider type coverage. Fire types were popular for offense, so a ground or water type was vital for his next acquisition.

Pity mudkip were so rare. That would have been a fantastic selection.

“Not that!” Ichen argued. “Power-Up Punch!”

Lucas looked over the rim of his glasses. “The fighting type move?”

“Yeah! I feel wicked strong after! That’s way better than relying on my ability, right?!”

The Rocket agent thought it over. “... If we can acquire an item to support your use of it, then it’s a viable option. It doesn’t offer much coverage, but it’s certainly an option. Normal types are very common as well…”

Ichen used the move on a training dummy to celebrate. “Yes!!”

[Arcanine]

[dojo]pWCItctt

[Lucas Night]

They had hit the plateau so early. From no one, the returns from dojo visits would diminish. It was assuredly time to add another member onto the team and there was a certain asset that Lucas had his eye on, but there was no time to waste until then. If there was something he could do to push himself back to his proper place, he had to take the opportunity.

And, today’s opportunity was letting Ichen go wild against the training dummies with his Vine Whip and Power-Up Punch.

“Didja see that?!” Ichen rubbed a bruised paw under his nose. “I almost knocked this thing off its swivel-dohickey!”

“Very good job,” Lucas absently praised. He had his reading glasses on again, one leg crossed as he studied the shipment of a certain uncommon pokemon. The adults were well known for their brutality and supposedly there was an egg somewhere…

The chespin, meanwhile, let out an exasperated huff. That stupid blonde wasn’t even paying attention. Rushing over, he smacked the table to knock it over and send Lucas’s papers flying.

He pointed a round paw at his trainer. “Watch me while I work, bozo!”

The man frowned, tilted his head, and crossed his leg. “... You won’t be coming here next time we visit. Someone else will have that pleasure.”

The chespin’s eyes bulged. “No way, man. Who else are you gonna use? That wimpy charmander?!”

When Lucas went back to gathering his papers, Ichen panicked and rushed over to the dummy.

“I can train on my own! C’mon! Hey!! This is all I get to do that’s fun!! We don’t battle enough for you to do this to me!! Hey!!”

[Gardeon]

[dojo]f4as3YOs

[Lucas Night]

True to his word as ever, Lucas declined to bring Ichen to the dojo for this visit. Instead, he selected the newest acquisition to join him this time. Indigo the Shulian elekid did not seem thrilled with the artificial opponents, but an excuse to thrash was taken gleefully all the same.

Lucas radiated smug satisfaction with his unusual find. Someone else’s suffering was absolutely his boon and the cruel little pokemon was no doubt of the same mind. Whatever longing he had for his parents was long buried by excitement over his new role as one of Lucas’s brutes.

Deep voice rumbling with the sweetness of his recent victory, Lucas gestured at the wooden training figures with a flick of his watch-clad wrist. “You know Branch Poke. Show me what you can do with it.”

The dark blue electric type needed no further command. Why would he? He was being commanded to beat up something! He would happily and enthusiastically do that!

He manifested a stick of grass-type energy and began bludgeoning the training dummies with it. While they did not yield to his hatchling’s strength, Indigo didn’t seem to mind. Children often were more satisfied with the ability to be energetic than in the productivity of that.

TRAINING INDIGO THE SHULIAN ELEKID!

[Arcanine]

[dojo]0ytpuVNj

[Lucas Night]

Lucas was thoroughly pleased with Indigo’s obedience. This steady progress was satisfying as well. If this kept up, Lucas was going to have make sure he found another acquisition so as not to waste his time on plateauing pokemon…

But, for now, he had his blithe brute to nurture.

“Today,” Lucas began, seated comfortably in a chair with a notebook in one and a pen in the other, “I would like to see your Thundershock and Leer.”

Beady red eyes looked up at the Rocket member for a moment before a wide smile split across that egg-shaped body. Those pin-prick pupils were the only aberration on a thin slit of white. The Leer was eerie indeed; not the intimidating look of an angered foe, but the gleeful, longing stare of some brute who had found a waiting victim.

If the elekid were not so young and inexperienced, the look may have worried Lucas. But, he had intention of whipping the electric type into perfect obedience long before his budding strength could pose even the hint of a real threat to the man.

That was what training was all about, after all; cultivating living weapons that would never turn against one’s self. Anyone who said otherwise was a liar.

With a gurgling noise of acknowledgement, the terrible tyke turned his focus upon the training dummy. With a pointed appendage, he aimed his blow. The room heated and Lucas shielded his glasses covered eyes from the light. The scent of ozone filled the room along with a crack of thunder.

The dummy was charred, but still standing. It would take more might to destroy it as it was made for training purposes…

But, electric was one of those types you just didn’t play around with. And, Indigo was all too happy to revel in his own growing might.

TRAINING INDIGO THE SHULIAN ELEKID.

[Haunter]

[dojo]Tt81EQQD

[Lucas Night]

In an unexpected turn of events, it was Ember who accompanied him to the dojo. Though he still fully intended to continue his training with Indigo here and perhaps bring back Ichen once his displeasure with the grass type faded, he was not disappointed by Ember’s newfound interest in her own strength. For so long, he had considered her a sort of prize.

Everything about her was precious, meant only for his intentions and entertainment. Even her rarity as a female specimen of her species was not common knowledge until, perhaps, recently. He was content to carry out his duties in Team Rocket until he was ready to focus on her awaiting potential.

But, if she had developed a drive to do something more than lounge in his care, far be it from him to stifle that.

“I didn’t do well in that battle,” she quipped. Her tail lashed behind her, the tiny flame flaring for a moment.

“It was your first in a long time,” Lucas soothed, uncharacteristically patient with her.

She huffed. “I didn’t like it.”

“You’d be pathetic if you didn’t mind.” He crouched, one knee on the ground as he scratched under her chin with a single finger. “I do admit, I would like to see you grow stronger. I was happy to be patient. But, seeing you evolve would be nice. You’d make a lovely charmeleon. Perhaps even a charizard…”

“I want my plushie back.” She interrupted him, pouting. “If I get strong, can we go back t your office? I want my things.”

He smiled. “Ember, if you get strong, I’m sure we could have anything.”

Satisfied with that promise, the little fire type huffed. She looked to the training dummies before spitting out a small wad of flame. It was nothing to write home about yet. But, she would grow stronger with time.

She kept using her Ember attack, determined that the margin of her victory would not be so narrow next time.

TRAINING EMBER THE CHARMANDER

[Arcanine]

[dojo]xEjTLz7p

[Lucas Night]

As was intended by the nature of the world and as was typical, things were going Lucas’s way. Very soon, he would have a full team of six. Today’s visit to the dojo was an introductory experience for the fourth member of that collection.

“Don’t cower,” Lucas invited the slakoth, speaking more liberally in the privacy of the training room. “We are to be allies. You needn’t worry about a thing except doing as you’re told.”

Sunday the slakoth looked up with doubtful eyes. The other three members of her new team were little nightmares. There was a charmander who seemed to believe the sun revolved around her, a chespin with more ego than sense, and an odd elekid who eyed her with barely concealed antagonism. How as she supposed to relax? Especially when she knew beneath that stylish, casual, “office worker on a day off” veneer was an entire Rocket member?

Seeing her hesitate, Lucas narrowed his eyes. “I understand your species. My expectations are tempered in accordance to that. Don’t mistake me for a temperamental fool.”

What on earth did that mean? Sunday didn’t move, still looking up at him with mistrust.

Seeing that he would have to earn the little normal type’s trust, or at least her willing obedience, he gestured to the training dummies. “Take your time. I know you’ll move slow. I would like to see your Yawn and Scratch.” He sat down and crossed one leg over the other. “I don’t believe you’ll be ready for a battle for some time. I will be patient.”

Uncertain of how true his words were but left with very few choices, the slakoth did as she was told. The training dummies got a large break in between as the sleepy, easily fatigued pokemon gathered her strength between each venture, but she did eventually use both attacks.

It made her wonder what this guy had in mind for her, though.

TRAINING SUNDAY THE SLAKOTH