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freerangeranger · 9 months

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<As students are filing into the lecture hall, Honoria Sorrel can be see fiddling with a projector. The first slide of the powerpoint reads: 'So You Don't Want to be a Ranger?'

Honey straightens up as the slide finally comes into focus, before glancing put at the sea of children still settling into their seats. She purses her lips slightly and wanders across the stage to a podium that had been moved aside - reconvening with Lamp the Sizzlipede who was watching her from atop the wooden stand.

No one can hear her as she speaks to the little fire-bug, although she does hand Lamp the projector control after a few moment.

As the crowd slowly settles - with much hushing from the other adult supervisors - Honoria takes a deep breath, and begins.>

"Hello Campers, welcome! My name is Honoria, and I am a Ranger stationed in Castalia city. Some of you might know me from the Shadow Sky Incident; I was one of many who assisted with relief efforts. I have been afforded the opportunity today to teach you about the Ranger Union and what it can do for you, even if you do not want to become an offical pokemon ranger."

"The Ranger Union is best known for its Area and Field Rangers... but you know, not everyone is cut out for that sort of job.

It's true! When you get older - don't give me that look, you will get older - Your life isn't always going to turn out the way you planned it. Sometimes we hurt ourselves. Maybe you will have a family! Or find that your passion is in engineering or marketing or security. Maybe you just hate being outside or in the field.

And that's okay! Just because you aren't a Ranger doesn't mean the Union is a dead end for you. There are tons of opportunities that people don't know about and most Ranger schools have programs for these jobs as well."

"Let's talk Operators. You all got your phones - yea? Did Miss Ellisa ask you to put them away? Well - not all of you are listening. I see you in the back. Yea, you! Hot tip: If you want to hide your phone, don't turn it on in a dark room. But you my friend might be a perfect fit for an Operator.

Operators are our IT management team for the Union. Prior to the invention of phones they were people who coordinated local Rangers, organized job boards and sent messages between Bases to facilitate smooth operations.

Now that we have satellite radio and modern communications integrated into our stylers, Operators work as a hub of all incoming reports and updates from Rangers in the field. Being knowedgable of software - both new and old - is crucial because if something goes wrong you are able to help with repairs, suggestions and even call emergency services. Not only that! Operators can reassign missions, give constant updates and are often the people who begin and end missions for Rangers. You get to boss us around over the phone - it's great."

"Mechanics! The sister-field of IT. Where operators know what to do when software is on the fritz, Mechanics are responsible for building, maintaining and repairing all of the computers, stylers and other wacky gadgets that rangers use."

"Look at this. Not quite a clunky old styler, huh? My friends, this is the first artifical pokemom leaf ever conceived. It works too! With some grafting you can attach this prosthetic to any grass pokemon that has lost a major body segment and it will provide them with a method of creating their own food. This is what I mean when I say 'mechanics'. Tools and Tech that go beyond your average smartphone.

... although it does help to know how to remove a SIM card from a phone.

If you love the idea of keeping a well oiled machine running or even inventing your own machines on someone else's dime, the Union offers scholarships for high school students - encouraging your to pursure higher education and create something that you can share with the world."

"Not many people know this, but a lot of the research that the Union supports doesn't actually relate to the field of pokemon conservation. True - creating better medical systems and styler technology is benefical to the Union as well as the medical industry. But there is a lot more to it than that. Which leads us to..."

"Acedemia!

Now, this job isn't strictly 'working for the Union'. Your paycheck doesn't solely come from us. However. I don't know how many of you know this - but research is expensive! Last year the pokemon medical industry put 3.5 million dollars into new technology. Thats insane! I could buy the Union for that amount. But it gets used by people who want to know more about the world.

Now this doesn't really get explained to you so I'm going to lay it out here.

"No one knows anything. The smartest, most well known scientist in the world can't tell you everything - heck they can't tell you anything with certainty. And thats how they like it.

The world is wide and vast and so crazy complicated. There are still arguments about photosynthesis, whether or not Flygon is a Bug or Dragon, and how bones heal. And the Union wants to support people who are trying to answer these questions - to create things like the prosthetic leaf and to inform policies to protect and manage pokemon-human interactions."

"Okay. So you don't wanna sit in a stuffy office looking through a microscope all day. But being a Ranger seems very stressful and you don't really want to deal with the people-side of the job.

May I present 'Survey Corps'. These are the enviromental sciences part of the Union. They are the ones responsible for long term monitoring and management of specific at-risk habitat and populations.

Their job is similar to Area Rangers, only if they see signs of human interruption they call the Area Rangers and get the heck out of dodge. Their job is strictly tagging pokemon, taking soil samples, checking water temperature and quality, monitoring construction sites for pokemon nests and even handing out hunting tickets for overpopulated species.

That doesn't tickle your fancy? What's that? You want to pet the pokemon but not get attacked by an angry Ursaring?"

"Rehabilitation is the name of the game! or job. Unsuprisingly there is a massive branch of pokemon welfare within the Union, both for the ride pokemon born and raised in captivity as well as injured pokemon who are going to be re-released. The Union also funds and runs its own breeding programs to reintroduce species back into their original habitats and potentially bring back ancient species that were wiped out by human intervention.

An example - not related to the Union - is with @sneasedtomeetyou who has spent time breeding hisuian sneasel - an extinct poison type - from the recessive genes recently discovered in modern sneasel. It's their hope to reintroduce these species back into Sinnoh because it was recently discovered that certain species of trees grow only after the seed has passed through the digestive tract of certain poison types."

"What? Some of you want to deal with people more than pokemon? Jeez - picky crowd today.

Luckily I have a solution. The Union employs a lot of security forces both in the field and in their buildings. Because there are high risk pokemon in the protection of the Union - no I'm not going to tell you where or what they are, put your hand down - we need security guards who are skilled combatants to protect them. This is a perfect job for professional or aspiring trainers who need a fallback plan or simply don't want to be in the competitive scene anymore.

"In conclusion. The Union employs a wide variety of people with drastically different skills and needs. If you want to be Ranger - go for it! Be the best that you can be. But if you don't, I hope you will consider the opportunities presented here and maybe I'll hear you sometime over the phone telling me...

'Mission Clear!'"

#irl pokemon #pokeblogging #rl pokemon #foster island summer camp #adventures on foster island #honoria lore #pokemon ranger headcanons #pokemon ranger #long post #ranger talks

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prettyskitty973 · 8 months

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Did the trade-off go smoothly? How is the big gal doing? - Ellisa

yes - she is all good i have her set up in the garage. dont want to overwhelm her at the moment.

i brought her the old toys that she had when she was a puppy. suprised we still have them. they also smell like my pokemon so that will help.

#irl pokemon #pokeblogging #pokemon irl #asks #rl pokemon #poison arc #poisoning arc

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alexanders-pokemon-adventure · 9 months

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TMs A brief history theory and use

i’d like to thank Ellisa ( @adventures-on-foster-island )for the opportunity to speak at this camp and hopefully give those who chose to attend my class, a brief education on the use and history of Tms

Since nearly the beginning of deliberate Scientific human observation and study of Pokemon it has not gone unnoticed that some pokemon when exposed to various stimuli or situations may develop abilities not ordinarily possessed by or develop naturally by their species. In the early days of research on this subject breeders farmers and scientist were often best able to observed the more extreme example of this phenomenon. Various techniques of Pre-Tm move tutoring have existed for thousands of years but One of the more well documented situation of Pre-TM move tutoring where caused by lightning strikes , especially in urban settings it was found that a number of city dwelling pokemon such as Rattata , Meowth , and Grimer when struck by lightning if they survived generally developed the ability to use move Thunderbolt in the fallowing days while members of the species that had gone unstruck never developed the ability to. As main stream interest in Move tutoring continue to develop over the years many a number if individuals with invested interest in the phenomenon began work on understanding the biological mechanisms that facilitated them to varying degrees of success. Many of the earliest deliberate Pre-Tm move tutoring techniques were entirely unethical by modern standards to connect it to the example I listed before it was common practice in the late 1700s to entrap a pokemon an individual desire to learn thunderbolt in a metal cage during a thunderstorm where the grounding wire of a nearby large structure generally a church or temple would be run through the cage . When lightning struck, the charge would be forced through the cage, and by extension the Pokémon, where if they survived the entrapped pokemon may learn the desired move. Fortunately, as research has advanced and we understand the biological mechanisms, through which these processes work, we no longer need to go through to use such reckless and cruel Techniques.

Now excluding tutored moves that only require a pokemon learn a particular set of movements such as dig or fury swipe The biological mechanisms, through which Pokémon are able to generate substances or energies, they ordinarily could not is a process biologist called “Differentiation” . The majority of Pokémon in our world, in particular, the carbon-based organic Pokémon possess of varied network of undifferentiated stem cell tissues located throughout their body that ones expose to particular stimuli can result in portions of these undifferentiated tissues, becoming differentiated . Once the stem cell tissue has differentiated through exposure to stimuli Pokémon going through the move tutor will generally begin to develop the desired abilities. To tie this back into my original example in the old days the lightning was the stimuli. High-voltage electric current being run through the undifferentiated stem cell tissue, which caused the tissue to differentiate into electrolytes cells that let the Pokémon generate electrical energy.

The process is similar in non-organic pokemon like Claydol or Magneton. They too have undifferentiated structures in their body, that ones exposed to certain stimuli can cause a variety of effects

Now I won’t bore you all with the long developmental steps it took to get of mondern Tms ,but currently most work one of two ways . Through pokeballs and through Tutor Machines.

Tutor machines are probably the most effective means of using TMs and by extension the best move tutoring have been in human history. Used properly Tms learned through a tutoring machine often have equal, and sometimes greater effectivity compared to their naturally developed counterparts. Move tutor machines work bye in a small room like chamber a Pokémon is Safely exposed to whatever stimuli is necessary for their undifferentiated stem cell tissue differentiate often slowly over the course of hours for comfort reasons. While inside the chamber generally the Pokémon’s biomimetic‘s will be recorded to ensure sufficient differentiation has occurred for the desired move before the Pokémon is released. Generally the Pokémon is being exposed to the stimuli that will also be given audiovisual cues as to what they are trying to be taught , and how do use the differentiated tissues developing in their bodies. Generally, at the end of the process, when the Pokémon is released, they will be able to utilize The movie they were taught with a degree of efficiency resembling that of a Pokémon that naturally developed the move. With proper aftercare the efficiency of the moves being learned, can continue to develop further. unfortunately move tutoring machines are fairly large and expensive pieces of equipment that require specialized training and restocking of materials that can be quite expensive for the average consumer. Most Pokémon centers, and some gyms offer their use at a small fee or sometimes even free .The inability to move these machines can often make them a little inconvenient to use.

I may be a little biased here, but personally, the fact that you can use any companies TMs and they’re greater efficiency than Poké ball method of learning TM move offset the price .

I must admit through pokeballs and by extension through Slyph.co is the most accessible and the fasted . All that’s needed to preform a move tutor though this path is a Slyph co brand pokeball and a Slyph.co brand Tm. Used in tandem Slyph.co can automatically distribute whatever stimuli is necessary to learn the desired move through their storage system while the Pokémon is still in the Poké ball. Any stimuli needed to differentiate the stem cell tissues, is inserted directly into their body instead of through gradual exposure and makes what is often a several hours wait a few minutes , though the audiovisual aids are often quite a bit lacking through this method and the fact that Slyph co doesn’t record their biometrics often means that there may be physiological deficiency of what the Pokémon may learn very. While I admit, this way of tutoring moves is much more convenient for traveling trainers , it is beyond proven that this means of move tutoring is not as effective as using an actual tutor machine . This is a quick and convenient way to do it not the The most effective way of doing it.

Now with all that out of the way, my company and I , AL.co love what Ellisa is doing here and have donated a new tutor machine to Foster island and a Library of my company’s entire TM selection. Going forward, we will also be donating any resupply Materials or repairs necessary for the machine going forward I hope you all get the opportunity to use it during your time here at camp and if you need help, feel free to ask.

#pokemon #pkmn #pokemon art #alexander’s pokémon adventure #pkmnart #pokeart #pkmn fanart #adventures on foster island #foster island summer camp #tutor machine #irl pokemon #pokemon irl

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orchard-lad · 9 months

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Orchards and Wild Pokemon

[The lesson is held in the orchard, under a bright sunny day. Darnell is sat under a parasol, petting a random Budew he found.]

I'd like to thank Ellisa ( @adventures-on-foster-island ) for the opportunity to speak at this camp regarding the importance of understanding orchards and its interactions with the ecosystems you establish them in.

Being a trainer is the main occupation that people associate with pokemon. However, for most people it isn’t a career they can, or intend to keep up into their twilight years. For many trainers, one career they transition into is that of orchard-keeping.

Berries are a resources that the world has a never-ending appetite for, being the basis for a majority of the world's food production. Berries are made into kibble, used as items, used as feed for prey pokemon and more. As the world continues to expand and more and more trainers and people keep pokemon, berries are increasingly needed to keep the world fed, hence the need for orchardists.

When it comes to owning orchards, one of the most important parts of your jobs is managing you and your orchard's interactions with the wild pokemon and ecosystem you are in. In creating an orchard, what you are essentially doing is taking up a chunk of an ecosystem entering that ecosystem. Most of the time, we don’t really care about that, as we live in cities or towns, ecosystems built by people for people out of concrete and steel.

But an orchard is a land of wood and grass, food and shelter. This makes it not only attractive, but interactive with the ecosystem around it. There is no way that you can pollinate the trees of the orchard yourself without the pokemon of the area around it, whether it be the Ledybas of Johto or Vivillions of Kalos. To compound this, pokemon specific trees, such as Berries and Apricots don’t just require any land to grow, but land that has been infused with the energy that pokemon give off on a daily basis. Should you somehow grow a berry tree in an isolated location, away from any pokemon, you will soon find that the tree will wither and die in days as it lacks this vital energy. As such, for your orchard to prosper, you have to interact with the ecosystem around you.

Pokemon can be split into three types: Beneficial pokemon, neutral pokemon and harmful pokemon. What pokemon fit into these categories depend on your region and ecosystem. For the sake of this lecture, it will be based on Johto as that is where I am located.

Beneficial pokemon are pokemon like pollinators, or pest control pokemon. While such pokemon might consume a few berries on a day to day basis, their presence and efforts in pest control provide more overall help to your orchard. A Johtoan example would be Furrets and Noctowl.

Neutral pokemon simply live in an area, and might not affect your orchard overall as a whole. This could include Wooper or Dunsparce. Alternatively, neutral pokemon might provide pros and cons that balance each other out. An example would be Hoppip, who might consume nutrients from the soil it decides to rest on, however are really efficient nitrogen fixers.

Lastly are harmful pokemon, who pose no benefit to the orchard whatsoever. This comes in many ways such as destructive pokemon (Aipom, Houndoom), territorial pokemon (Beedrill, Usaring), and berry/tree consuming pokemon, (Weedle, Caterpie, Paras, Pikachu).

Pokemon don’t fall neatly into these categories. For example, Yanma are really good at pest control, however they are aggressive and will attempt to attack you and other beneficial pokemon. Similarly, Spinarak are good at pest control within their territory, and so are Ariados, but an Ariados might decide to follow you home and smother you in your sleep. Due to the danger that these pokemon pose, they can be classified as harmful pokemon instead. Talking to other orchard owners in your regions and studying pokemon is required for your orchard to function at full efficiency, while having the least impact.

To deal with all of these pokemon, this requires battling capability. Battling and orchard ownership go hand in hand, as similarly to pokemon in the wild, if you want to own land, you must have the capability to back it up. In cities, this capability is provided by the society around you, which enforces such claims through hiring trainers to deal with issues, or the police force. But out in the countryside, this claim is only enforceable by you. Pokemon will not understand nor accept pieces of paper claiming your legal right to own land, and will test your claims repeatedly.

To understand this, we must talk about territory. All pokemon have a territory. In that territory, they often have two parts to it:

Home territory

Resource claim

A home territory is a pokemon’s home, such as a Usaring’s cave, or a Noctowl’s tree. Approaching a home territory will invite warnings, and encroaching on it without permission leads to violence.

A resource claim is a claim over a resource in an area. This could be the forest surrounding a Usaring’s cave, or the stretch of forest a Noctowl patrols. In this area, they have claims over certain resources, such as mates, berries or prey, but will not clash with other pokemon unless they are competing over those resources.

For certain pokemon, such as Spinarak or Ariados, these two parts are the same.

If you had the numbers, and the power you could enforce a home territory claim over the entire orchards. There certainly are farmers that do so, such as most farms or ranches. But in an orchard, due to your need for pollination and pokemon energy, it is far more reasonable to instead enforce a resource claim. This means that you can cooperate with beneficial pokemon (i.e. pokemon not in competition with the same resources as you, i.e berries).

Pokemon such as Noctowl or Furrets, which are smarter and more reasonable as well as not being in competition with you, are easy to settle into orchards. Noctowl tend to claim a tree or two on the edge of the orchard, and if reasoned with will often allow you to harvest berries off their trees. Furrets might claim the base of a tree to nest in, and often won’t have any issues with berry harvests, although they might claim a berry or two as a snack.

Both these pokemon consume pests as prey, and as such, short of you invading their nests or burrows, they are often great pokemon to have on your farm. However, their territories might conflict with one another. As such, to prevent constant combat between them, you might help introduce a neutral species between them or another beneficial species, such as a Ledyba swarm. Alternatively, you could also enforce a stronger claim with your pokemon there by having your pokemon patrol there a bit more often. Occasionally, a pokemon might move in that makes for good pest control or pollinator, but disrupt other pokemon already established. In those cases, it might make better sense for you to chase them off instead.

In contrast, pokemon like Ursaring or Aipom are bad for orchards. Ursaring often claim large swathes of land for resources and are incredibly territorial. In addition, their preferred way of harvesting berries involves damaging the tree to bring the berries to the ground. As they are in direct competition with humans, they often attack on sight and are easily provoked. As a result, it is important to enforce your control over your orchard by beating them in a battle.

On my orchard alone, I often deal with 3-5 new Ursaring that have been forced from home after losing in a territory battle or evolving that attempt to claim my territory every year. Left alone, these bears can easily damage trees and cause severe harm to your pokemon and yourself. Meanwhile, Aipom are nomadic tree-damagers, consuming large amounts of berries while damaging the branches they hang from. As such, they are a recurring pest that require constant vigilance to handle.

The importance I want to state here is the understanding that owning an orchard requires not only co-existing with the ecosystem, but also establishing yourself. If you choose to never battle for territory, you will soon find your orchard overrun by Beedrill hives, Rattata infestations and angry Ursarings, none of which will stop at fences or legal documents. However, it is important to understand that orchards can’t be pokemon free regions either. Your orchard will soon evolve into an extension of the forest, with countless pokemon setting up different territories competing over different resources. Some might be beneficial for your interests, while others might be negative. Your job is to balance the competing needs of yourself and these various pokemon, and find a way to resolve it that results in the least amount of damage to the ecosystem around you.

#pokeblogging #rotomblr #pkmn irl #pokemon irl #irl pokemon #pokeblr #foster island summer camp #rotumblr

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professor-catalpa · 3 years

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omg hi i love blogs like yours, ellisa's, aspen's and peach's. (i might even start my own someday.) expect to see many an ask from me!! in fact here is my first one: what are some little known things about bidoof/bibarel that are useful? most people dismiss them as "trash pokémon" but we all know that's just not true.

Nice you meet you! :)

Bidoof actually isn't native to Unova, so I can't call myself an expert on these guys! I've always thought Bibarel nests were super cool, though, and hope to see one in person someday. They look almost like little huts, with domed rooves! I bet some of them are large enough for a child to fit in, since they expand the nests as their family grows.

They're especially well suited to construction jobs, especially (for example) dams and bridges, because it's almost identical to their natural behavior anyway. However, they often get overlooked for the more "traditional" picks like Machamp and Gurrdurr, so I think they're underrated little guys! Of course, in regions where they aren't native you have to be careful not to let them wild into the environment; invasive Pokemon are always difficult to deal with!

#tidbit #advice #?#until i come up with a better tag for this kind of answer haha #ask #bidoof #bibarel

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journeystartstoday · 3 years

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Story Time

The Adoption - Meeting A New Friend

Words: 4623

Summary: This is the story version of how the adoption process went from start to end with @adventures-on-foster-island ! Thanks again!

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It was unsettling to settle back in to say the least.

Going from constantly traveling to sitting at home everyday was a change neither me or my pokemon were very happy about at first. Of course, I had discussed it with them before I made the decision to come home, and of course, it was great to see my family and friends again after that year away, but it was also... slower. More controlled. Less exciting in a way that constantly being surrounded by the unexpected does to you. In my little rented appartment in Rota, there were no wild pokemon that would steal my lunches, no random trainers that would challenge me as soon as our eyes met. There were no mad dashes to outrun rain clouds and no seeking shelter with wild pokemon... everything was peaceful. Everything was safe.

Luckily, it never became boring. In my first couple of days back, just as I was taking a stroll around town to see what had changed and to greet the merchants and shopkeepers I grew up around, Miss Chiba from the bakery offered me a job. The best kind of coincidence, right? During my journey I had garnered many different recipes and tips and tricks to make different pasteries, so of course I happily agreed. Eevee was over the moon when I told them the news and insisted on keeping me company during my working hours... totally not because they had a sweet tooth and were banking on getting all the left-overs and taste tests they would likely be gifted if they hung around the kitchen all day...

Okay, so maybe I had spoiled Eevee too much on our time on the road. Nothing wrong with that.

To my surprise, Riolu declined the invitation to come along with us, even if she was as much a sweets lover as Eevee. Instead, she wanted to keep training and keep honing her powers so she could be ready for when I would inevitably go on another journey again. It was sweet, so I let her, with the promise that she came by during lunch break so we could all eat together and hear about her process.

And that's how my days back home went from then on. Eevee and I would see Riolu to the city wall and wave her goodbye as she headed towards the small forest where she liked to train, and then Eevee and I were off to the bakery. It was a nice change of pace for a while. Homey. Safe. But after a couple of weeks I started to get this weird, empty feeling. Like something was missing. Incomplete.

Whether it was because of my former partner Squirtle, who had left the team at the end of my journey through Kanto to be with a group of wild Squirtle that wanted him to be their leader and protector; or because my apartment was a little small (even if it beat my little tent by a mile) and I felt constricted somehow... I don't know. But the short version of it was that I wanted to change things up a little. I couldn't go on another journey. Not yet. Only a couple more weeks and I had enough money for that. However, a friend recommended me something else. Something better.

Adopt a pokemon.

To be honest, I was a little skeptical of it at first, since I didn't know if I was capable of caring for a pokemon that could possibly have bad memories with people, but I still wanted to give it a chance. I wouldn't be a very good trainer if I wouldn't.

It was on one of my days off, and Eevee and I persuaded Riolu to take a rest day too, so we could all walk towards the closest pokemon centre together. There, I made a call. It was to Ellisa, former pokemon researcher and head caregiver of Foster Island, an island facility dedicated to saving and caring for neglected, abandoned, or abused pokemon. Of course, there were multiple ways to adopt a pokemon, but my friend had been really adamant about this place. I could hardly argue against it, especially when she showed me one of the pokemon she had adopted from the place. It was a little cutie, so precious, but still a bit wary of other trainers. It totally convinced me. It would take a while to travel there once I had chosen a date to look at the pokemon for adoption, but at least this saved me from doing hours of research and chickening out. All in all, it was a great way to adopt a new friend.

Anyway, I called Ellisa and after a short trading of names and giving introductions, I told Ellisa my story and told her a bit about what I did in daily life nowadays. It wasn't much to go on honestly, so I was pleasantly surprised when after about two hours, Ellisa called me back to say she had a few candidates that would like to meet me! I was so excited and immediately scheduled a day I would come by. The days that followed where filled with daydreaming and planning my short trip overseas, but I was so looking forward to it that time flew by in no time!

~*~

And now I sit here, on the deck of a ship that is taking me, Riolu and Eevee towards Foster Island. Finally! I'm a little nervous if I have to be honest, but I think the knot in my stomach belongs to the good kind of nerves. The jittery, excited kind.

"Eievui!" Little brown paws clamber across my leg. Eevee smugly sits themselves on my lap and strains their neck to look over the railing of the ship.

"Be careful," I say to them, gently placing a hand against their belly to keep them from falling off. Eevee just wiggles a little on my lap, but keeps watching the water pokemon before us. Seels skirt across the water's surface, while magikarps and tympoles occasionally spring from the water in high arcs before they dissappear under the waves again. Everytime the latter happens, Eevee squals in glee, never failing to point out that there was a water pokemon there, did you see that?!

Or at least, I think they say that. I could be wrong.

I softly pat Eevee's head as they keep watching the waves and I slowly turn to meet Riolu's gaze. She stands next to the door that leads inside the boat. Ever since I received her, she has always been the 'cool' type of pokemon. Crosses her arms, stands slightly back and leans against the wall of the ship so you can't see the happy sparkle in her eyes - the whole deal. It only makes her cuter honestly. I'm carefull not to break her bubble though. She once tried to tell me that she did it because she felt like she was the protector of our little family. So cute.

She believes that for that she always has to stay back and keep watch. Keep us safe.

And she does. She really does keep us safe, both during our journey and now that we are on a trip to find a new friend. I just hope she can let her guard down a little when we meet them so there's no hostility or anything from the start. I've been told Riolu's cold demeaner scares off some pokemon, but I'm sure that won't be the case now. To be sure, I ask with my eyes if she's doing alright. She simply nods back.

Okay, so she is just as nervous as I am, I'm glad.

After a period of watching the waves and listening to the soft chitter from Eevee, the boat finally moors on Foster Island, an assistent already waiting for me there. She gives me a soft smile and brings me along to the care facility further down the coast. I'm no connoiseur on architecture, but the building just screamed safe and open to me as soon as I saw it. A lot of glass, a lot of white, happy paintings of happy pokemon on banners at both sides of the entrance. Just as we enter the building, I let Eevee down from where I kept them against my chest. I saw a small playground just to my left. They always love those.

"Come back when I call, 'kay?" I yell at their retreating form.

"Vuivui!"

...I'll search for them when the time comes.

The assistent leads me and Riolu further into the building untill we arrive at a large room, one wall completely made of glass so everyone can see the small garden on the other side. From where I enter I can already see a couple of Bidoof chasing each other in a friendly game of tag, while a Pachirisu and Buneary are peeking out from behind a bush and watch them with interest. It warms my heart to see them so carefree. Who knows what they have had to endure to come here?

"You may take a seat here," the assistent says and gestures around at the various sofa's and beanbags, "Ellisa will meet you shortly. Please make yourself comfortable."

"Thank you-" The assistent is already gone. Well. Okay.

I sit down on one particularly soft-looking beanbag and almost drown it, before righting myself. Hopefully nobody was watching the security cameras; that was akward. Next to me, Riolu snickers. I have the urge to respond sarcastically, but... well, it was kind of funny. I laugh with her.

The floor of this room is a soft carpet, pastel colored circles spread across it that makes the place look happy and safe. A perfect place to play. I'm almost tempted to throw off my shoes and let my feet rest on the soft carpet, but I decid that it would probably be best not to do that in a public space.

Riolu and I watch the pokemon behind the glass play and relax, untill a door to my right opens.

"Sky?"

"Yes, that's me."

Ellisa steps inside the room and holds out her hand. I shake it.

"It's nice to finally meet you in person," Ellisa says.

"Likewise." I smile at her, but soon my eye catches movement behind her. A small Bidoof appears from behind her legs. It's body is smaller than the Bidoof I had seen in the garden and it's teeth are far more white. Like they have been cleaned far more recently. Or are newly grown. I hope it's not the latter.

Ellisa notices my gaze and smiles softly at Bidoof. "This is Bidoof," she introduces it, "This one came to us with overgrown front teeth, as her trainer left her in a crate with nothing to chew most of the time. Her mouth has fully recovered, as you can see, as well as her fighting spirit." She came a little closer to me to whisper, "She does still have claustrophobia however, so avoid putting her in any kind of container or very small room if you choose her."

As soon as I hear that I can feel my heart break a little. That must have been horrible. No wonder even now, Bidoof seems skittish around me. It wouldn't be easy to open yourself up to new people after experiencing something like that.

"It is nice to meet you Bidoof," I say and crouch down in front of her. I want to pet her, but decide against it. Instead I give her my brightest smile. "I'm glad you're doing alright now."

Bidoof cautiously shuffles from behind Ellisa's legs and approaches me. She's just precious. When she's close enough, Bidoof dips her head down a little.

Ah, I understand.

"May I?"

"Bi-bi."

I reach out with my hand and slowly, gently cart my fingers through her fur. It is incredibly soft. Bidoof croons quietly.

"This is going to be impossible..." I murmur to myself. How will I ever choose? I stand up again, to the slight disappointment of Bidoof. Ellisa just smiles and nods at an assistent that just entered the room with a pokemon in their arms. It's a Lotad, but with a small, pale purple water lilly on it's lilly pad. It's so cute!

"This is Lotad," Ellisa says, and thanks the assistent as she takes Lotad in her own arms, "This is the sweetest little guy in our garden pool. We assume that he was abandoned before the flower bloomed, and the trainer thought he was sick when he saw the bud growing... He's pretty cold resistant, and finds it too hot here on the island. He said he'd like to travel again soon."

I smile at Lotad, who shyly turns his gaze away. I can't imagine anyone leaving him just for his looks. It almost makes me mad, but I manage to keep my smile as I nod at Lotad. "You look beautiful Lotad, anyone thinking otherwise cannot see what is right in front of them."

The water type shifts a little in Ellisa's arms, but I can see it preens at the compliment. Good.

A soft knock on the open door alerts me to the next arrival. A Skarmory stands in the doorway, it's expression closed off and cold. Scars litter it's body that resemble the silhouettes of dead trees, as if his body is still in the hold of their branches and never managed to escape them. It saddens my heart. Skarmory must notice my expression, because as he steps further into the room, he grumbles and turns his head away from me.

Ellisa starts with the introduction as if there has not already happened an akward exchange between us.

"This is Skarmory. He was rescued from a poaching operation about a year ago, and had been badly electrocuted multiple times there. Although he is all healed, his scars never disappeared..." Skarmory shifts on his legs, but keeps his eyes on the ground. "I know he may look intimidating-"

May look intimidating? He practically already rejected me after our eyes met for only a second!

"-but I swear that it's quite on the contrary. Skarmory here has the largest heart of any of the pokemon here and will put himself in danger if that means he can help those he cares about."

I swallow through the rejection and tug my lips back up in a smile. "It is nice to meet you, Skarmory." My voice gets stuck in my throat. What else can I say to him? He even refuses to look me in the eye...

No doubt picking up on my unease, Riolu steps forward and quietly growls something at Skarmory. The steel and flying type does look up from that, but his expression is anything but friendly. Before Riolu can get closer and possibly start a fight, I step in between the two hard heads.

"Be nice, you two. This is just an introduction session, no time for a battle." I look at Riolu and raise an eyebrow. Riolu huffs, but stands back. My arms drop back to my sides. "Good."

I turn to Ellisa, who is placing Lotad on the ground. She pulls a spray bottle from... somewhere, and softly sprays his lilly pad. Then as she stands up, she smiles at all three of the adoption pokemon now present.

"These are the pokemon that were the most insistent on meeting with you, Sky," she says. I can't help but be a little surprised by that and try to catch Skarmory's eyes, but he has his head down again. "You have about the next hour or so to get to know them and play a little with them. I will come back when it's time to say goodbye or for you to make a choice. You may choose if you want to stay inside or if you want to go into the garden, that's up to you. I hope you will all have a good time." After saying her goodbyes to the pokemon, she leaves us alone.

It is quiet for a second, but I decide to take the lead and break the silence. I clasp my hands together.

"Alright! What about you three give us a tour of the garden? I would like to see all your favorite spots. Does that sound like a plan?"

"Bi-bi!" Bidoof happily makes his way to the door, and Lotad and a hesitant Skarmory follow her. I take Riolu's paw and follow behind them. Hopefully, all will work out now.

~*~

The garden truly is a special place. There's something for every kind of pokemon — a small patch of ice in the corner for pokemon who want to cool down after playing, a sandy part for pokemon to sunbathe in. A small pool is surrounded by low grass hills, and trees and bushes provide cover from the sun that shines down from between the walls of the facility. Patches of flowers are scattered across the grass, and I think I even saw some holes that were no doubt dug out by pokemon to create makeshift tunnels underground.

And really all sorts of pokemon live here. When Bidoof showed me her favorite hiding place between a circle of small, blue berrie bushes, I spotted an Aromatisse and a Goomy hiding there as well. When Lotad showed me how he liked to drift in the pool and play with the other water types, I saw a Helioptile just off the side recharching in the sun, while a Ledian quietly zoomed by. The garden was almost filled to the brim with different kinds of pokemon, but it seemed that everyone had found their own little places and spots. It warmed my heart to see it.

During the tour outside, Riolu had stood back, leaning next to the glass door we entered from with her arms crossed. Skarmory had stayed back as well, but at the other side of the door, still visibly avoiding getting too close to any of us. Secretly, I hoped that they would be able to gain an understanding during their quiet brooding, so I let them to themselves.

Besides, I had already enough to do just following the increasingly enthusiastic Lotad and Bidoof around. Halfway through our walk through the garden, a caregiver brought Eevee to the garden and, instantly, a friendship bloomed between them and the adoption pokemon. From that moment on, I let myself fall down in the grass and told them to go on playing. I needed a break.

~*~

Now, I sluggishly blink my eyes open as I feel a soft prodding against my cheek. "Wha-" I yawn. My eyes adjust to the sunlight and begin to focus. Riolu is kneeling beside me, poking my cheek and softly calling my name.

"Rio... Rio."

I wipe away some drool and lift myself from the ground with one arm. "I'm awake, I'm awake."

Riolu sits back on her knees. "Riolu-ri, Rio."

"I know, I know," I say, "but I was too comfortable to resist it." I rub my eyes and look around. I'm still in the garden of the Foster Island's adoption facility, but... there are no pokemon anywhere nearby.

A low growl startles me. I look to my left, where Skarmory is standing. He's looking straight at me, but I can't figure out what his expression means. Is he mad? Irritated?

"Ah, you're awake." The door to the garden opens and Ellisa steps inside. She smiles knowingly. "I was just about to announce that your time is up for today, since we have another appointment in half an hour. I have to say though... this has been the most unusual getting-to-know session I have seen in a while."

I feel heat rise to my cheeks. I hastily push myself from the ground and wipe away some grass blades from my clothes and hair. "I'm so sorry!" I exclaim, "I hadn't meant to fall asleep! I'm sorry I scared everyone away..." I look around. Was that a Pachirisu I saw ducking behind a bush? Oh no, I really scared them...

Ellisa laughs.

...Huh?

"Oh, quite on the contrary," Ellisa assures me, "the pokemon were all so curious to come closer. Most of them have never seen a human so unguarded around them before. When some of them began to climb on top of you however... Skarmory and Riolu stepped in and chased them away. Together, might I add." A glint in her eye. "They make quite the team."

Oh.

I look at Riolu, then Skarmory. Skarmory averts his gaze. I still smile at him. "Well, thank you then. For saving me," I say.

Skarmory grunts quietly.

"Lu-rio," Riolu adds. She sounds approving, almost proud.

Guess the choice is already made for one of us.

"And... where is Eevee?" I turn back to Ellisa, who nods at a collection of trees just off the side. I carefully approach the trees and when I hold away a couple of branches, I am pleasantly surprised. There, right between the trees, are Lotad, Eevee and Bidoof, quietly nibbling on some red berries. The leafs russle as I move them and Eevee looks up from her meal at the sound.

"Eievui!" They bounce from their spot, right into my arms. I almost drop them, but quickly adjust.

"Hi there. I see you entertained yourself just fine?"

"Eievui-vui!"

"I'm glad."

I look at Lotad and Bidoof. "And I'm sorry, but Ellisa told me my time's up for now. I hope you can forgive me for falling asleep when we had only so little time to get to know each other."

"Tad."

"Bidoof."

They both nod and follow me from inbetween the trees back to where Ellisa, Riolu and Skarmory are waiting for us. I bring Eevee along in my arms.

"In some adoption cases, I advice the trainers to come back for a second time, either when they're still not sure who to choose or if I think the pokemon haven't accepted them yet," Ellisa says.

I nod, already planning another date in my mind I could get free to come over once more.

"...However," Ellisa says and I look up in surprise, "I would say that in this instance a second appointment is not really necessary, is it?" She looks at the adoption pokemon. "I saw the way they interacted with you and I must say they haven't been this expressive and... happy in a while. I am sure any of them would be ecstatic if you were to adopt them."

My mouth is agape, I know it, but I can't help it. All three of them... like me? I let my eyes drift over them and they all look back with the pokemon-equivalent of smiles.

The choice had been hard, but even I cannot deny that I already feel which of them would fit my little family the best. Even if I was not awake to experience it, I know it when I look at them. I know it when I look at Riolu.

They would be the perfect fit.

I slowly breathe in through my nose, out of my mouth. This is it.

"I... I think you're right," I say carefully, paying attention to each of the adoption pokemon responses. Bidoof stares at me with sparkling eyes, Lotad's flower spreads even wider open and even Skarmory chances a glance at me, but quickly looks the other way.

Ellisa nods. "Then please, say your choice and be sure to give your goodbyes to the others. I will be waiting for you inside." Ellisa then turns around and leaves me along with my pokemon and the others. I sigh and crouch in front of the three pokemon anxiously awaiting my words.

"You would all be amazing fits to my team, I can feel that. And this wasn't an easy choice, so please, know that whatever I choose here, some trainer will come by that will pick you too, alright? No feeling down about it, because your time will come. I know it." I swallow before I continue. "...but I think I have chosen already."

I shift a little to look at each of them, my eyes landing and staying on the last of the three, who, for the first time this afternoon, actually looks back.

"I hope I can earn your trust, Skarmory, because you already have mine. Will you accept becoming a part of my team?"

I see the exact moment the implications of the words settle in, because small beads start the form at the corners of Skarmory's eyes. He closes them, then opens them and says, "Skar-skarmory." It sounds unsure, but hopeful.

"I take that as a yes." I smile at him. "I think you will be a perfect fit. Thank you for accepting my offer."

I look at the other two. "You are wonderful, the both of you. As I said, your moment will come, I am sure of it. Please stay safe here untill that time comes, alright?"

"Tad-tad."

"Bi-bi."

I nod at them. "May we meet again then. Goodbye for now." I give one last pat on each of their heads and turn around, heading back inside with Eevee in my arms, Riolu and Skarmory right behind me. It already feels right. It's as if this formation is how it was always supposed to be.

My smile widens.

Ellisa meets me and my pokemon in the lobby. Her eyes turn soft at the sight of Skarmory flanking on my left and Riolu on my right.

"A great choice. Do you believe me now, Skarmory? I always told you someone would see past your scars."

Ellisa leads me and my pokemon to her office and helps me in arranging the adoption. I first have to catch Skarmory to register him to my trainer ID, so Ellisa hands me a great ball. I try to refuse and use one of my own normal balls, but she insists that this comes with every adoption on Foster Island.

As long as Riolu doesn't get jealous that Skarmory gets a great ball, alright then.

I hold the ball in front of me and Skarmory steps formard and touches the button with the tip of his wing. A light engulfes him and shake, shake, shake, I caught him! I quickly release him again so he can watch me sign all the documents and papers in order to make the rest of the adoption official. Because Ellisa needs to explain more than one of the documents to me in detail, my pokemon quickly lose interest and Eevee jumps from my lap to join Riolu and Skarmory in a simple ball game on the other side of the office. I try not to be distracted too much, but... let's just say Ellisa has to explain some forms at least twice before I get it.

When all that is done, Ellisa and I set a date for Skarmory's six-month check-up and yearly physicals. Just before our meeting will come to an end, Ellisa gives me a large list of care tips in how to make sure Skarmory will be alright. It's long, but I know I'll need it. I take multiple pictures of the list, fold it and stuff it into my backpack.

After finishing up the lasts formalities, finally, Ellisa stands from behind her desk and extends her hand to me.

"I hope you and Skarmory will grow closer and closer and become the best of partners!"

I smile at her and then at Skarmory, who briefly stops to look at me too before he kicks the ball to Eevee. There is an understanding there. A promise.

"I think we will," I say, "I'll make sure of it."

#pokemon #eevee #riolu #skarmory #foster island #pokemon adoption #sky writes #my writing #story time #lotad #bidoof #new team member #sky's team #update #skarmory's adoption #i love him #pokemon rp #pokemon roleplay

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