(And tonight''s guest is...)


    <hr>


    Maybe it was the shrivelled old Grinch in Linh''s soul, but Poppy''s travel plans were completely ridiculous. The shortest and simplest path to Artazon starts at Mesagoza, and cuts west through the rocky cliffs. With few jagged turns, it''s a relatively straightforward and flat road.


    Does Poppy take that? No. She chose wild route 34. The one that started several miles south. The one that winds less, with more space between the cliffs. The one that has only stone, no concrete or pavement.


    The one that went up and down at steep angles, that Poppy''s Cyclizar cleared easily and eagerly. And Linh huffed and puffed up.


    Loose dirt skidded under draconic claws, Cyclizar''s feet pressed into the ground, finding the tiny, uneven ledges that made going down safe. Hard outcroppings held together by tough grass. Poppy''s sitting backwards on the dragon, she''s watching Linh stumble down the slope. feet sliding in his boots.


    "You can do it, Linh!" Poppy cheered, fist in the air. It did little to help.


    Linh huffed and puffed, "Y''know, you don''t have to cheer me on at every bit of rough terrain. In fact, I''d rath—"


    "Watch out for that Gulpin tunnel," she interrupted. "They like digging into—oh no, down you go."


    A spat of bad luck, a too curious Gulpin peeking out from the small tunnels, like rabbit burrows, poking out from the hill. Linh''s foot landed on the Gulpin and squished them.


    Soft like foam, slippery like a balloon—compressing and sliding. Linh lands, his butt on the slope, and he slides down it until he comes to a painful stop. "MOTH—"


    Thump, skid, thump. Linh hit the ground and rubbed his jaw. He bit his tongue. Behind him, Gulpin gasped in annoyance and rage—like a reverse balloon. Purple spit spreading across the mouth like soap film.


    Linh looked up to see Poppy watching carefully, fingering Riolu''s Pokéball. He looked back and saw Gulpin rearing back as if to spit, ballooning up.


    He sighed. "Casket."


    Casket came out of his shadow, barking mad. The Gulpin reared back, and thought otherwise. Gulpin fell back into the burrow, small and cramped and not at all a good place to fight.


    Casket took one step inside, a growl building up in her throat—one glowing white. She prepared a Roa—


    "Ay! No. Leave it!" Linh snapped, he gave her a sharp look, "No reason to. Let''s catch up."


    Casket turned around, yipped, and then walked with Linh down that slope. Down to Poppy.


    "That''s it," Linh commented. He followed Cyclizar as the path evened. Then paused as a thought came to him. "Actually—Casket, if you want to help." She popped up, if her ears could have stood up, they would have, "Find me a stick—long and straight."


    She vibrated as he said the word ''stick'', and he started to think that he may have said the wrong word, before she melted into her shadow. And that shadow sped away, crawling up the surrounding cliff walls and beyond.


    Poppy tilted her head, not smiling nor frowning. "How''s she going to find you again?"


    There was a moment of silence as they continued walking down the path. A path with faded dirt, and sparse trees on the sides, with bird nests under thin leaf roofs. Murkrow nests, as noted by the slight glint of shininess between twigs and Mankey fluff.


    "She''s fed on my life force—a lot. Prolonged and recently. She can find me." Linh stuck his hands in his pocket.


    "Okay!"


    "She knows my scent too—and with this heat—the trails sure to be noticeable." Linh looked away.


    "Okay?" Poppy waited to see if he would say anything more. He didn''t, so she turned around in her seat. Moments later, she pointed out to the left—North. "Hey, look!"


    Linh sped up, and looked. Then he set his flat hand above his brows, "Look at what?"


    "That!" Poppy pointed towards the cliff tops far from them. Flat tall and thin mountains that the valley below winded around. Atop one of them bright lights flared, and lightning shot upwards.


    "A Pokémon battle—uh," Linh muttered. "What do you think''s causing that?"


    "What?" Poppy''s head turned towards the commotion, "No! That''s just wild Pokémon showing off. Hoping to attract strong Trainers. I''m talking about that." She pointed to the right.


    Linh adjusted his gaze. "The empty cliff?"


    "Don''t you see?"


    He stared at the bare rock, with the rare shrub clinging to its ledges. "No?"


    Poppy crossed her arms, "The Titan. Naturally. The Stony Cliff Titan!"


    They continued walking down the path, in the distance, the path fed into another—one sparse Trainers and hikers and other''s walked. Linh thought, then spoke up, "The one here is... a Klawf. Yes? Crab with a back that looks like a cliff—camoflague. You must know a lot about them, if you can recognise one so far away?" he asked.


    Poppy said, "The Rangers look out for them and where new ones show up. But, yeah! They''re—uh." She paused, a more pensive look. "Maybe someone can explain this better..."


    "But I''d like to hear it from you," Linh said. Eyes ahead.


    Poppy brightened, "Okay!" She hopped forwards in her seat, further up Cyclizar''s back. "So, Titans! Really big Pokémon! They sit on a territory and stay there until they die or get beaten! When they''re defeated they shrink down, and we don''t know why!"


    She continued, as they merged with the main path. One that climbed up slowly, and skirted near the edge of the plateau. A prime place to take pictures from. "But we do know why they''re big! There''s this little herb they have, that when they eat makes them bigger! They guard it with their lives. And they guard their territory too! They attack every Trainer that gets near them, so everyone goes around them. Or moves too fast for them to bother."


    Poppy said all that with a wide grin, as only a kid sharing an interest can. Linh, as an adult who''s been sliding into the parental by accident, listened with a half-ear. As is proper.


    "Huh. Who''s the others?" Linh stepped around a big rock in the path. On the top was a Rufflet, who spread their wings in intimidation and challenge. They ruffled their feathers, pleased, as both went around them. A sort of victory. "The other Titans."


    "Right!" Poppy raised her hand, counting out each Titan on her fingers. "There''s three who we know about! There''s the Open Skies Titan, its a Bombirdier, who lives near the big desert. Then there''s the Dragon Titan; who may be the False Dragon? Some say its the small fish, some say its the big fish, I dunno.


    "Then there''s the Lurking Steel Titan!" Poppy held her hand up, excitedly. "It''s an Orthworm! They live near Levancia, in the desert north there! It''s a great place for Orthworms, the sand''s nice and dry so they can dig without rusting. Did you know that, unlike normal worms, they don''t need to come up to breath when it rains? They go even deeper, to the rougher sands that scrape open their pores!"


    "Huh. You know a lot about insects, as well as Steel Pokémon and Titans?"


    Poppy sneered, "Annelids, Orthworms aren''t insects, they''re Annelids." She huffed, and turned away.


    Linh held up his hands, sheepish smile.


    They passed a battle-scarred patch of ground, on the side of the path. Grass uprooted, gouges in the cliff walls, stones wet despite sunny days and cloudless nights.


    Linh coughed, "Bet you want to fight them, huh? Fighting something that''s usually not big sounds interesting."


    "No?" Poppy frowned. "I don''t want their herbs."


    They rounded the corner—coming to an outcropping, a ledge extending out. A single girl—teenager—was already there. Standing at the edge with binoculars against her eyes. A Lycanroc sat with her, gaze just as intent. Lupine eyes matching mechanical lens.


    "But you like battles?"


    "That''s different!" Poppy swung her arms wide, illustrating the difference in her armspan. "Without Trainers, Pokémon fights are less fun." She pauses, and looks towards the teenager at the cliff again. She grinned, "Wanna see why?"


    Linh nodded. Curious. Poppy smacked her hand against Cyclizar''s side, and he came to a stop behind the teenager. Lycanroc''s ear twitched, and the stones in his mane clicked. But the teenager made no reaction.


    "Hey, Nemona!" Poppy called to her.


    Nemona did not respond, she was still peering through her binoculars, mumbling something.


    Poppy nodded to herself, made Cyclizar turn around, and then, "Oh boy! I sure wish there was someone willing to give me a Pokémon batt—!"


    Nemona turned around, there was a light in her eyes. "Battle!" Then she saw Poppy. "..."


    She took some steps forwards, then some more, and Poppy held her hands out and wide—Nemona swept her up in a hug. A very high pitched noise came from them, one that made Lycanroc wince. "Eeeeeeeee! Poppy! I didn''t know you were going this way! I was waiting for Ju—this Trainer, and I just know you''ll like her! And—"


    Nemona looked over Poppy''s shoulder, and saw Linh. He stood there awkwardly, looking left, then right.


    "And who''s this?" Nemona questioned. Politely curious, and also a tinge embarrassed—as only a teenage girl realising she just acted like a teenage girl in front of a stranger can.


    "I''m, Linh?" he said. "Geeta hired me, to follow Poppy around. Keep her company, and to cook stuff for her."


    Nemona sniffed, then looked at Poppy, and put her down. "I thought she left that to her Tinkaton. They''re really clever, you know!"


    "Tinkie uses twigs she picks up from the floor to pick at her teeth," Linh slandered, without hesitation.


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Poppy made a confused noise. The Pokéball at her waist rocked, indignant.


    "Makes sense," Nemona said. The Pokéball rocked harder. "So. Poppy—you want a battle?"


    Poppy, who had her fists up to her chin and was bouncing on her heels, chirped, "Nope! Linh does."


    Nemona''s gaze snapped to Linh, and he raised his hands in confusion. "First I heard of it," he responded.


    Poppy


    continued, "I will explain! He wants to know what''s fun about Pokémon battles with Trainers specifically. Nemona—can you help me show it to him? Please?"


    Nemona nodded firmly, "You had me at battle. C''mon—road-court''s this way!" She started jogging towards the path behind them—likely to the area with the battle-damage. Before she paused, and turnned to Lycanroc. "Stay here, Florian told me Julian should be arriving at the valley any minute now! Find me when she does!"


    On the way over, Poppy spoke again, "I will referee, and I will call out when both of you need to stop. And then you will STOP!" She commanded. "This is a lesson!"


    "I thought this was a Pokémon battle?" Linh asked, an upbeat note in his voice. Mischief in his blood. Poppy rounded on him.


    "You know what I mean!" Tone sharp, inoculated against him.


    Nemona looked at the byplay, Poppy''s starting-to-be-indignant, Linh''s guileless voice. How he fell into an easygoing, lax tone. And how Poppy glared as she would against an Uncle who makes bad puns. She jumped on it, "I thought this was a battle, too? I don''t see any teachers."


    "This is a lesson, but it''s also a Pokémon battle!" Poppy rounded on her, she stomped a foot.


    "Ah, a lesson-as-a-spar," Linh said. "Why didn''t you say so?"


    Nemona, grin wide, tapped two fingers against her palm and leaned in. "Yes Poppy. Clock''s ticking!"


    Poppy pouted hard, and walked faster. As both were taller, this didn''t help much.


    The roadside-court had no boundaries, nor barriers against projectiles, nor medical supplies nearby. It could not be said to be a well-regulated, safe place to have Pokémon violently interact. In fact, with the steep fall on the other side of the road, it could be said to be more dangerous then the average battle arena.


    This did not deter Nemona, and it did not for Poppy. Linh sighed, looked to the ledge, and weighed his curiosity with a mind that doesn''t like walking on the road-side of wide pavements. He found the former mattered more.


    Since there wasn''t a big rock nearby for Poppy to stand on, she made Cyclizar lie down so she can sit on him. "Listen up!" Her finger went up, "Linh!" Her finger glided towards him, "Battles against a Trainer and a wild Pokémon are massively different. Because wild Pokémon don''t pay attention to what the Trainer is doing. Other Trainers do, why does this matter?"


    Linh said, "Are you going to do this call and response thing every time you want to teach me something?"


    "Miss Bletcher says that''s how you teach." Linh did not know who Miss Bletcher was. "Now why does it matter?"


    Linh rocked back on his heels, thinking, "Because.... Because it''s—responsive. The opponent pays attention to your commands, so they can respond to your Pokémon before they act."


    "Correct, but incomplete!" Poppy exclaimed. "Now, release your Pokémon—and I''ll point out what information you''re sharing with them!"


    Nemona threw her Pokéball, "Ohhh, Pawmo—let''s go!"


    Pawmo appeared, a baggy looking marmot, with yellow spots on his cheeks that hummed with power. Smaller yellow pads on his fore-paws waved in the air, and unhummed with unpower. Friction between paw and cheeks transferred charge to Pawmo''s fists, for electrifying arm-thrusts.


    Linh reached for Cask—Menac—actually... Polteageist''s Pokéball rolled in his palm, a bit old, dried clay stuck in between the seams. Old, but new, used, but never by Linh. He tapped it as he watched Nemona''s swaying. Champion Nemona, according to information he knew before. The protaganists rival.


    He didn''t want Kaolin''s first battle with him to be a loss. But...


    Kaolin''s Pokéball shook. An answer to that. Linh inhaled, then exhaled, soft but firm.


    "Go, Kaolin." A flash of light—the teapot formed and sloshed. Kaolin stretched it''s arms out wide. Eyes closed and yawning.


    "And PAUUSSSEEE!" Poppy cried, she gestured to Nemona. "What do you see when you look at her, Linh?"


    "I." A gap in his confidence, hitch in his rythmn. "A teenager?" Nemona mock gasped, hand on her chest.


    "Wrong." Poppy said. "Right. Look at her stance! Look at the number of Pokéballs she''s showing!"


    Linh looked. Nemona stood proudly, unblinking gaze and confident smile. She had three balls at her belt.


    "That''s confidence, that''s posture, that''s the stance of someone who knows how to battle. And, there''s three balls. Hobbyists and none battlers really only keep one or two. Because they don''t need that many on hand when they''re going out." Poppy nodded firmly, "She''s a professional."


    "Aw, thanks." Nemona rubbed the back of her head.


    "She also doesn''t show any signs of either Electric or Fighting specialisation, despite showing signs of professionalism." Linh blinked, signs? "Thus, she''s a generalist! Now, look at her Pokémon."


    They looked at Pawmo. He was shadow boxing towards Kaolin, aggressively focused.


    "Pawmi evolve into Pawmo at a later level of strength then you have, Linh." Poppy gestured and Pawmo looked up, "He''s stronger then you and therefore more likely to win."


    Kaolin shifted, its smile became a frown. A seething hiss—bubbling up like escaping steam. Before—"Kaolin, we''ll just have to prove her wrong,"


    Kaolin spun, and took in Linh''s gentle smile. "Won''t we?" he asked. Kaolin cheered, and it turned back.


    Just in time for Linh''s face to fall, and he scratched his neck, "Menace woulda been better..." he mumbled.


    "Also note the Tera Orb at her side, but it''s poor form (and wasteful) to use them in casual battles. Now, Nemona!" Poppy exclaimed, "Explain to Linh what you see when you look at him!"


    Nemona hummed, and her gaze sharpened. Linh''s fingers curled and he frowned. "That, right there. Hesitation, nervousness—no, just indecision. A passiveness, which is bad!" she called out, "Your Pokémon will pick up on that! And also...


    "Your Pokémon choice, Polteageist, Ghost. Fully evolved. I would then check for signs of Ghost specialisation—which I don''t see." She took a breath, "But, Poppy''s said that Polteageist''s not as strong as Pawmo, so I don''t expect to see any signs."


    Again, this talk of specialisations, Linh opened his mouth.


    Nemona continued, "Now, Polteageist''s known to the competitive scene, people who Pokémon battle for a living. They are Shell Smash abusers. Therefore: fragile but deadly.


    "Pawmo may be stronger, and faster. But he''s actually working at a bit of a disadvantage—I''ve been focusing on his Fighting half, so most of my training will not be useful here." Nemona rattled off. "Only useful one is his dodge training."


    Poppy turned back to Linh, grin flashing. "Any questions, Linh?"


    Linh had a few, but he could save them. And their Pokémon were starting to look impatient. "No."


    "Very well, then I announce that this battle will begin!" Poppy chopped the air with her hand.


    <Travel Time></abbr>


    Linh very gently held his teapot, rocking like a baby. The tea inside sloshed left and right, and swirled into a whirlpool—grumbling splashing. Kaolin gripped tightly one of it''s Substitute-stitched Pokédolls, sodden with tea. One of many Pokédolls Kaolin made, to no more result then prolonging its defeat.


    "So, Moves." Nemona took wide, long, slow, steps. Matching Cyclizar''s pace, even though Linh lagged behind. "He''s got creativity, but not much flexibility when its countered. Shielding with Magical Leafs was high level, but once Pawmo intercepted them with pebbles he had no response. Teatime play was nice, through.


    "Then there''s his reaction speed, Linh can''t use one word when five would do, and it''ll be a hair late when the really fast parts start."


    Every so often, Kaolin slapped the doll against Linh as he cooed, and the tea soaked into his sweater and down the front. It left a thin droplet trail down the path.


    "Other then that, very well-rounded. If he chooses, he''ll make a right danger on the circuit."


    "I know right! He''s picked it up from me!" Poppy''s finger pressed against the corner of her mouth.


    Linh felt something thorny and thin wrap around his arm. He looked down. It was Menace. He rasped something. Accusing eyes at Kaolin.


    Kaolim responded maturely by throwing its plush (missed) and waving its fist angrily. Leaning so far to the side that it lurched in Linh''s arms. Kaolin grumbled its annoyance. But not in the ''upset about defeat'' way, the ''stop ruining my hustle'' way.


    "Oh. You''re screwing with me," Linh let go, and Kaolin floated away, giggling into its hands. "Fair play. Fair play. By the way, your shoelaces are untied."


    Kaolin paused, and then looked down at its little legs, poking out the bottom of its teapot. Out of the broken space inside the foot.


    Kaolin did not wear shoes. Kaolin has never worn shoes. Linh chuckled as he sped up, Menace in his arms.


    Unjustified outrage chased him as he came up to Nemona and Poppy.


    "So. Poppy, Nemona," Linh greeted them both. "Done talking about everything I''ve done wrong ever?"


    "Yea—Linh!" Poppy turned sharply, "You were supposed to be listening!


    "I was. And so was Menace." Linh lied. He lifted Menace up to show his perpetually unamused stare. "See?"


    "Linh!" Poppy started. Her hand raised, curled into a fist.


    "Oh, you have a Bramblin too? You really are going for a Ghost specialisation." Nemona blurted out. "Did you know their evolution isn''t strength based? It''s entirely how much distance they travel!"


    "Well, yes. Why else would I have him out?"


    "To get sun for photosynthesis?" Nemona.


    "Because you like being around him?" Poppy, mumbled.


    "Also, it doesn''t work if you''re just carrying him, you know?" Nemona again.


    Linh''s eyebrow raised, he shifted his grip by the slightest inch, and Menace hissed.


    Nemona laughed, then leaned over, and tried to touch Menace. He reacted with a thorn, and she laughed again. "Very personable, I see. I think I can get him to warm up to me, though."


    "How so?"


    Nemona''s gigawatt grin shone bright. "A batt—!"


    "Actually—weren''t you looking for someone? A... Julian?" Linh asked.


    Poppy''s head turned her way slowly, "Yesss, and you left Lycanroc there to keep watch, remember?"


    Nemona paused, then turned around. There, a few turns up the road, Lycanroc. On the same ledge Nemona started at. He was not looking out into the distance, but rather at her. Tail between his legs, in a very betrayed fashion.


    She inhaled, "That''s right! Sorry, I have to go now—buh bye!" She ran off, torso turnt so she could wave back for as long as possible.


    And as easily as Nemona appeared, she left. They continued down the road. Silent, bar the sound of crunching dirt under boot and claw, and the soft rasping purrs of Menace.


    "There''s a clearing near here. If we take a rope up. It''s a good place to stay." Poppy said.


    "To train? To cook?" Linh nodded, "Sounds reasonable—lead the way."


    "Okay."


    Linh looked closer at Poppy—anger? No, annoyance. Petty?


    "... So Poppy. What''s this about Type specialisation?" he asked. "The signs of it, at least."


    "Hmph!" Poppy turned away, "I''m not telling you, because you didn''t listen earlier!"


    Linh chuckled. Petty. "Fair enough. I''m sorry."


    "Hmph!" She made sure Linh saw her turn away this time.


    <Travel Time>


    Messengengar:


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%">Rika


    Remarkable Grounded.</td>


    </tr>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%">


    > Rika. I''m really not exageratting. People back home think you''re mad hot.


    Rika


    > I know I''m a pretty face, but your lying.


    > Rika there was a poll for women''s top fictional crushes and you got #1. You beat Gojo, Trafalgar, Chainsawman. Fucking Chainsawman!


    Rika


    > I don''t know who those people are, but i''m sure they''re ACTUALLY what women crush on.


    > ''I thought she was a hot boy but when it turned out she was a woman my heart went crazy'' <- direct quote right there.


    > Also c''mon. Look at yourself.


    Rika


    > .


    > Linhhhhh, is this flirting?


    > My my.


    > .


    > I thought you were taken?


    Rika


    > WAHT


    > NO


    > Or gay, you give that vibe alot.


    Rika


    > ASJKHGALDSKH


    > Yes, like that.


    Seen at 19:00


    > Hey Rika. Whhat''s type specialisation? Poppy won''t tell me.


    Rika


    > It''s that thing that happens when you hang around a lot of Pokémon with the same type. Let them do their thing to you etc etc. You just get better about handling Pokémon of that type. Intuiting their wants, communicating your plans, stuff.


    > And what''s this about signs? About recognising specialists.


    Rika


    > Exactly what it sounds like. your physical appearence can change due to specialisation. It''s not common, but it''s ''common knowledge'' that you change.


    > The more common part is that you get a sort of benefit from it. Nothing big, nothing REALLY noticeable unless you know about it before hand


    > Most don''t, cuz it''s not exactly spread around.


    > Poppy doesn''t know what hers is, after all.


    > What is it, then?


    Rika


    > Iron Stomach.


    > Don’t tell her that, by the way. Having the kid eat dirt or something WILL get her parents on us.


    > i see


    > Yours?


    Rika


    > Ohohoh I get to show off again hold on


    Rika


    > vid.pr4


    > Impossible balance. Comes with a fairly decent ability to guess angles too. I''m Always Grounded.


    > Rika that''s a brick wall. Are you telling me you can walk up it like a spider its a damn right angle


    > Also is all of these ''things'' puns.


    Rika


    > About 87 degrees, actually. And I''m standing on the little lips caused by how the cement bends inwards.


    > I''d call it wordplay.


    > What''s Ghost?


    Rika


    > High Spirits. You get a sorta


    > not resistance


    > Ryme called it somewhere between defiance and ignorance.


    > You don''t really feel the effects of life drain, and that last bit of soul before you die just refuses to be pulled out.


    > I’d expect it to start kicking in at like six badges, if you keep to only Ghosts.


    > Last question. What do people who don’t do one type get?


    Rika


    > A team that doesn’t keel over against one (1) type.


    > lol


    > Aight. Thanks.


    Rika


    > Anytime.


    > And getting back to a previous topic. I am NOT hiding ANY girlfriend OR boyfriend.


    > ... No one mentioned anything about hiding?


    > ANd, interesting that you typed girlfriend first. First thing that came to mind, much?


    Seen at 16:00


    </td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>