<b><span style="font-size: 15px">Round Primary</span></b><br/><br/><br/><span style="font-size: 18px"><b>Morning of the Second Day</b></span><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>Dratini gained +3 XP! (+3 bonus!)<br/>Dratini has learned Slam!<br/><br/><br/><br/>Makka was pleased with the Dratini's progress, as did he enjoy the bit of instruction he was able to offer. It had been many years since he had been in the Pewter city gym teaching youngsters and helping them grow. He gave Dratini a pat of appreciation and nodded. He flexed his arm up at Naomi, looking between her and Dratini then gesturing and grunting for Dratini to show off a little. Even with just a brief little window of practice, a Pokemon early in their journey grew fast. Machoke chuffed a laugh as Dratini gave it a try, grinning broadly he looked from the Dratini to Naomi in a, "Well, check him out now," sort of way and gave Naomi suggestive wink.<br/><br/><br/>His attention was diverted as he heard the shrill whistle from Brollem. Makka's eyes immediately went to his trainer. He observed the motions, the nod. Makka's brow raised and he began jogging over to him.<br/><br/><br/>Brollem took Eleyna from the festival site, back to the same open stretch of field where her Growlithe had been beaten before. He noticed the villagers stopping work and taking notice. He waved them off. He didn't want a big audience this time. This was about a girl and her Pokemon.<br/><br/><span style="color: red">Alright, girl, go get your Growlithe.</span>He told her as Kikuchiro the Primeape neared, as did Makka. Eleyna gave him a look.<br/><br/><span style="color: blue">Right!</span>Eleyna gave a hard nod and headed down the slope toward where Growlithe was sitting. She cracked her knuckles and rolled up her sleeves. She wasn't going to take any guff from the Pokemon - not today!<br/><br/>Brollem was speaking quietly to Kikuchiro as Jake and the others neared. Brollem looked up and gave the Primeape a pat before standing and greeting them.<span style="color: red">Aye, what can I do for you young folks?</span>The large man gave a nod and grin as Jake asked for a match.<span style="color: red">Aye, ye can at that - but first there's a score to settle on this ground. </span>He looked down the slope toward Eleyna.<span style="color: red">Stick around after this fight and you'll have your shot.</span><br/><br/><br/>Eleyna walked right up to the Growlithe who eye'd her warily.<span style="color: blue">Alright!</span>She yelled, putting her hands on her hips sternly.<span style="color: blue">You've been moping around more than I can take! Your out here alone and so am I, so as far as I'm concerned we're in this together! You've got no where to go without me, I've got no where to go without you!</span><br/><br/>Growlithe's eye's widened.<br/><br/><span style="color: blue">So wipe that look off your face and get up to that battlefield!</span>She pointed, straight armed. Browlithe didn't move.<br/><br/><span style="color: blue">Or are you planning on staying a two-bit loser?</span><br/><br/>That got the Pokemon's attention. A sudden flash in his eye, a glare.<span style="color: blue">Then stop sitting around and let's go win this thing! </span>Eleyna stood, arm pointed.<br/><br/>Growlithe regained his composure, once more putting on his attitude. He yawned, scratched his ear all while Eleyna didn't move, standing like a statue, stern. The Pokemon gave a half sigh and headed up toward the field. Eleyna remained for a long moment, dropping her arm once he'd gone a ways. She slumped, exhaling. It was exhausting work being stern!<span style="color: blue">Hugh... Good enough.</span><br/><br/>She followed the Growlithe up the hill. Brollem watched. He glanced at the other trainers who were standing to the side, then back at Eleyna. Like it or not, this was going to be this girl's moment.<br/><br/>Kikuchiro eye'd the Growlithe as he approached. The Growlithe eye'd him back. He could see the resentment, the damage dealt to the canine Pokemon's pride. For the Growlithe, this was a grudge match. For Kikuchiro, it was any other fight.<br/><br/><span style="color: red">Alright champ... I know you've got the will in ye', but w're back in the gym today. She may not be ten, but that girl's just like any other young trainer.</span>Brollem whispered to the Pokemon.<span style="color: red">She needs her moment. </span>Kikuchiro looked up at him, furry brow raised quizzically.<span style="color: red">Well I'm not saying throw the fight... just don't go overboard. Set the Growlithe back, force him onto the defense... and we'll see if she's got what it takes.</span><br/><br/>The Primeape gave a slow nod and rolled his shoulders, stretching.<br/><br/>Eleyna in the meantime had been trying to get the Growlithe to stand on their side of the field at the ready. He was complying with the battle, but he was making damn sure to make a point that he was doing it because he wanted to do it. Brollem looked at the other trainers.<br/><br/><span style="color: red">No help for her, not from any of your, you hear? This is her battle. Her's alone to win or lose. Understand?</span>He ordered them sternly.<br/><br/><span style="color: red">Alright, lass... This is it! Are you ready?</span>He called to Eleyna.<br/><br/><span style="color: blue">Yes. There. Now sit down or something. Stop moving. Right there.</span>Eleyna still attempting to rally the Growlithe's attention held out both her hands to him. She looked up toward Brollem.<span style="color: blue">Yes! We're ready!</span><br/><br/>She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, steadying herself.<i>Be a trainer, be a trainer... how do I get him to listen to me... be a trainer.</i><br/><br/><span style="color: red">Begin!</span><br/><br/><span style="color: blue">Growli -</span>She started, but he was already off. Eleyna's eye twinged, but she steadied herself. This was no time to succumb to the Growlithe's independence.<br/><br/>Growlithe sprinted across the field at incredible speed, meeting the Primeape with a quick dodge to the side as the Pokemon launched a strike, then a pivot on his landing foot and strike. They dueled, neither Brollem nor Eleyna speaking. It was a sudden back and forth - Growlithe's speed against Primeape's technique. Growlithe was utilizing his fire, striking with bursts. He had improved since their last bout, but even with new tricks, the Primeape held steady, biding his time. Growlithe ducked dove, struck, felt like he was gaining the upper hand when suddenly -<br/><br/><span style="color: red">Set him back!</span>Brollem yelled.<br/><br/>As his words left his mouth, the Primeape shifted suddenly, dropped low, knocked Grolwithe's leg from under him. The Pokemon hit the ground, snarled in outrage and was suddenly silenced as the Primeape landed a direct blow across his temple. Growlithe rolled, dazed, struggled to right himself.<br/><br/><span style="color: red">Easy!</span>Brollem shouted, urging the Primeape to caution. Kikuchiro, instead of charging, pressing the stunned opponent, he leaped back, bobbing on his short legs, ready.<br/><br/>Growlithe shook his head, snarling. There was an intensity in his eyes, a seething anger. His lips curled, his fangs bared as he hung his head like a starved predator with its eyes transfixed on its prey.<br/><br/><span style="color: blue">Growlithe, he's baiting you! You need to calm down!</span>Eleyna yelled, but again her voice fell upon deaf ears.<br/><br/>Growlithe charged wildly, technique abandoned, refinement gone in the whirlwind of anger. He charged and was halted suddenly as the Primeape deftly feinted a swipe then drove his fist directly into the Growlithe's face, sending the lunging Pokemon tumbling. Again Growlithe was stunned, and again Primeape retreated, waiting. Growlithe roared with fury as he got to his feet, smoke and fire spilling from his fangs, eye's wide with anger. He charged again.<br/><br/>Eleyna watched, trying to derive something from her mind, trying to find some secret - what was she to say? How did she get his attention? She watched Growlithe attacked, watched his anger. She watched Growlithe.<i>He can't see it. He's too close to it. You have to see what he can't. Give him clarity in the chaos.</i>The words of the trainer they had rescued came upon her like a whisper, a tugging of a string in the back of her mind.<br/><br/><i>You're looking at it wrong...</i>Brollem had said.<i>Don't tell him what to do. He knows. He's spent his whole life fighting.</i>Again the trainer. It wasn't about instruction - it wasn't about<i>controlling </i>the Pokemon at all! Eleyna's eye's widened and suddenly she wasn't looking at Growlithe. She was looking at Kikuchiro, watching the Primeape. Growlithe was in a rage, all he could see was the opponent in front of him, the next hit, the will to attack.<br/><br/>Brollem stood to the side, staring at Eleyna with a piercing intensity.<span style="color: red">Come on girl... come on.</span>He muttered quietly, arms crossed across his wide chest.<span style="color: red">Come on... see it.</span><br/><br/>Eleyna watched Primeape as Growlithe attacked. She could feel her heart beating, could hear it in her ears. It was like time suddenly stopped before her, inching along. And suddenly...<br/><br/><span style="color: blue">Growlithe!</span>She screamed at him.<span style="color: blue">He's favoring his right foot! He has a limp, he's always leading from his right! The left side is feint! Its a feint!</span><br/><br/>Growlithe's ear perked as he charged, through the wild savage fury a thread dropped into his mind. His paws dug into the ground, flinging dirt as he skidded to a halt, dropping and retreating as another blow destined for his battered head came just short.<br/><br/>He jumped backwards, breathing hard. His eyes were wide, searching. And suddenly there it was before him. He cocked his head, seeing the limp - subtle hidden. Something he could never have seen in the middle of the fight.<br/><br/><span style="color: blue">Hit him on his left! Forget the fancy shit, just quick attack! Stay ahead of his turn!</span>Eleyna yelled. Growlithe half turned his head, ear perked as he listened.<i>He listened. </i><br/><br/>And suddenly he was off, moving like a bullet, keeping low. He came in always on the Primeape's left, forced him to pivot on the weak leg, to defend from the weak side. Eleyna stared, her heart racing as she watched. It was working. Primeape couldn't keep up anymore. He couldn't lead a hit from his right with Growlithe always on his left. Brollem was grinning. Eleyna couldn't help it. She started crying, tears running down her cheeks and she smiled wider than she ever did before in her life.<br/><br/><span style="color: blue">Cut across him with a smoke screen! Blind side him!</span>She yelled.<span style="color: blue">Kick his ass!</span><br/><br/>Browlithe grinned, keeping out of Primeape's range he ran a ring around him spewing smoke. He was a shadow in the smoke. A burst of flame roared from the fire, Primeape turned, defending with his right, readying a counter, and was suddenly thrown to the ground as the Growlithe burst through the smoke on his left - and he was down. Growlithe had him.<br/><br/>Brollem waved his arms, yelling,<span style="color: red">That's it! That's it!</span>He raised two fingers.<span style="color: red">We surrender!</span><br/><br/>The smoke cleared and there Growlithe stood, front paws on the Primeape, teeth bared in a triumphant grin. He howled up to the open sky. Eleyna sniffed and wiped the tear streaks from her face, unable to stop smiling as she adjusted the brim of her hat.<br/><br/>Brollem walked up to the Growlithe who stepped off the Primeape. Brollem helped the Primeape to his feet, and the two stood side by side looking at the Growlithe. Eleyna approached, standing before them. Growlithe looked up at her, then at Primeape and Brollem and walked over, sitting down next to her. She looked at the Growlithe who tried to play it off cool like it was nothing.<br/><br/>Brollem reached into his pocket and tossed something small in his hand for a moment. He smiled and approached Eleyna, he took her hand and set a glimmering Boulder Badge in it. Eleyna stared, lip trembling.<span style="color: red">And there ye have it. To carry on as a mountain in a storm, to be unshaken by the world and unstoppable in will. You're first badge. Congratulations, Eleyna. You're a trainer.</span><br/><br/>Eleyna stood for a long moment, staring at the badge, head down, eye's hidden below the brim of her hat. She closed her hand around the badge then grabbed Brollem, hugging him. The big man, caught be surprise laughed and gave her a pat.<br/><br/><span style="color: red">Its a first step, girl - and only a first. You've got a long way ahead of you still.</span>He chuckled.<br/><br/>Eleyna let go of him and took a few steps back, tears down her cheeks once more. She sniffed, smiling brightly, then turned to the other trainers, proud as she clipped the badge onto her chest.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><span style="text-decoration: underline">Quests:</span><br/><ul>
<li><b>Collect Kenjiki Flowers </b> <i>Risk: Moderate</i>    - Rewards: XP, ???</li>
<li><b>The offering</b> <i>Risk: High</i>        - Rewards: XP</li>
<li><b>Building the Festival </b> <i>Risk: None</i>   - Rewards: XP</li>
<li><b>???    </b> <i>Risk: ???</i>           -        Rewards: XP, ???</li>
</ul><br/><br/><span style="text-decoration: underline">Locations and Special Opportunities:</span><br/><b>Gym Battle Badge Available (EVO)  </b>-        Rewards: XP, Badge, HM<br/><b>Training Field</b>-        Rewards: Bonus XP During Training<br/><b>Shop</b>-        Terminal Available for Pokemon Trading<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>