<b><span style="font-size: 15px">Round Primary</span></b><br/><br/><br/>The villagers, finding themselves back tot heir tasks at hand once again set about with their work. Brollem's Machoke, having<br/>commandeered the help of Steven and Tyrogue, brought them to the major construction of the festival near the edge of the Spirit Forest. Some dozen villagers were already hard at work, setting support posts and beams for a long, wide stage. The large Torii, or at least carved and smoothed wooden timber that would be its construction were set aside the stage. As Machoke approached with Steven and Tyrogue in tow, one of the villagers stood, putting his hands on his lower back and wincing at the stiffness age had brought him. He waved one hand at Machoke, smiling jovially.<br/><br/><span style="color: darkgreen">Ata! Makka, you don't need to bring help! We're all still perfectly young enough for this!</span>He laughed and cringed slightly as he tried to take a step.<span style="color: darkgreen">Aiiiya~  On second thought, I'll take all the help we can get!</span><br/><br/>The man walked to Steven and offered a hand for a shake.<span style="color: darkgreen">You're one of those trainers that brought the fellow that was near dead aren't you? You can call me Katsumo. Since you're here, mind giving us a hand with all this? All this is going to be a stage, see, some bit off the ground... Not too hard work getting it all set. You've used a hammer before, right?</span>He chuckled and gave Steven a pat.<span style="color: darkgreen">Grab a mallet set some of these joists.</span><br/><br/>The Machoke watched, then gave the Tyrogue a pat and reached down and picked up a plank of discarded wood. He gave the little Pokemon a wink, tossed the plank up before him, cocked his fist and struck it as it fell, snapping the piece of wood in half, sending splinters and bits of wood into the beat down grass. Machoke then gave the Tyrogue a short nod, picked up a much thinner board and kneeled down, holding it up for the little Pokemon to hit.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>A woman approached Naomi, giving her a light touch on the arm to get her attention.<span style="color: darkorange">Hello... Naomi was it?</span>She smiled and gave a small bow.<span style="color: darkorange">Sorry, I can't help but notice you look a little lost for something to do. Come give us a hand with something.</span>She smiled appreciatively. The woman started through the grounds in the direction of the Torii.<br/><br/><span style="color: darkgreen">Quite something to see, isn't it?</span>She asked as they walked.<span style="color: darkorange">Who'd have thought so many of us, getting on in years as we are, would be out here working like we were young.</span>They passed a man and woman lifting a post to set it in one of the holes Houndour had dug.<br/><br/>The woman brought Naomi to the stage where Steven and his Tyrogue was. At its foot, laid out before the spirit forest were the large pieces of the Torii. They have been cut and carved, though not yet painted. All that was needed was their assembly. Two large holes had been dug to plant the posts in. Brollem's Graveler stood by idly watching, waiting. A small bird beat its wings as it came down and landed on him.<br/><br/>Being so close to the dense wood, Naomi couldn't help but feel a peculiar sense of something within. It was difficult to discern an origin for the feeling of unease, or perhaps to extract its exact source from whatever primal instinct warned her from the place.<br/><br/><span style="color: darkorange">This is a Torii... A gateway, a sort of spirit gate that's symbolic of the two worlds between the Spirits and us.</span>She said to Naomi, not really knowing how much the girl knew about the traditions.<span style="color: darkorange">We're erecting here before the stage... its a sort of passage between us and the Pokemon here. The Dancer will be here on this stage once its done at the festivals climax, and she'll dance before the Torii. It may seem silly, but its a sort of way of us telling the spirits of this place that we know that there is a separation between them and us, and that we understand our place. But, we can't do that if the damn thing isn't standing!</span><br/><br/><span style="color: darkorange">Rokku here can do a fair bit of lifting.</span>She said, pointing to the Graveler.<span style="color: darkorange">But I think it would be wise to assemble the gate first, then lift it all together... maybe with lines attached...?</span>She rubbed the back of her sweaty neck as she contemplated what to do.<span style="color: darkorange">Hmm, guidelines on the posts and top to help heave it up. But, first things first, we need to get it together! You've seen a Torii, I assume?</span><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>Brollem waved Jake and Lydia back over to continue assembling the float.<span style="color: red">Come on then you two, we're not cone quite yet!</span><br/><br/>As the three got back to work, Brollem's Primeape joined, replacing Eleyna helping on Brollem's side.<br/><br/>The Gym owner gave the two a look as they worked.<span style="color: red">Go easy on the girl, by the way. The dark haired one. She's no easy task with that beast of hers. Been some time since I've seena  Pokemon that stubborn... well not since Kikuchiro here.</span>He gave the Primeape a pat.<span style="color: red">This Pokemon was one stubborn, foul tempered fighter when he was a Mankey. Didn't matter the order given, he's rather sock you in the face than follow it.</span>The Primeape chuffed in a laughing cadence in apparent agreement.<br/><br/><span style="color: red">Training, though, isn't just about getting a Pokemon to do what you say, or even to trust you, really - Jake, over here a moment, help me lift this... right like that. Anyway, and this goes for the both of you, Lydia, Jake... Training is about helping a Pokemon see past themselves - and in order to do that, we must be able to accomplish the same. Training must be mutual. Both that Growlithe and Eleyna have a long way to go in that. Both see the world only the way they wanted to... that battle there was never going to unite them, but it gave them a step in the right direction. If she's got the dedication, and the will for it, she could turn out to be one of the world's greatest trainers.</span><br/><br/>He smiled and Jake and Lydia.<span style="color: red">And so could either of you. And if you're looking to give a shot at proving it... well, I've got some old badges back in my house. You beat me, you take yourselves a badge. Come on then, over here a moment. We need to run the carrying arms from the edges before we set the top on it.</span><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>One of the diggers near Susan watched her vigor with a measure of amusement. His amusement was furthered by the Houndour's enthusiasm.<span style="color: darkgreen">Oye! Stop putting us old farts to shame!</span>One yelled, prompting a few laughs.<span style="color: darkgreen">Dame desu ne! Don't say that, she might stop and make us do them all!</span>Another yelled.<span style="color: darkgreen">Come on boys, the girl's putting us to shame then, let's put our backs into it!</span><br/><br/>Susan's efforts inspired the group of diggers to double their efforts. As they dug one man yelled out loudly,<span style="color: darkgreen">Dokkoisho Dokkoisho!</span>The others all perked up and began laughing. Again the man yelled,<span style="color: darkgreen">Dokkoisho Dokkoisho!</span>They yelled back in unison,<span style="color: darkorange">Dokkoisho Dokkoisho!</span>The lead yelled,<span style="color: darkgreen">Soran Soran!</span>And the others repeated in rhythm as the old fisherman's work song, the Soran Bushi, began to be sung.<br/><br/>Yaren soran soran<br/>Soran soran soran, Hai hai!<br/>Oki de kamome no naku koe kikeba<br/>Funanori kagyo wa yamerarenu choi!<br/><br/>The song went up among the villagers, filling the fields with the singing as they worked.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>Eleyna gauged the suns position as it neared the horizon. It wouldn't be long before night began to settle over the islands. She found herself back among the houses, presently dark as their occupants worked. It oddly quite in the small village at the moment. Nothing at all present of the lives that occupied it but the sounds of work that found their way down the slope. A single light was on inside the house which the trainers had brought the injured man. It felt like it had happened days ago but for the distant aches Eleyna still felt.<br/><br/>Eleyna slid open the Shoji and removed her sandals before going inside. She peered around in the growing gloom of the house. A light shone from just down a hall, but her eyes were drawn instead to the pictures sitting on shelves in the entry. She saw a young man, younger than she, kneeled down with a machop, smiling as the two raised two fingers to the camera. On the young man's vest was a glittering badge. He seemed so like them in that moment, she thought; so like Jake and Steven, like Naomi and Aisha. Young, the world before him, waiting to be seized. Her eyes followed the young Brollem in the pictures with Pokemon, at tournaments, standing before a gym. Each picture a window into a point in time further along in his life. In each, that youthful vibrancy seemed further and further away. The last picture on the wall, he stood, broad shouldered with a beard beginning to grow next to a young man with thin eyes, tanned skin and unruly black hair standing outside a Gym, his gym. His Pokemon were there, the Graveler, Machoke, the Primeape. The young man he was with Eleyna knew well, though she'd never seen him so young. His name was Brock, a member of the league and owner of the Pewter City gym. The look of joy in Brocks face was palpable, like the face of the young Brollem with his Machop. But Brollem there in that picture, handing the gym over to his successor, looked sad behind his smile.<br/><br/>Eleyna heard a voice down the hall that pulled her attention from the photos. She quietly rounded the corner and found the room with its door ajar. Within she heard the elder voice of Kaiyo. She stepped into the doorway. Sitting in the corner was a man with his head bowed and fists clenched in his lap. Eleyna did not know, but he was the man Jake and Steven had spoken with in the Onsen. Kaiyo sat beside a bed set before a window that looked up the hill toward the festival grounds. On it lay the trainer in red, arm and leg splinted, chest wrapped and head wrapped. He stared up at the ceiling.<br/><br/><span style="color: darkorchid">Please, you must tell us what it was.</span>Kaiyo urged him, though no response came. The man in the corner saw Eleyna as he looked up. He was surprised for a moment, but said nothing.<br/><br/><span style="color: red">Don't tell him what to do.</span>The trainer spoke, his voice hoarse.<br/><br/>Kaiyo looked at him, trying to decipher what he meant. The trainer's eyes turned, fell upon Eleyna for a moment. Eleyna stiffened as he peered at her. She wanted to run from those eyes, wanted to escape the sorrow behind them, the pain that put them beyond tears or hope. He stared for a moment, then his gaze returned to the ceiling. Kaiyo, confused, followed his eyes and spotted Eleyna.<br/><br/><span style="color: red">He knows what to do. He's known his whole life. He knows when to attack, to fall back... he doesn't need you for instructions.</span>Eleyna stared, not understanding.<span style="color: red">He needs you to see. He can't see the battle. He's too close to it. Your his trainer. You have to see what he can't, see past the chaos and give him clarity.</span>Eleyna's eyes widened as she realized what the trainer was talking about, his body spasmed suddenly and he coughed. Kaiyo stood and pointed.<br/><br/><span style="color: darkorchid">Water, quickly!</span>She ordered. The man stood and grabbed a ladle of water which Kaiyo administered to the trainer.<span style="color: darkorchid">What is it Eleyna?</span>She asked, quickly.<br/><br/><span style="color: blue">I... uhm... Otachi is ready.</span>Eleyna announced wringing her hands nervous that she had caused the trainer to begin coughing. Kaiyo looked at her harshly for a moment, then her eyes softened and she nodded.<br/><br/><span style="color: darkorchid">Thank you Eleyna. Kensho, Eleyna please, I need you to carry him to the boat. </span><br/><br/>Eleyna quickly stepped forward as she was told. They had laid the trainer of a stretched and she and the man found it easy enough to lift and began carrying it out of the house with utmost care. Eleyna couldn't put her sandals back on as they carried the trainer down onto the dirt road and toward the prepared boat. Otachi, the apparent boatman helped them carry the trainer on board. Kaiyo spoke with him briefly, and he apologized that he would miss preparing for the festival, and that he would hurry back as quickly as possible. Shortly the boat was away, leaving a wake as it began its journey out of the bay toward Corestor city.<br/><br/>Eleyna stood beside Kaiyo and the man for a time, watching.<span style="color: darkorchid">Did he say anything to you, when you were bringing him here?</span>The old woman asked, not looking from the boat.<br/><br/><span style="color: blue">No.</span>Eleyna answered. Kaiyo nodded slowly.<br/><br/>In the distance, Eleyna could hear singing. The sun had reached the horizon, she noted.<span style="color: darkorchid">Eleyna, I think we've done enough for the day... please let everyone know and we'll see about some food and much needed rest.</span><br/><br/>Eleyna gave a bow and responded with a curt,<span style="color: blue">Hai.</span>She headed back towards the house to fetch her sandals for what good it would do now that her tabi had been in the dirt.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-size: 12px"><b>Utsumi Travel Guide</b></span></span>:  Day 1<br/><br/><b>Gym Battle Badge Available (EVO)  </b>-        Rewards: XP, Badge, ???<br/><b>???    </b>-        Rewards: XP, ???<br/><b>Training Field</b>-        Rewards: Bonus XP During Training<br/><br/><b>Shop</b>-        Terminal Available for Pokemon Trading<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>