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May 31, 2023 21:25:23 GMT
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Post by Raven on Mar 21, 2020 8:12:42 GMT
There is a lot of crawling involved, as one might expect of a 'crawlspace'. At first, this is only mildly inconvenient. After a short time, however, the path seems to grow narrower until Mayu's shoulders are very nearly touching the walls of the crawlspace. Thankfully, just then, the path ends. In a straight drop into darkness. Naturally. Not like there's room to turn around, however, so...tally ho!
Mystery! awEImh551d3
A moderate-length drop into a much larger space, followed by more crawling eventually leads Mayu to the end of the tunnel. Only way to go now is up! After pushing open a hatch, Mayu finds herself within what appears to be a large warehouse. Clearly, those tunnels were either much longer than they appeared, or you were no longer in the Gym from the moment you awoke in that first room, bereft of possessions.1d3
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Post by snark on Mar 21, 2020 8:32:36 GMT
If this Gym's test has for some bizarre reason deposited Mayu outside the gym without her Pokemon or clothes, she is going to be very annoyed. She looks around the warehouse, cautiously starting to explore.
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May 31, 2023 21:25:23 GMT
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Post by Raven on Mar 21, 2020 8:59:29 GMT
After thoroughly exploring the warehouse, and even opening a few crates, Mayu has discovered a few things. One, she is most assuredly outside of the Gym. She found a window and peered out to see it just down the street. Lovely. Two, this warehouse is pretty much just for show. There's absolutely nothing in the numerous crates that are stacked and scattered about. Three, at least she will not be without clothing. She found a "spare" Gym Trainer uniform in her size seemingly just waiting for her to discover it in one of the boxes. It technically covers more than the swimsuit she bought for Cerulean's gym battle, but also seems tailored to accentuate a female body. Probably why all the known members of this Gym are female... not that that means much when Kanto is pretty much ruled by women.
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Post by snark on Mar 21, 2020 10:10:31 GMT
Somehow, the provided clothes make Mayu feel more exposed rather than less; she may not have much of a figure to accentuate, but the outfit calls attention to what's there in a way that her dull, pragmatic underthings didn't. In another respect, though, Mayu finds their presence reassuring: it suggests that this is still part of the Gym's bizarre test, not a failure. This is good. Now she just needs to find her Pokemon, and she'll be more or less ready again. She heads to the warehouse door to see where exactly she's ended up. Presumably, she's still in Celadon somewhere (the tunnel wasn't that long); is she supposed to go back to the Gym...?
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May 31, 2023 21:25:23 GMT
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Post by Raven on Mar 21, 2020 16:50:20 GMT
With nothing else of note in the warehouse, it seems the only choice is to return to the Gym. Whether Mayu moves quickly or proceeds at a normal pace, she reaches it with no issues. Upon re-entering the Gym, Mayu finds that all the lights are on and everything looks perfectly normal. This seems to imply that the bizarre test is now complete. In a side room, there is a single person sitting on a couch watching old Indigo League battle videos on silent. Mayu's stuff is still nowhere to be seen, so it stands to reason she'll need to speak to this person (a Gym Trainer, if their matching uniform is anything to go by) to get it back.
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Post by snark on Mar 21, 2020 20:10:11 GMT
"I was told that my Pokemon would be returned to me upon completing the test," Mayu says without preamble.
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Post by Raven on Mar 21, 2020 21:25:35 GMT
The person glances over at you, then replies with a deadpan "Heads up". Moments later, Mayu's bag (which has her previous clothes within it) is tossed at her from halfway across the room. Only her years of training allow Mayu to react in time to catch the thrown bag. A grinning woman with platinum blonde hair waves at Mayu. In stark contrast to the woman on the couch, the new person's behavior practically screams for attention.
"And indeed they have been!" The blonde replies.
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Post by snark on Mar 21, 2020 22:58:38 GMT
Mayu picks out Alpha's Pokeball at once - it's not a different type than the others, but there's a little scuff on one side from when she was thirteen that lets her recognize it easily - and releases the Lucario, who emerges battle-ready and looks slightly perplexed to find no other Pokemon out and no obvious threat to his master. Only then does she relax. A little. He can't be stolen when he's out like this. Maybe she ought to keep him out more, just to be safe.
"Thank you," she says stiffly to the blonde woman. Extremely stiffly. Thanking someone for returning something she stole feels wrong, but she has to say something and nothing else comes to mind.
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Post by Raven on Mar 21, 2020 23:27:57 GMT
"So! Mayu, right? That's what your ID said." The blonde smirks. "You must want an Advanced Challenge then. Based on your track record. If I'm wrong, do feel free to let me know. However, while you made it through our Gym's little hazing ritual, there is still one final obstacle to overcome before you may face the leader. You need to pick someone to fight. Just one person." She holds up a photo of a red-haired woman. "Your choices are as follows: Mary over there." She motions to the brunette on the couch, who doesn't seem to be paying any attention to the proceedings. "The woman in this photo, Atropa Floyd; or myself~! If you get lucky, or just happen to have done your homework, you can skip straight to the Gym Leader by picking the right person!"
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Post by snark on Mar 21, 2020 23:32:18 GMT
Mayu stares at the blonde for a moment, then points silently at the indifferent woman on the couch. At least she won't talk as much.
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Post by Raven on Mar 22, 2020 0:04:37 GMT
Almost as if she expected that, the brunette gets up. "Right then. Fair warning: if you don't give it your all, you'll never beat me. I don't particularly enjoy battle, but it's my job and I'm damn good at it." She cautions. "No big speeches here, just a simple message. Oh, how many badges you got again?" She nods in acknowledgement when Mayu answers. "So, one last thing: rules of engagement. This fight is Pokemon-only. I don't fight. Much like the Cerulean Gym, the two of us will participate in a Double Battle; each sending out two Pokemon at once. Maximum of four per side. First to defeat the other side is the victor. No surrender."
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Post by snark on Mar 22, 2020 0:20:10 GMT
"Understood."
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Post by snark on Mar 22, 2020 9:35:18 GMT
Mayu hadn't actually expected to best the Gym on her first attempt. It's never happened yet, after all. Still, it's a bit disheartening to fail before even reaching the leader. She still has no idea what Leader Nalkeya's team looks like, and if past experience is anything to go by she's going to need more than one attempt there, too.
Her first stop, of course, is the Pokemon Center, where she heals her team and changes back into her own clothes. (Now that she thinks about it, it's a little strange that they just give out Gym uniforms. Aren't those supposed to be a mark of status?) Then it's off to train some more. But... not right away. She needs to do something else first. Anything else will do. Maybe visit the Safari Zone? She's never been. Yes, that sounds like a good plan. She's not exactly in search of more Pokemon, but then, she's not not in search of more Pokemon either.
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Post by Raven on Mar 22, 2020 9:42:04 GMT
While no one can truly claim to know the mind of Leader Nalkeya, it is fairly well-known that the Celadon Gym has always been among the most lax gyms in Kanto; even during Erika's time. That said, the sort of hazing that Celadon puts challengers through is most certainly a new thing. Thirty years ago, such tactics would be unheard of at best, and quite possibly illegal at worst.
In any case, should Mayu opt to visit the Safari Zone, it's a simple matter to get in. Just a small fee and a brief explanation of the rules of conduct, and she's set loose within the place to go anywhere she chooses.
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Post by snark on Mar 22, 2020 9:45:16 GMT
Mayu's funds are at a low ebb at the moment, but not so low she can't afford it. And there's really only one choice for a companion. She and Alpha set off into the Safari Zone, wandering aimlessly to see what - or who - they encounter.
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Post by Raven on Mar 28, 2020 8:54:14 GMT
Mayu heads back on out of the Safari Zone, returning the stun baton and any remaining Safari Balls and bait. After that, she's back in Fuschia City and free to do as she wishes.
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Post by snark on Mar 28, 2020 9:37:46 GMT
So this is Fuschia City. It's... a city. Yep. Mayu doesn't really know what to do with cities, outside of the Gym and Pokemon Center. Time to go exploring again. She hasn't seen much of the eastern coast, maybe she'll take the scenic route to Vermillion City or Lavender.
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Post by snark on Apr 20, 2020 12:59:53 GMT
Faced with the choice of pushing on towards Vermillion City or spending the night in next-door Lavender town, Mayu opts for the latter. It's been a long day and her team could use the rest if more trainers decide to insist on fighting her. Which seems likely, if the last several hours are anything to go by. No, she's done for today. Time to head for the Pokemon Center's guest quarters.
After readying herself for bed, she... hesitates. Then releases her two newest Pokemon, the Snorunt she found in the Safari Zone and the bizarrely cuddly Bayleef from the road. "Good evening. I thought you might appreciate a chance to rest outside a Pokeball."
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Post by Raven on Apr 20, 2020 22:42:21 GMT
Snorunt settles itself on the A/C unit. Bayleef decides that being let out is an invitation for more cuddles, immediately attempting to leap on Mayu to do just that.
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Post by snark on Apr 21, 2020 3:12:02 GMT
Oof. Yes, this was a predictable outcome. Luckily there's a convenient bed right there for Mayu to fall flat on. It is... not wholly objectionable. No. She lets Bayleef snuggle her for a few minutes before saying, "I need to sleep. Please allow me to get under the covers."
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