The Fizzific Ocean

[Pearl's Perap]

Given that I have quite a free Sunday, I thought I'd make a start on things - just want to say a warm welcome to my second updatee, CyberBlastoise, looking forward to seeing what unfolds on the Ocean of Mystery!

CyberBlastoise
Having selected the Ocean of Mystery as your destination of choice within the Fizzific Ocean, you mobilise your most adept surfers to help you navigate the murky and tumultuous waters and assist you on your quest to seek answers from your past. Silver the Squirtle maintained a quiet but confident demeanour as he assisted your passage with his strong swimming abilities whilst Swift the Finneon happily took the lead, directing and steering the three of you as best he could through the choppy waters.

Before long, the initial confidence your Pokémon had appeared to be waning as the two paddle on into the unknown, both of them tiring slightly against the sheer power of the seas. The waves around the three of you appeared to be getting rougher and stronger as well, with Silver and Swift struggling to keep you completely afloat at times. Before long, a sight no seafaring man wishes to encounter comes into view amongst the tumult and foam: a gigantic whirlpool had formed from nowhere and the three of you were being drawn into its swirling maw before you could even react or think of escaping its clutches...

Something poking at your face wakes you from a peculiar slumber and you quickly realise that you are laying in the lapping waves of the surf on an island of some sort with a piece of seaweed adorning your forehead and face. A few metres along the sand, your Pokémon are finding their bearings similarly after their ordeal with the cavernous whirlpool; your Squirtle appearing to be knocking excess water out of his ears and from under his carapace whilst your Finneon lets the now-calm waves rush over his gills and give him a much needed breather. As you sit up, you realise that it couldn’t have been either of your Pokémon companions that roused you from sleep - so who or what did?

Taking stock of your surroundings, you realise that you are at the lowest point of the island you have mysteriously found yourself on. From where you stand, you can see that the beach starts to curve, indicating that wherever you are wasn’t a particularly large land mass. At the top of the sloping beach, a crude path appears to snake off upwards from the sands but you cannot make out a great deal of this due to a sea mist clinging thick to the air amongst the foliage. Nearby, a cluster of oceanic detritus surrounds a boulder with what appear to be etchings on the side that you can see. Further along the beach from where you are now, the dunes are cloaked with wild grasses and the three of you can hear the tell-tale sounds of what could be wild Pokémon in the vicinity.

What will you do?

[Sandaa]

TheKnightsFury:
Xander was successful in his attempt at getting the Pincurchins’ attention away from the kelp they were destroying, but his plan was almost too effective as the spiky trio all turned their focus toward Pichu. The trainer would have to think on the fly or else the small electric mouse, who was well out of his element, would likely become the Pincurchin’s pin cushion. After he called out a strategy, Pichu began to Wish for a less-pointy outcome while Dewpider unleashed a small cloud of microbial parasites that Infested themselves onto one of the Pincurchin, leaving it very itchy and uncomfortable.

None too pleased, the infected Pincurchin turned its ire towards Dewpider, Pecking him with its sharp quills for some solid damage. Pichu rushed forward to his ally’s aid as another Pincurchin released a Thunder Shock that rippled through the water in Dewpider’s direction at first, but the electrical current quickly changed course. However, instead of absorbing into Pichu’s Lightningrod-like tail, the energy coursed into one of the Pincurchin’s own allies, powering it up as it released a jet of a Water Gun that slammed into Pichu. Pichu quickly regained his bearings and began to Rough-Play the Pincurchin who shot him while Dewpider fired off a jet of its own water at the Pincurchin in the back as the temperature turned Scalding for a brief moment.

As two of the Pincurchin aimed at Dewpider and the third aimed at Pichu, the trio unleased a flurry of needles, the Fury Attack striking the pair for point blank damage. However, the attack was interrupted as Oshawott came swooping in and dropped a decent sized rock on the Pincurchin. It dealt some solid damage, but the process of building up the attack seemed to be taking too long so Xander ordered for Empoleon to assist the sea otter in finding a more efficient weapon to fight with. While the rocky reef jutted out at various outcroppings, the dense kelp made it hard to get a good visual on what was around them.

Spoiler: show

The seabed was covered in algae and a lone Staryu wanted no part in the commotion going on around it as it minded its own business. Finding something around here might be a bit harder than initially intended; as the kelp forest’s floor was like trying to search for a needle in a haystack. Or perhaps, hay in a needle stack, as the three Pincurchin prepared to unleash more spikes onto the defending Pokemon.


Pearl’s Perap:
As the Venipede skittered out of the hole in the ground and bared its pointed mandibles at the pair of Farfetch’d, Zak asked for Asha to fend it off while her wild counterpart continue its search for a suitable weapon. The centipede was half the size of the ducks, but it didn’t seem to be any lacking in confidence as it prepared to defend its turf and its meal. Asha initiated combat by kicking up a cloud of sand in the Venipede’s direction, but the bug quickly Curled up into a Defensive ball to shield its eyes. Asha then seized the opportunity to Peck at the immobile bug for a solid super effective hit, but some of the damage was mitigated by the Venipede’s hardened exoskeleton. The Venipede hissed and began to Roll, ramming into the unsuspecting bird for a decent hit.

Meanwhile, the wild Farfetch’d listened as Zak pointed out another leek to try and unearth. Even though only the tip of the sprout was visible from above the surface of the dirt, judging from the width of the leafage Zak could tell that there was likely something substantial underground. Farfetch’d began by giving it a gentle tug; it didn’t want to rip the leaf any, but his effort was met with absolute resistance. This one was likely going to be a lot harder to unearth than the previous one, being so deeply rooted underground. Farfetch’d began to kick some of the surrounding dirt away to get a better grip on the leek, as it was going to take him some time to excavate it properly.

Time might not be on their side however, as the Venipede Rolled Out into Asha a second time, dealing a bit more damage than its first impact. Asha could definitely feel the sting of that strike. She would have to act fast before the Venipede’s chaining attacks escalated too quickly.

[TheKnightsFury]

Originally Posted by Sandaa

[size=1]TheKnightsFury:
Xander was successful in his attempt at getting the Pincurchins’ attention away from the kelp they were destroying, but his plan was almost too effective as the spiky trio all turned their focus toward Pichu. The trainer would have to think on the fly or else the small electric mouse, who was well out of his element, would likely become the Pincurchin’s pin cushion. After he called out a strategy, Pichu began to Wish for a less-pointy outcome while Dewpider unleashed a small cloud of microbial parasites that Infested themselves onto one of the Pincurchin, leaving it very itchy and uncomfortable.

None too pleased, the infected Pincurchin turned its ire towards Dewpider, Pecking him with its sharp quills for some solid damage. Pichu rushed forward to his ally’s aid as another Pincurchin released a Thunder Shock that rippled through the water in Dewpider’s direction at first, but the electrical current quickly changed course. However, instead of absorbing into Pichu’s Lightningrod-like tail, the energy coursed into one of the Pincurchin’s own allies, powering it up as it released a jet of a Water Gun that slammed into Pichu. Pichu quickly regained his bearings and began to Rough-Play the Pincurchin who shot him while Dewpider fired off a jet of its own water at the Pincurchin in the back as the temperature turned Scalding for a brief moment.

As two of the Pincurchin aimed at Dewpider and the third aimed at Pichu, the trio unleased a flurry of needles, the Fury Attack striking the pair for point blank damage. However, the attack was interrupted as Oshawott came swooping in and dropped a decent sized rock on the Pincurchin. It dealt some solid damage, but the process of building up the attack seemed to be taking too long so Xander ordered for Empoleon to assist the sea otter in finding a more efficient weapon to fight with. While the rocky reef jutted out at various outcroppings, the dense kelp made it hard to get a good visual on what was around them.

Spoiler: show

The seabed was covered in algae and a lone Staryu wanted no part in the commotion going on around it as it minded its own business. Finding something around here might be a bit harder than initially intended; as the kelp forest’s floor was like trying to search for a needle in a haystack. Or perhaps, hay in a needle stack, as the three Pincurchin prepared to unleash more spikes onto the defending Pokemon.

"Nothing? There has to be something around here somewhere!" Empoleon's search had been fruitless, nothing but a lone Staryu and algae. There had to be something around here though, a big shell, some scrap wood or metal from a ship, something! Oshawott was having next to no impact, despite its insistence on continuing this fight. Xander would have preferred a peaceful resolution, but the otter was intent on seeing the Pincurchin's dispersed. Pichu and Dewpider were only having slightly more success. The pair weren't battle hardened and were putting up a decent fight, but it was clear the Pincurchin had the home field advantage. Pichu's Lighting Rod ability was making things a bit easier, eliminating the risk of the Pincurchin's electric moves, but it appeared the Pincurchin also possessed this ability. They were now using it to power each other up, a concerning development for sure. They needed more power, but getting it wouldn't be easy.

"Dewpider, try a Power Split!" While the bell spider wasn't natural powerful, the attack would allow it to siphon off of the Pincurchin's strength. "Follow up with a Liquidation." Between the Power Split and its Water Bubble ability, that Liquidation would hopefully put a dent in the hard exoskeleton on the Pincurchin. Meanwhile, Pichu was getting frustrated. Unable to make use of the Electric moves it excelled at, it was struggling to find a way to contribute. Its frustration soon turns into an Uproar, the sound waves travelling much faster through the water than they would through air. "That's it Pichu, keep trying, don't give in!"

Xander looked at the Oshawott, why was it so insistent on using rocks? "Come on Oshawott, you can do better than that!" Xander shouted, "Water moves will hurt those bastards just as much as those rocks." Xander was still scanning the seafloor for something useful, there had to be something down here....

[Pearl's Perap]

Originally Posted by Sandaa

Pearl’s Perap:
As the Venipede skittered out of the hole in the ground and bared its pointed mandibles at the pair of Farfetch’d, Zak asked for Asha to fend it off while her wild counterpart continue its search for a suitable weapon. The centipede was half the size of the ducks, but it didn’t seem to be any lacking in confidence as it prepared to defend its turf and its meal. Asha initiated combat by kicking up a cloud of sand in the Venipede’s direction, but the bug quickly Curled up into a Defensive ball to shield its eyes. Asha then seized the opportunity to Peck at the immobile bug for a solid super effective hit, but some of the damage was mitigated by the Venipede’s hardened exoskeleton. The Venipede hissed and began to Roll, ramming into the unsuspecting bird for a decent hit.

Meanwhile, the wild Farfetch’d listened as Zak pointed out another leek to try and unearth. Even though only the tip of the sprout was visible from above the surface of the dirt, judging from the width of the leafage Zak could tell that there was likely something substantial underground. Farfetch’d began by giving it a gentle tug; it didn’t want to rip the leaf any, but his effort was met with absolute resistance. This one was likely going to be a lot harder to unearth than the previous one, being so deeply rooted underground. Farfetch’d began to kick some of the surrounding dirt away to get a better grip on the leek, as it was going to take him some time to excavate it properly.

Time might not be on their side however, as the Venipede Rolled Out into Asha a second time, dealing a bit more damage than its first impact. Asha could definitely feel the sting of that strike. She would have to act fast before the Venipede’s chaining attacks escalated too quickly.

Facing off against her venomous foe, Asha the Farfetch'd initiated the first move in the form of a Sand Attack. This didn't quite hit the mark, though, as the wild Venipede curled into a defensive position at the sight of the oncoming dusts. Despite this, the Wild Duck lunged forward to peck at the curled up critter, delivering a decent hit to her foe. This only seemed to enrage the wild Venipede though and it began to unleash a series of harsh attacks, rolling up into a tight ball and crashing into Asha numerous times with a growing gusto.

"Okay, Asha, we need to get you out of that bug's reach - I want you to fly up and try to avoid taking another hit if you can. Once you're up in the air, get ready to charge up and dish out an Attack from the Sky."

With another set of orders given to his own Farfetch'd, Zak turned his attention to assisting the wild Farfetch'd with his excavation of the deep-rooted vegetable. Not wanting to assume that the solitary duck would be happy with him just getting stuck in, he kneeled at the opposite side of the sprouting leek and spoke as respectfully as he could to the hard at work bird:

"I think Asha has got things covered with the Venipede so I want to help get you armed. What do you say to jumping into the fray once we do, as well?"

As the man spoke, he furled both of his hands into imitation claws akin to those of a Drilbur before swiftly punching the air between the two of them. Waiting for the Farfetch'd's response, Zak made sure to keep an eye on Asha's second round against the Venipede and spotted Hiru standing nearby. In all of the excitement at the discovery of the patch of leeks and the sudden appearance of a wild Pokémon, the man had forgotten all about their Minnaon friend, deciding quickly to motion him to join in with the digging as well.

[Sandaa]

TheKnightsFury:
With the three Pincurchin poised to strike, Xander gave a call to action to his Dewpider and Pichu. He gave the Oshawott some encouraging words as well, as the young sea otter scrambled to look for a weapon to put himself on a level playing field with the trio of electric typed sea urchins. However, the Oshawott didn’t seem to take too much notice of the Pokemon trainer, keeping its focus locked in on its foes as well as its unsuccessful search at finding some kind of shell to attack with.

The three Pincurchin unleashed their volley of Fury Attacks, sharp little needles that pierced through the water. Dewpider began to glow purple as it Swapped Power with one of the assailing pincushions, weakening the force of the blow that hit the aquatic spider. Pichu took the brunt of an attack as well, as the electric mouse began wailing a sonorous Uproar that echoed throughout the seabed as the shockwave of the sound waves only slightly impeded the needles. Oshawott however, was busy scanning the algae covered rocks for something useful when it was struck at full power by the spiky volley, crying out in pain as it happened. With the barrage subsided, Dewpider took the initiative to dart in and strike the Pincurchin that it had previously weakened with a crushing Liquidation, rendering the Pincurchin unconscious. With one of their allies incapacitated, the two remaining Pincurchin bunched together, upset and ready to avenge their fallen comrade.

Oshawott’s handicap was putting it in a tight spot, so Xander and Empoleon increased their search to assist it. Just like before, the conditions were incredibly difficult to spot anything remotely of use. However, after a few moments of searching, Empoleon pointed to a small but decent enough sized cowrie shell on the ocean floor. It was black with white spots and had a very smooth and streamlined shape. It was hardly the razor-edged scallop that Oshawott were accustomed to using, but it might be better than nothing.


Pearl’s Perap:
The armored Venipede’s Rollout was beginning to rack up damage as it gained more and more momentum, so Zak needed to act quickly as he called out his next plan to Asha. As Venipede rolled in for yet another crushing strike, the trainer’s Farfetch’d began flapping her wings and took to the air in an evasive maneuver. As it missed its mark, Venipede uncoiled from its ball as it landed in the dirt, hissing angrily.

With the momentum now in her favor, Asha began to glow a fiery red as if the flames of a Ho-oh were welling up inside of her. Sensing its impending danger, the Venipede swiftly countered by balling itself back up in another Defensive Curl. Ready to unleash the full might of her charged up power, Asha swopped down onto the bug type with an immense glow, attacking it with the power of the sky. Although its hard exterior was able to shield it from some of the blow, the Venipede was certainly much worse for wear after the Farfetch’d collided into it. However, Asha did not come out unscathed, as the Poison Point of the Venipede’s spiked quills seemed to inject a small dose of toxins into her bloodstream.

Meanwhile, as the battle unfolded Zak turned to assist the wild Fatfetch’d in its attempt at unearthing the massive subterranean leek. Hiru joined in as well, kneeling in the dirt as the pair awaited the Farfetch’d’s reaction. A proud warrior, the Farfetch’d initially seemed against receiving any assistance in acquiring its weapon, but seeing as it was pretty clear that it wouldn’t be able to unearth this leek any time soon, it silently nodded its head. Having given the pair of humans the green light to assist it, the Farfetch’d turned his focus back towards the leek and continued to kick away some of the dirt surrounding the base of the leek.

[Pearl's Perap]

Originally Posted by Sandaa

Pearl’s Perap:
The armored Venipede’s Rollout was beginning to rack up damage as it gained more and more momentum, so Zak needed to act quickly as he called out his next plan to Asha. As Venipede rolled in for yet another crushing strike, the trainer’s Farfetch’d began flapping her wings and took to the air in an evasive maneuver. As it missed its mark, Venipede uncoiled from its ball as it landed in the dirt, hissing angrily.

With the momentum now in her favor, Asha began to glow a fiery red as if the flames of a Ho-oh were welling up inside of her. Sensing its impending danger, the Venipede swiftly countered by balling itself back up in another Defensive Curl. Ready to unleash the full might of her charged up power, Asha swopped down onto the bug type with an immense glow, attacking it with the power of the sky. Although its hard exterior was able to shield it from some of the blow, the Venipede was certainly much worse for wear after the Farfetch’d collided into it. However, Asha did not come out unscathed, as the Poison Point of the Venipede’s spiked quills seemed to inject a small dose of toxins into her bloodstream.

Meanwhile, as the battle unfolded Zak turned to assist the wild Fatfetch’d in its attempt at unearthing the massive subterranean leek. Hiru joined in as well, kneeling in the dirt as the pair awaited the Farfetch’d’s reaction. A proud warrior, the Farfetch’d initially seemed against receiving any assistance in acquiring its weapon, but seeing as it was pretty clear that it wouldn’t be able to unearth this leek any time soon, it silently nodded its head. Having given the pair of humans the green light to assist it, the Farfetch’d turned his focus back towards the leek and continued to kick away some of the dirt surrounding the base of the leek.

Having been given permission to help by the wild Farfetch’d, Zak threw a quick thumbs up to Hiru before beginning to scrabble at the packed dirt around the base of the buried leek with all of his might, hoping the boy would join in with similar effort. Surely if there was three of them working at the excavation, it wouldn’t be long before the vegetable was uprooted and their new friend could arm itself once more.

Nearby, Asha continued her bout with the wild Venipede, managing to fly up high and prepare for a Sky Attack before crashing into her foe with a crimson glow cloaking her every feather. This turned out not to be the best strategy and, glancing up from the task at hand, Zak found himself wincing as the Wild Duck fell foul to the critter’s deadly quills. In a heartbeat, the toxins injected began their journey through Asha’s bloodstream, poisoning her almost instantly. The man knew he would need to end things fast if he didn’t want the Venipede to defeat his own Farfetch’d, particularly given that the critter had already landed a couple of successful hits prior to the poisoning.

“Good going, Asha - I know you’re feeling the effects of that thing’s poisonous barbs but I want you to try and finish it before it can land any more blows. Start off with a Double Team and then try to hit it with your best Body Slam before it can react!”

With orders given, the man said a silent prayer and continued on with the digging he had volunteered himself for, one eye constantly on Asha and the battle they found themselves in.

[Sandaa]

Pearl’s Perap:
With the wild Farfetch’d giving its consent, Zak gladly began to assist it in excavating the deeply rooted leek. Hiru joined in as well, the young boy unafraid to get dirty as he kneeled in the dirt and started pawing away at the soil with his hands. The two boys and the wild duck made some solid progress on the vegetable, revealing its white stalk little by little, but there was plenty of progress to go.

Meanwhile, Asha the Farfetch’d was facing her own trial. Despite having the type advantage, the aggressive Venipede she was facing off against possessed some powerful offensive as well as defensive abilities. The accumulation of escalating Rollouts had taken a super effective toll, while the toxins from making contact with the centipede’s poisonous quills were gradually whittling away at her health. With one eye on his assistance of the leek excavation and the other on his Farfetch’d’s battle, Zak shifted his strategy and called it out to Asha. His new approach was more defensive in nature; only time would tell who would prevail in this war of attrition.

As her breath began to labor, Asha darted back and forth at breakneck pace, creating an assortment of afterimages beside her. Confused as to which target was the real one, the Venipede curled back up into a ball and rolled forward, catching air as it harmlessly phased through one of the mirror images. With its back exposed, Asha swooped in and collided with the Venipede in a powerful Body Slam. In its frustration, the centipede fired off a flurry of Poisonous Stings, eradicating a couple more afterimages in the process. Both Pokemon had begun to wear down at this point, but Asha could spot some openings in the Venipede’s lower stamina.

[Pearl's Perap]

Originally Posted by Sandaa

Pearl’s Perap:
With the wild Farfetch’d giving its consent, Zak gladly began to assist it in excavating the deeply rooted leek. Hiru joined in as well, the young boy unafraid to get dirty as he kneeled in the dirt and started pawing away at the soil with his hands. The two boys and the wild duck made some solid progress on the vegetable, revealing its white stalk little by little, but there was plenty of progress to go.

Meanwhile, Asha the Farfetch’d was facing her own trial. Despite having the type advantage, the aggressive Venipede she was facing off against possessed some powerful offensive as well as defensive abilities. The accumulation of escalating Rollouts had taken a super effective toll, while the toxins from making contact with the centipede’s poisonous quills were gradually whittling away at her health. With one eye on his assistance of the leek excavation and the other on his Farfetch’d’s battle, Zak shifted his strategy and called it out to Asha. His new approach was more defensive in nature; only time would tell who would prevail in this war of attrition.

As her breath began to labor, Asha darted back and forth at breakneck pace, creating an assortment of afterimages beside her. Confused as to which target was the real one, the Venipede curled back up into a ball and rolled forward, catching air as it harmlessly phased through one of the mirror images. With its back exposed, Asha swooped in and collided with the Venipede in a powerful Body Slam. In its frustration, the centipede fired off a flurry of Poisonous Stings, eradicating a couple more afterimages in the process. Both Pokemon had begun to wear down at this point, but Asha could spot some openings in the Venipede’s lower stamina.

With the assistance of Hiru, Zak and the Galarian Farfetch’d continued to dig away at the well-rooted leek to re-arm the bird once more. Three excavators made the job easier but the vegetable was growing strong below the earth and would require even more time still to unearth. The man felt as though the three were making good progress when the long white stalk of the leek started to become visible below the dirt they shifted and this helped the trio to press onwards to try to fully uncover and loosen the vegetable.

Alongside their progress, Asha’s bout with the territorial Venipede continued. Glancing up from his digging every few moments, Zak watched on as the two geared up for their next round of attacks. The Kantonian Farfetch’d made the first move, darting about her surroundings and creating illusions of herself to try to trick her poisonous foe. This strategy worked out well as the Venipede launched itself forward in another Rollout attack which simply passed through her afterimage. Being given the perfect opening for her next attack, Asha launched her body at the bug, slamming into its unguarded carapace when it least expected her to.

Though she had managed to land a decent hit, this only seemed to anger the Venipede further and the bug fired off another round of its poisonous stingers at the Wild Duck Pokémon, taking out a number of her illusionary clones in the process. Despite this, it looked to the man as if Asha still had the upper hand; she certainly looked confident despite her condition, at the very least.

“You’re doing great out there, Asha - it’s time to take to the wing and show that thing the true power of Flying types.”

The flagging Farfetch’d nodded swiftly to her trainer before turning back to the angry critter before her - though she was severely weakened by the venom coursing through her bloodstream, she wanted to make sure her companions succeeded in the re-arming of her fellow avian and would ensure that she gave her all in her attempts to do so.

[sixdragons_in_atrenchcoat]

Originally Posted by Sandaa

The Fizzific Ocean

It is said that more is known about the surface of the moon than the full extent of the ocean. The region of Fizzytopia is vast, filled with rich culture and a variety of civilizations, including several island colonies off its coast. However, the massive ocean that spans across its shores has seldom been traversed other than its bustling ports that are few and far between. Recent attempts by cartographers have hoped to capture a picture of a unified ocean, and in the process have discovered many beautiful ecosystems as a result. In order to appreciate this pristine beauty and promote conservation efforts, the Fizzytopian Coast Guard has paired with the nation’s Board of Tourism to provide a guide for travelers to enjoy.

Welcome to the Fizzific Ocean: a diverse oceanic paradise filled with a myriad of biomes and cultures about as numerous as stars in the sky. From tropical reefs to arctic tundra, the ocean is separated by powerful currents that serve as natural barriers for vastly different climates. These segmented seas are classified not only by longitude and latitude, but by the temperatures that circulate through the ocean currents and the types of organisms found inhabiting each ecosystem. The climates of each of these regions rarely fluctuate throughout the year, and because of this have been aptly named after each season.

Warm nutrient-rich waters swirl the Springtide Sea, making them the idea location for wild Pokemon to raise their young. The Summer Surf features a hotbed of activity, from massive waves to open ocean travelers. Cooler currents chill the Autumnal Tides, filled with many dark secrets and mysteries. The Polar Pelagic is isolated by freezing deep sea currents that only the hardiest inhabitants can handle.

– Indicates the area is only accessed through use of a Pokemon with Surf
– Indicates the area is only accessed through use of a Pokemon with both Dive and Surf
– Indicates a port where boats may be chartered as an alternative to using a Pokemon with Surf.

The Polar Pelagic

GLACIER ISLAND (Please reply in lightblue)
One of the oldest and yet least explored islands of Fizzytopia is not an island at all; Glacier Island is in fact a large iceberg that has maintained its form for decades without melting. Whether this is because of its location in the cooler ocean currents to the south, or because of some unknown mystery that has yet to be uncovered has not been determined, but researchers have been stationed here for years trying to uncover that answer. The area is a haven to ice type Pokemon, as well as the site of the most breathtaking auroras in the night skies.

Alpha Research Station: Many scientists have come to Glacier Island from all across the world in order to study its peculiar ecology. In order to collaborate as much information as possible, the Alpha Research Station was established in order to do just that. Scientists assist one another in all schools of thought, whether it be observing the ecosystem around them, the weather patterns above, the natural wildlife in the area, among many other topics. The research base is located in the middle of an icy plains, but protective domes shield the research tents from the elements.

Cy drew his jacket closer around him, shivering. The wind roared around him as he trekked forward, providing the only sound other than the crunching snow underfoot.
"I'm g-going to kill Dr-Dracen," he muttered. "S-s-sending me to an i-island in the middle of n-nowhere."
He knows what he's talking about. These scientists have supposedly studied every aspect of our world. Wurmple's faintly glowing eye peeked out from under Cy's coat collar.
"Stop doing th-that." Cy grumbled.
Defending your brother, or speaking to you psychically?
"I-" Cy gave his starter a sharp look. "Both."
Your brother isn't incompetent. His skills are merely different to yours.
"Shush. Y-you shouldn't be using your energy like th-that, you'll p-pass out again."
I could use the sleep. Not much for me to do in here anyway. Besides, it doesn't take so much out of me anymore.
"That's what w-worries me, Wurmple." Cy said, patting his partner Pokemon's head as he hiked. "W-whatever this is, it's getting worse. Can y-you even use Psychic at this p-point?"
Not anymore. I've been trying to as we travel. Wurmple's eye flashed blue for a moment, then he flinched violently and it flickered back to its usual dull shine. I... shouldn't have done that.
"Take a r-rest, Wurmple. We're almost there anyway, looks like. H-hopefully, someone here has some a-answers about what's happening to y-you." In the distance, Cy spotted the blaze of the research station's lights through the driving snow. He drew his coat around him once more, and trekked on.

[Emp]

Originally Posted by Sandaa

ARCTIC ARCHIPELAGO (Please reply in white)
The Arctic Archipelago is an unforgiving, remote stretch of ocean due to the polar climate and freezing ocean currents. Land is few and far between, and volcanic seamounts that do breach the surface are rocky and devoid of much vegetation, making it near impossible for civilization to take root. Because this area is so isolated, it’s unwise to camp out here alone; if a traveler were to disappear here, it could take weeks for their absence to be noticed. However, those who are brave enough to embark into the ruthless wilderness may just find a hidden diamond in the rough to make the experience worth their while.

Rime Reef: Despite the freezing climate of the southernmost section of the ocean, a small stretch of seabed near the Arctic Archipelago features one of the ocean’s most breathtaking coral reefs. Unlike most reefs that showcase a kaleidoscope of colorful coral, the Rime Reef is an image of white; instead of relying on photosynthesizing algae for energy, life in these arctic waters are sustained by nutrients and heat provided by hydrothermal vents. What really causes this reef to stand out are the vents that are spread out all across the area and slowly release bubbles into the water that trickle up to the surface like snowfall in reverse. The ocean floor is teeming with life due to the warmth provided by the vents, making it a true underwater winter wonderland.

The hum of ocean was soothing to the soul. Endless, desolate stretches of Polar Pelagic had tried their best to dampen the seafarer’s spirits, but they had only pushed him in the other direction. The sooner they escaped dry land, the sooner they would reach the temperate tides of the Springtime Sea. Emp had long aspired to be one of the world’s great sea voyagers and charting the Fizzific Ocean was his bid to realise this. The trainer had practically learned to swim before he could walk, his blood was made of brine; in staring out at the deep blue, he knew he was destined to explore its great mysteries.

Lapping against his vessel’s rubbery hide, the water was black, choppy and uninviting. Shamu was used to shouldering this kind of turbulence, and Emp could only hope he would be spared its salty tang from high atop his crown. Lobbing a handful of Remoraid fritters into the Wailord’s gullet, the trainer began his scramble up the beast’s rubbery surface. With some assistance from the Float Whale Pokemon he was saddled quick enough; the raft was fastened tightly to the seafaring steed, a promise of ample comfort for the arduous journey ahead. Emp had designed the detachable dinghy himself, having worked on a shipyard as a young lad – not only shipshape, it was stocked with previsions that would last them for weeks, perhaps even months. If that wasn’t enough to safeguard his survival, a selection of his toughest aquatic Pokemon would certainly help too.

“You know the course, Shamu,” he said assuredly, giving one of the ropes a gentle tug. The pair had studied nautical charts as best they could, although in truth it was the Wailord’s migratory instincts that would keep them on track; in the wild, the species would begin their yearly voyage toward breeding and calving grounds in the warmer tropical waters of the Fizzific around this time of year. The trainer had chosen to follow this same course cutting through four areas of interest, dive spots similar only in name: Rime Reef, the Spatial Abyss, Delphin’s Mane and Rendezvous Reef.

The whale let out a low groan shortly thereafter, a warning call for their departure into the great blue yonder. Emp rustled his hands excitedly, stoking some warmth in his body as he braced to set sail.

[Sandaa]

Pearl’s Perap:
With both Pokemon beginning to feel the effects of fatigue, Zak called for a strategy for Asha to quickly finish off the Venipede. As it curled up into yet another ball and began Rolling Out at the wild duck, the Venipede caught nothing but air as its intended target soared up into the sky. Venipede hissed and fired off a flurry of Poisonous Stingers into the air, but the Farfetch’d was too high out of range. In one swooping motion, Asha descended down upon the centipede, crashing into it with destructive force, and the power of flight was powerful enough to knock the weakened bug unconscious. Asha has gained 3 levels!

Now that the battle had reached its conclusion, Zak was finally able to devote his full attention towards helping the wild Farfetch’d excavate its new leek. Hiru was already covered in dirt as he pawed at the ground with his hands, but the young boy didn’t seem to mind too much. The Farfetch’d had two wings on the leek and was pulling as hard as it could. With Zak joining in on the efforts, the three of them lit up as they could detect some progress as the stalk slowly but surely began to loosen up from the soil. With one last push, Farfetch’d let out a desperate honk and pulled with all its might. The leek finally yielded and shot out of the ground as the Farfetch’d went tumbling backwards with the momentum of all its force.

Farfetch’d slowly got back to its feet and dusted itself off before triumphantly holding up its new weapon. As it caught its breath, it proudly inspected the item and clutched it in its wings. It then gave a grateful nod towards the two humans before looking over at Asha. Farfetch’d was still getting adjusted to the weight of its new object as it clumsily carried it over to a couple of nearby bushes. It seemed to be foraging about for a moment before procuring a Pecha Berry as well as an Oran Berry and presented them towards Asha. The wild duck then backed up a few steps and gave the leek a few practice swings, a whooshing sound following as it rippled through the air, before pointing its weapon at the Kantonian duck. “I think it’s looking for a practice spar,” Hiru commented as he watched on.


Emp:
Emp breathed on his hands as he settled in atop his Wailord’s saddled dinghy. He watched as his breath crystallized into a fog that dissipated into the air. He was beginning to understand how the Polar Pelagic got its name as the perpetually frosty climate was biting at his exposed skin. While Shamu was blessed with a naturally insulated blubber, the human was not so lucky. However, despite all of the uncomfortably chilly circumstances, Emp felt a burning call to adventure as he gazed up at the night sky. The atmosphere out here was breathtaking; stars twinkled brightly in a cloudless sky while the pair rocked gently on calm waves. Emp had heard storied about the beauty of the Rime Reef, but little was spoken about the endless view of the atmosphere above the waves. In order to admire the reef below, the pair would have to Dive to reach those depths.

For the meantime, Emp and Shamu took in the chilling beauty of an endless sea and sky that stretched in all directions. If their goal was in warmer currents, they had a long journey ahead of them. After a few minutes of getting situated and floating along in the open sea, the repetition in the scenery was broken up by an old fishing vessel that Emp noticed not too far away. It was travelling across the horizon, but abruptly made a turn and began getting closer and closer to them. Once the small ship was close enough, a salty older man called out to them.

“Ahoy!” he called out as he came to a stop, floating side by side with the much larger Shamu. A Cramorant was perched atop the tiny steering cabin. “It’s a good thing m’Cram spotted you in this darkness. A storm’ll be rolling in soon. Be careful and get back t’shore, y’hear?” The man’s claims seemed somewhat incredulous considering how calm the sea was right now. On top of that, it was hard to tell what kind of shore the man spoke of anyway as land, let alone civilization, was far and few in between out in the Arctic Archipelago. The man gave Emp a moment to respond, but he didn’t look like he was keen on sticking around long. The decision was all Emp’s; does he heed the man’s warning or maybe stick it out and brave the elements that didn’t seem too harsh to begin with. He had come a long way and had a lot longer to go, after all.

[Pearl's Perap]

Originally Posted by Sandaa

Pearl’s Perap:
With both Pokemon beginning to feel the effects of fatigue, Zak called for a strategy for Asha to quickly finish off the Venipede. As it curled up into yet another ball and began Rolling Out at the wild duck, the Venipede caught nothing but air as its intended target soared up into the sky. Venipede hissed and fired off a flurry of Poisonous Stingers into the air, but the Farfetch’d was too high out of range. In one swooping motion, Asha descended down upon the centipede, crashing into it with destructive force, and the power of flight was powerful enough to knock the weakened bug unconscious. Asha has gained 3 levels!

Now that the battle had reached its conclusion, Zak was finally able to devote his full attention towards helping the wild Farfetch’d excavate its new leek. Hiru was already covered in dirt as he pawed at the ground with his hands, but the young boy didn’t seem to mind too much. The Farfetch’d had two wings on the leek and was pulling as hard as it could. With Zak joining in on the efforts, the three of them lit up as they could detect some progress as the stalk slowly but surely began to loosen up from the soil. With one last push, Farfetch’d let out a desperate honk and pulled with all its might. The leek finally yielded and shot out of the ground as the Farfetch’d went tumbling backwards with the momentum of all its force.

Farfetch’d slowly got back to its feet and dusted itself off before triumphantly holding up its new weapon. As it caught its breath, it proudly inspected the item and clutched it in its wings. It then gave a grateful nod towards the two humans before looking over at Asha. Farfetch’d was still getting adjusted to the weight of its new object as it clumsily carried it over to a couple of nearby bushes. It seemed to be foraging about for a moment before procuring a Pecha Berry as well as an Oran Berry and presented them towards Asha. The wild duck then backed up a few steps and gave the leek a few practice swings, a whooshing sound following as it rippled through the air, before pointing its weapon at the Kantonian duck. “I think it’s looking for a practice spar,” Hiru commented as he watched on.

With both Asha the Farfetch'd and the Venipede she was facing off against feeling the effects of their battle, the two Pokémon locked in combat geared up for their next moves with the intent of finishing things off. Launching itself forward in another deadly Rollout attack, the Venipede failed to hit its target as the Wild Duck Pokémon took to the wing and began her ascent. This seemed to further anger the bug, causing it to fire off another batch of its poisonous stingers into the air. Much like the Rollout attack, this attack didn't hit its mark either and Asha eyed her chance to smash into the Venipede with all of her Flying power. Unlike the bug, the Farfetch'd made a direct hit and finally eliminated the threat.

[Asha the Farfetch'd levels up from Lv4 to Lv7 ]

"Nice one, Asha!" Zak had witnessed the final blow from his crouched position over the subterranean leek. With a honk, the Farfetch'd flew from the site of her battle and landed near to the man and the miniature digsite he found himself kneeling in. During the battle's final round, both Zak and Hiru's assistance had succeeded in helping the Galarian Farfetch'd with his task too. With three of them digging, it wasn't too much longer before the vegetable began to loosen from the soil that kept it safe and nourished. With a loud, strained honk, the bulkier of the two Wild Ducks gave one final, laboured tug on the leek, finally releasing the vegetable and sending itself tumbling through the air with the momentum.

"Yes! Great work to you too, Farfetch'd!" The man shot a thumbs up to the Galarian Farfetch'd who looked proud as punch as he dusted off his feathers and held his new weapon aloft. Grateful for the assistance of the man and Hiru, the avian looked up from the examination of its leek to offer a nod of gratitude to the humans who had helped him. With that, he turned his attention to his fellow Farfetch'd who had held off the Venipede long enough for the excavation to take place. Seeing her labouring from the bout, he toddled into some nearby bushes and returned with a Pecha Berry and an Oran Berry for Asha. This surprised Zak's team mate but she gratefully ate the fruit in quick succession to help nullify some of the effects of the venom.

Though a little clumsy at first, Zak and Asha both watched on in awe at the dexterity with which the Galarian Farfetch'd swung the newly excavated leek around itself after a little practice. Each time the stalk cut the air, you could hear the sheer speed and power with which the Wild Duck was swinging its fresh weapon. Once satisfied with its blade, the buffer of the two ducks turned to Asha and pointed the leek towards her as if to challenge her. Hiru noticed this too, suggesting that the two ducks should engage in a training spar before their return to the tournament grounds.

"Seems our new friend is challenging us to a practice duel - how do you feel about that, Asha?" Zak couldn't expect the Kantonian Farfetch'd to engage in another battle so soon after her last but it looked as if the berries offered by her Galarian counterpart had hit the spot just right and she seemed in much better shape than she was a few minutes ago already.

"Far! Farfetch'd!" Asha called out, pointing her much smaller leek at her new friend in the same fashion as if to take him up on his offer of such a duel. Though she had only recently finished one battle, the man could see that Asha was more than ready to engage once more. He was glad about this too; the two of them had a certain chemistry about them and he thought that them battling could help them to further this connection and grow from each other too.

[Pearl's Perap]

Wanna wish a warm (yet frosty) welcome to my latest updatee, dragon - hope you enjoy your time exploring the Fizzific Ocean!

sixdragons_in_atrenchcoat
After a long trudge through the treacherously cold winds atop Glacier Island, the distant lights of the Research Centre eventually begin to come into view through the flurry of falling snow. With this vision confirming you and your Wurmple are on the right track, the two of you continue to press forwards in the hopes of reaching the remote facility and perhaps the answers you sought.

Within a short while the dome comes into view but the first thing you notice is that what you can see of the inside of the dome from where you made your approach is in complete darkness. The light you had seen must have been coming from lamp posts which appeared to dot the perimeter of the dome at intervals of fifty feet or so. As you walk around the curving perimeter, you eventually spot a man hurrying through the shadows towards a door in the glass. Once he arrives, he motions dramatically for you to come towards him:

“Wh-who are you? I’m afraid we’re in lockdown after the last attack. Three good men and women lost and... whatever took them... it still haunts us.” The sole scientist appeared panicked by the mere sight of you, clearly not expecting to see a friendly face. As he blurted out the words, though, another person strides from the darkness and into the doorframe; this time it’s a woman who appeared much more relaxed than the man.

“I’m afraid the facility is indeed closed for the time being - it seems our presence here isn’t quite welcome. The people my colleague speaks of are still out there somewhere too and I’m going to bring them back.”

With her confident words, the female scientist hoisted a large rucksack with onto her back and looked back into the gloom of the dome. As she turns, you notice a number of Pokéballs adorn her belt. After a final survey of the area, she turns back to you once again as she lifts a thick hood into place:

“The majority of the power is out here too, I need to check the primary generator in the rear of the compound before I depart as well. We’ve got valuable samples and data that quite simply cannot be lost.”

“Perhaps this chap can help, Evie?” The male scientist seemed slightly more at ease in the presence of Evie. His suggestion was met with a smile, though, with the woman clearly happy at the prospect of some assistance on her expedition across the iceberg.

“Good idea, Fabio - I know you just got here but how about it?”

What will you do?

[Emp]

Originally Posted by Sandaa

Emp:
Emp breathed on his hands as he settled in atop his Wailord’s saddled dinghy. He watched as his breath crystallized into a fog that dissipated into the air. He was beginning to understand how the Polar Pelagic got its name as the perpetually frosty climate was biting at his exposed skin. While Shamu was blessed with a naturally insulated blubber, the human was not so lucky. However, despite all of the uncomfortably chilly circumstances, Emp felt a burning call to adventure as he gazed up at the night sky. The atmosphere out here was breathtaking; stars twinkled brightly in a cloudless sky while the pair rocked gently on calm waves. Emp had heard storied about the beauty of the Rime Reef, but little was spoken about the endless view of the atmosphere above the waves. In order to admire the reef below, the pair would have to Dive to reach those depths.

For the meantime, Emp and Shamu took in the chilling beauty of an endless sea and sky that stretched in all directions. If their goal was in warmer currents, they had a long journey ahead of them. After a few minutes of getting situated and floating along in the open sea, the repetition in the scenery was broken up by an old fishing vessel that Emp noticed not too far away. It was travelling across the horizon, but abruptly made a turn and began getting closer and closer to them. Once the small ship was close enough, a salty older man called out to them.

“Ahoy!” he called out as he came to a stop, floating side by side with the much larger Shamu. A Cramorant was perched atop the tiny steering cabin. “It’s a good thing m’Cram spotted you in this darkness. A storm’ll be rolling in soon. Be careful and get back t’shore, y’hear?” The man’s claims seemed somewhat incredulous considering how calm the sea was right now. On top of that, it was hard to tell what kind of shore the man spoke of anyway as land, let alone civilization, was far and few in between out in the Arctic Archipelago. The man gave Emp a moment to respond, but he didn’t look like he was keen on sticking around long. The decision was all Emp’s; does he heed the man’s warning or maybe stick it out and brave the elements that didn’t seem too harsh to begin with. He had come a long way and had a lot longer to go, after all.

Icy wind beat against Emp’s extremities as they pressed deeper into the sprawling stretch of arctic sea. The winter sun had long since set and heat was wicking away from his body faster than he could replace it; shaking vigorously against the cold, it was a fiery call to adventure that would see him through the night.

With sunset the blue haze of day was lifted to reveal a field of stars. It was the promise of life in the darkness, a sense of warmth springing from the cold. The constellations, who had navigated seafarers since the dawn of time, were watching over this tiny moment. Emp’s trembling bones filled with a sense of awe as he shuffled to the bow of his dinghy, following the trail of lights with his finger until they hit the black horizon – there, he spotted an old fishing vessel looming in the distance.

The boat made a swift bearing for Shamu, its silhouette growing until the faces of its inhabitants came into view, the salty sea captain offering a customary, “Ahoy!”

“Ahoy…” Emp’s voice was weak from days of silence. He had scarcely met another soul at port, chance encountering a passing vessel in such barren waters felt something like a dream.

“It’s a good thing m’Cram spotted you in this darkness. A storm’ll be rolling in soon. Be careful and get back t’shore, y’hear?” Emp paused, understanding the sailor’s warning came with little room for negotiation. While hesitant to challenge such a seemingly seasoned seafarer, it was hard not to take his claim with some scrutiny. Not allowing his spirits to dampen he scanned the seascape intently for any semblance of unrest. The skies were clear and waters still, gentle surf barely licking past Shamu’s blubbery underside.

“We’ll be careful, sir – thanks for the heads up.” Emp’s response would provoke a few choice words from the elder mariner no doubt, but they had travelled too far and too long to turn back at the first sign of danger. Shamu produced a series of worried moans still, talk of brewing storms leaving a bad taste in his mouth. Emp’s brow furrowed as he weighed up their options; while intent on resuming course, the least they could do is err on the side of caution.

Slipping down to the Wailord’s fluke, the trainer unclipped a Dragon Ball from his belt and lobbed it into the murky depths, a Kingdra emerging with a blinding flashbang. The sea dragon surfaced in a salty spray, water running off its scales which seemed to glisten under the intense starlight. Reaver’s species thrived in stormy conditions, making them their hunting ground. His predatory instincts would require keeping at bay for tonight though, it was the path of least resistance they required.

“There might be a storm brewing tonight Reaver. I’ll need you to scout ahead for turbulence and clear away any rough eddies or Whirlpools that cross our path,” while Reaver seemed confident enough in his assignment, Shamu was still displaying visible unrest, vibrations of anxiety permeating across every inch of the vessel. Emp gave his hide a reassuring rub as he clambered back to his saddle, “With Reaver as our compass, we’ll sniff out the faintest storm from a mile away.”

[TheKnightsFury]

Originally Posted by Sandaa

[size=1]TheKnightsFury:
With the three Pincurchin poised to strike, Xander gave a call to action to his Dewpider and Pichu. He gave the Oshawott some encouraging words as well, as the young sea otter scrambled to look for a weapon to put himself on a level playing field with the trio of electric typed sea urchins. However, the Oshawott didn’t seem to take too much notice of the Pokemon trainer, keeping its focus locked in on its foes as well as its unsuccessful search at finding some kind of shell to attack with.

The three Pincurchin unleashed their volley of Fury Attacks, sharp little needles that pierced through the water. Dewpider began to glow purple as it Swapped Power with one of the assailing pincushions, weakening the force of the blow that hit the aquatic spider. Pichu took the brunt of an attack as well, as the electric mouse began wailing a sonorous Uproar that echoed throughout the seabed as the shockwave of the sound waves only slightly impeded the needles. Oshawott however, was busy scanning the algae covered rocks for something useful when it was struck at full power by the spiky volley, crying out in pain as it happened. With the barrage subsided, Dewpider took the initiative to dart in and strike the Pincurchin that it had previously weakened with a crushing Liquidation, rendering the Pincurchin unconscious. With one of their allies incapacitated, the two remaining Pincurchin bunched together, upset and ready to avenge their fallen comrade.

Oshawott’s handicap was putting it in a tight spot, so Xander and Empoleon increased their search to assist it. Just like before, the conditions were incredibly difficult to spot anything remotely of use. However, after a few moments of searching, Empoleon pointed to a small but decent enough sized cowrie shell on the ocean floor. It was black with white spots and had a very smooth and streamlined shape. It was hardly the razor-edged scallop that Oshawott were accustomed to using, but it might be better than nothing.

Success was limited, but it seemed they were slowly starting to overwhelm their adversaries. Sure, Xander probably could've finished this in an instant if he wanted to, but there was more at play here. Not only did his Pokemon need the experience, he didn't wish to deny Oshawott the opportunity to prove its worth. That said, the sooner they got this fight finished, the sooner they could work out why Oshawott was battling without its signature scallop shell. An Oshawott without its scallop was like a Kangaskhan without its joey!

"Keep up the good work guys! Dewpider, recover some strength with a Giga Drain, then boil one of those urchins with a Scald. Pichu keep up the Uproar, you're doing great!" Xander flutter kicked through the water, swimming down to meet Empoleon who'd finally managed to find something of use, a shell! While the rounded cowrie shell lacked the sharp edge of a scallop, Oshawott might still find it useful and easier to wield than the awkward rocks. "Empoleon, I need you to Aqua Jet this shell over to Oshawott, hopefully it'll accept our assistance." Xander hoped that with the cowrie, the otter might actually be able to have an impact on the battle. He wasn't exactly sure how much time they had left. He hadn't extensively practiced using Dewpider's bubbles for breathing underwater, for all he knew they could start running low on air any moment now. Even if they didn't run out of air, if they messed around for too long, their ride back to the island might just decide to leave without them.....