SHIFTRY POWER (Laz)

[Kathy Dar]

Kathy looked about for Laz from where she sat on the small patch on dirt. Grass swayed around her in the light breeze, which picked up her hair as well, flipping it around. Her legs where crossed, and her hand dug into the ground behind her as she leaned back. The sun just peaked over the trees, and her pokemon, all but Shade, had scatter to play hide and seek among the tall, waving, browning grass nearby. She glanced at Shade, a newly made Shifty. She would have been fine holding onto her Leaf Stone, she had bought one for him, for a while, but he had wanted to use it right away, and given he was pretty sure there was a good chance Loki had evolved too, and he wanted too have evolved around the same time as him. Shade was puttering around, jumping and laughing in the grass by himself, making sure his new form fit just right.

[Lazarus]

"Loki."

Laz called as he placed the black hoodie on his head. Mostly covering it but the length of his hair making it look as if only a quarter of his face could be seen. Walking through the denser part of the Plains that had some trees on them, given it looked like it was bordering the forest.

A brown and white blur fell down, a clack on the ground as his feet connected. A pair of leafy hands in a cross as a Shiftry made itself known and fell into step of his Trainer.

"Kathy."

Laz said, moments after he finally saw his friend hanging out on the fields. The lingering rays of sunshine making a beautiful sunset and the dark undertones of the field giving Laz somewhat of a good cover from it. Loki had also put up a strict posture just behind them, eyeing his fellow Shiftry, who must've been Shade.

They were gonna have fun alright.

[Kathy Dar]

Kathy had been bored while she waited, and by the time Laz arrived she was part way through a odd sort of braid, that would branch into three parts, return to one, and repeat, doing so because it was made of multiple blades of grass from around her, and when ever she ran out, she would have to add more grass, and the knots would push it apart, so she would do three separate ones until they could fit back together without issue. She looked up at the sound of her name. A small smile lit her lips. Finally. It was about time. Shade looked up as well, the only pokemon close enough to hear. He smiled as well, to see his friend looking so awesome. He must look just as awesome. Of course, Loki was being all impressive. Shade snorted, leaping for his friend, firing a round of Razor leaf to test his instincts. Kathy got up slower, brushing herself off, and tossed the braid at Laz, just cuz she could. "Hey Laz"

[Lazarus]

<"Feisty, are we?">

Loki smiled as he swiped the Razor Leaves down and cut them into two with a Razor Leaf of his own. Laz wasn't really surprised by the exchange, having been accustomed to how his Shiftry would greet Kathy's Shiftry.

"So, what's up? You and your boyfriend getting along still?"

Laz asked as he sat on the grassy ground, next to his friend and plucked a leaf that had fallen over from the trees and cleaned it a bit before whistling to it, creating a simple tune with it. Leaf Whistling they called it.

[Kathy Dar]

<"No, just bored. You kept me waiting!"> Shade replied, faking irritation. <"It takes effort to let all my awesomeness show!"> He let a small grin seep through <"Though I see your still sharp"> Kathy's only sigh of surprise and this greeting was because normally after they hadn't seen each other in a while, they exploded in each others faces. Inside joke. But they didn't. She guessed that at least one of them would faint by the end of this meeting, though most likely both. Kathy sat down again when Laz sat down. "We're doing fine, though it's been a little while since I've seen him"

[Lazarus]

<"Took both of us a while to get those damn leaf stones, either way.">

Loki said, sending a barrage of his own Razor Leafs towards his best friend. The attack soared quick and whizzed through the air like bullets.

The red head on the other hand had just continued looking at the setting sun. His eyes were droopy, getting tired from all the stuff he's been doing the past week.

Coughing a bit, feeling the coldness sway through the wind once more, the red head pulled tighter on his jacket that had a few patches that needed to be fixed.

"Nice to know you're safe..."

[Kathy Dar]

<"Way TOO long,"> Shade sniffed, irritated at that fact. He didn't see why he couldn't have just evolved right away. As the retaliation approached he fired up a leaf tornado, mentally thinking NEW MOVE!. The tornado caught whizzing , bullet-like leaves into it, pulling them in to add to it's mass, continuing to head toward Loki, not that it was ever likely to hit, given none of t hem had hit so far, and Loki would have needed to have decreased in skill for it to succeed. Shade would be disappointed. Kathy glanced at Laz, concerned for her friend "Nice to know you care. YOU okay?"

[Lazarus]

<"Still as rash as ever.">

Loki laughed as he unleashed his own Leaf Tornado. The stronger attack just devouring the weaker one and adding more power to its own before the attack would fly towards the offending Shiftry. Should it hit, more than less, the pain would be something else.

"I'm fine, I guess. Still tired from too many late night training sessions."

[Kathy Dar]

<"Rash? No, I just act on instinct. Being rash is ignoring common sense to do so."> Shade, having for once been able to predict an outcome, or at least plan for one, that was what he use Kathy for, had started up a Razor wind after he let the Leaf tornado go to either us it to attack again, or cancel out something else sent at him. That was a stroke of brilliant strategic planning for him. Letting it loose on the Leaf tornado, it canceled out most of the power, and Shade was able to dodge it with little trouble. This battle really wasn't getting anywhere. Shade was bored. In his boredom, he let loose the more boring move he could think of. Harden.

Kathy watched the two, smiling slightly. They got along really well, though, for all their skill differences, their battles never really seemed to get anywhere. She was pretty sure Shade would be the first to mess up, he most likely didn't have much left to go before that happened. She turned to briefly eye Laz, "Then sleep some. There is more to life than training. You're already better than everyone but the teachers. You would completely slaughter me in a battle. No that Shade would ever admit he'd lose to Loki,"

[Lazarus]

<"And had I been serious, you'd be in a coma now.">

Loki shot back, a feral smile on his lips as an almost metallic sheen glowed on his body, the defense raising Harden taking effect on his body as he could feel himself getting sturdier. Letting down his hands, the Shiftry gave a taunting signature at Shade, yawning right in his face, all careless looking and stuff.

"I know that, it's just...training helps me forget a few things."

Laz said, really only escaping training in his want to forget a few of the more painful memories. He's come to terms with them, but it still hurts. It's like knowing how much a hammer would hurt and you're used to it but when it does happen, it still hurts like it's supposed to.

"But yeah, don't worry about anything."

[Kathy Dar]

Shade snorted, <"I'm not THAT weak anymore."> He paused, <"Besides, if I was, Kathy'd kill you herself"> he smirked, proceeding to use harden once again, a sheen flashing momentarily over his body. He wondered about exploding momentarily, but decided, for the moment, not too. It was too soon. Kathy watched the two of them as she listened to Laz, however, the moment she heard what he said, her head swung to him. Sure, she preferred to be unknown to most people, act like she didn't care, but Laz was a friend. She raised an eyebrow. "Don't worry? This me you're talking too. What's wrong?" At that moment, Rachel, her Shieldon came charging out of the grass and ran straight into her, running from Zach, her Phanpy. She gasped lightly, then pushed her back off into the grass to play before turning back to Laz.

[Lazarus]

<"Bah, don't be a coward and just fight me.">

Loki sneered with a malicious grin as he began his Nasty Plot. With a fiery cross his arms, the ever familiar coat of black energy started to cover Loki as he focused on the most sinister thoughts, which in all honesty wasn't that hard seeing as he thought of them continuously. Not that Loki was actually going to get serious over this, hell this was his usual way to relieve his stress and all that.

Laz though just pretty much started lying down on the grass, pretty much indifferent if he got his jacket dirty. He was gonna buy a new one soon anyway and he wanted that to count at least. Might as well get this jacket some more use before he had to dump it inside a closet and find sometime to fix it or something.

Seeing the Shieldon tackle her trainer to submission to play with her, Laz had to let out a chuckle at how innocent of a trainer Kathy seemed to be. It was such a contrast between them. Here he was obsessed with getting stronger to become the best he could be and his best friend was over here, just being herself and having fun. Well, Laz thought that he'd have his own fun once all was going his way. Hopefully, that wouldn't be too long from now.

"Just...I haven't really told anyone, even Van or Sage, but I've been getting too many Nightmares lately and it's...things I'd rather not remember."

[Kathy Dar]

Shade didn't dignify that with a response, other to use Harden again, following up with a Nasty Plot of his own. He didn't want to attack first. knowing Loki, he would just find a way to turn the attack against him. Shade might be slightly rash, but he wasn't that stupid. If he was, he doubted Loki would be able to respect him enough to be friends with him. After all, rushing pokemon stronger than you is how you get killed. Lesson learned from a certain Gastly.

Kathy eyed Laz, frowning. Things he'd rather not remember. Knowing Laz, those most likely weren't the nightmares of most people. Because, well, most people weren't Laz. She let out a small compressed sigh. "Anything you could talk about, or would that make it worse?"Even with Laz, being around, talking to people she hadn't know her whole life was slightly odd, she never new if she was going to say something wrong. She leaned back slightly, putting her hand behind her to support her.

[Lazarus]

"I'd rather not let you dwell on these things, Kat."

Laz said, a small smile on his face as his long red hair began to over shadow his face. His black eyes being covered wholly by a curtain of crimson that blocked the world away from his eyes. His smile was still visible though as he shook his head and let the hair fall down better.

Raking his hands through his hair, the red head spied the weather and studied it. The sun was pretty much gone and the clouds were light enough not to cause some more rain for them. Standing up and ignoring his pokemon that was having a stand off with Kathys Shiftry, Laz pulled out a pokeball from his belt and released his Crobat.

The purple bat screeched like bloody hell from his perch on top of a rock as it eyed his trainer. With a shrug of its wings, it readied itself to take a few more flying lessons with his trainer. Turning around, Laz looked at Loki and Shade who were still pretty much having fun.

"Hey Kathy? You think we can leave them for the time being?"

[Kathy Dar]

Kathy turned her head to face in front of her, and then gave Laz a sideways glance. She worried about him. Not that he was so much more motivated that her, that was normal, or even that he was so tired. More of what worried her was WHY he was so tired. She wondered what he couldn't burden anyone else with, and yet she was never sure if she wanted to know what was so bad though. Even out of it as she was, the sudden presence of the crobat didn't startle her, though it did get her attention. She turned to Laz, and got what he was trying to say before he finished. She jumped her her feet, grinning, "Oh, they'll never notice we left." She wasn't worried about her other pokemon either. They deserved their play, and they would know she would return.

[Lazarus]

"Alright then, hop on."

Laz smiled as he literally hopped on to his Crobat as the purple bat screeched itself into readiness. Flapping its wings wildly as it struck the ground and started floating up. There was nothing to really add for now as Laz just waited for his friend to actually come to him and grab his hand so he can pull her up and start the flying thing.

With a shrug of his hand, Laz stopped waiting for his friend to actually get up and walk to him, rather he just started the flying as Jubei began to flap his wings and turn around. Heading straight for Kathy, Laz would swoop his arm down and drag her by the arm before pulling her up behind him. Flying really high, yeah, that would be a great escape from the world below.

[Kathy Dar]

Luckily for Kathy, she wasn't quite that slow. When he jumped on a flew off without her, she figured what he planned on doing. She whirled around and when he reached down to grab her, she let him, only to pull herself up using his grip. It would be wonderful to fly. She had done it once, on a wild Pidgeot. You could leave the world behind when in the air. She settled in behind her friend and asked "So, how high are we going, my impatient friend? And are you sure your noting going to fall asleep and fall off?" Maybe she worried a little to much, but he was worrying her, so it worked.

[Lazarus]

"Heh, even if I do, I know that you'll save me."

Laz said with a flirt, giving his best friend a small wink to compliment the fact as his red hair began to whip around as the air currents began swirling all around them. His Crobat was really enjoying all the exercise in flying that it was getting. Well, Laz couldn't really do much about it, he too was pretty happy with the set-up.

"Anyway, what's been up with you? Like, give me actual things to talk about."

Laz started as he felt his Crobat sink down in the air. Hanging on to the pokemons ears like a life line, the red head had to pull back up as the Crobat had almost skidded down on the floor. Just laughing it off and enjoying the adrenaline, Laz continued his flight. Maybe some more air time would let him forget even for a moment.

[Kathy Dar]

"Only if your nice to me," She replied, laughing. Of course she'd catch him. That's what friends do. However, she socked him lightly in the arm, "No flirting with me! Don't you have enough girls after you?" She teased him, hair wiping in the wind. She grabbed Laz around the waist and held on tightly when the crobat dipped, whooping. She loved flying. It was better than running, if only because you where in the air. "Something to talk about huh? How about...why haven't I seen Koysta lately? That ghost type used to be like a shadow to you. Have to many pokemon to give him so much attention?"

[Lazarus]

"Not the arm, not the arm!"

Laz joked as he felt his friend pretty much punch him on the arm. It wasn't much, not even hurting but just to creep her out, the red head faked the little thing and made it look like he had lost control of his Crobat as the pokemon got the signal by the twitch on his ears to dive down in a spiral.

As the flying poison pokemon swirled down, its wings streamlined as if it was falling unconscious the red head then flicked it up again and the Crobat magnificently stretched his wings and the air current picked him up before sending him flying once more.

The thrill of the entire thing should've been fun even if it wasn't real seeing as Laz was more or less used to his Crobat trying to scare the fuck out of him when it came to these things.

Once the red head and his friend were finally upright, he turned around and leaned on the girls shoulder a bit. Just to tease her back for the comment of being nice to her.

"Am I nice enough now?"

Laz laughed as he let the wind ride his hair again and let the small silence sink in lower for a moment before replying about Kostya's unlikely not being there.

"Kostya's here, actually. Well, not flying with us more so that he's with Loki and Shade, probably keeping a lookout for the two in case they do something stupid like Explode or something."

Laz answered as he leaned back a bit more, his hair tickling the girls neck as he yawned a bit.

"And I've got like what? Only 24 pokemon. That's not exactly a lot by usual standards. So how about you? I mean, I know Shade's the only war hawk in your time. How's that working out?"

[Kathy Dar]

Kathy laughed as the world dropped from underneath her. Falling was an amazing feeling, if startling. Most definitely when you where on something as you fell. She could feel the world underneath you as you fell. You weren't just falling, what you where on was. One minute you where flying, the next the world feel out from underneath you. It sounded a lot like life. When the straightened, Laz leaned against her, asking if he was nice enough. Laughing again, she pushed him lightly way.

When she heard his reply about Kostya being there, and such, she raised an eyebrow. "You think they're going to do anything BUT explode? Shade knows full well he can't win, and Loki would happily explode right along with him. Those two find blowing themselves up far too amusing. And I, for one only have five pokemon, though have have finally managed to find one who will volunteer for a fight. Rachel, my shieldon, while not nearly as aggressive as Shade will drag me to a fight now and then. Honesty, I'll never be any Champion. I'll settle for friend of the next one" She grinned at Laz.

[Lazarus]

"You never know, those two are the unpredictable bunch anyway."

Laz laughed as he could feel himself getting better. The time spent with his best friend was something he'd always enjoy. This was when, aside from hanging out all alone and where no one can find him, he could just let loose and feel...like himself. Where he didn't have to put up a facade of being this...whatever image the general populace had made out of him. Even being normal though, the red head was still one to never stop training, seeing as his diligence wouldn't allow any kind of slacking.

"Thanks, I feel a crapton better now."

Laz laughed as he ordered his Crobat that it was okay to let them down. With a shrug of its shoulders, Jubei simply fell down on to the earth, spiralling even as he went faster and faster towards the ground. As the soft, green looking grass that covered the earth colored soil like a plague came rushing towards them, the red head simply pulled up and the Crobat spun properly before landing on his feet gently, as if they haven't even almost crashed their faces on said earth.

"You have Rachel with you now?"

Laz asked as he was curious, balling the Crobat before he looked towards where Loki and Shade were, thankfully still alive. Patting around for one of his poke balls, the red head thought about challenging his friend for another fight, just to pass the time or something.

"I kinda wanted to test one of my other pokemon out. He's just a tad too shy but he wants to become stronger so I was wondering if you'd be willing to help out."

[Kathy Dar]

"Thanks, I feel a crapton better now."

She grinned. "Of course you do. I'm magical" And then they where falling again, or more of gliding downward, Depended on how you viewed it. Either way, soon enough they landed safely on the ground. The ground was rather boring, after you flew. She was happy to find Shade and Loki where both still conscious.She looked up at Laz's suggestion. "Sure, I guess. I'm not nearly as good as you, but I'm sure Rachel would love the battle." She looked up and whistled, and after a few heart beats, her pokemon came tumbling out of the grass, still playing, though Clara was more of calm observing the others. She looked down at Rachel "You want to battle?" She asked, and Rachel nodded happily.

[Lazarus]

"Awesome."

Laz phrased as he went on the ground path leading towards their pokemon. He laughed though, at his best friends antics. Well, the important thing was that his Tangela was gonna get some help at least and thus, wouldn't lag so far behind from his other pokemon. He still had a few others he'd need to train though. Twirling the pokeball on his finger, the red head began to whistle a small tune as he saw his Gengar dragging Loki away from Shade, that twinkle in their eyes starting again.

He also saw his own Gengar mauling the Shiftry down if it tried to even dare to get back up or use Explosion. Laz had to laugh at the scene, to see that even his Gengar could get fed up with something. Looks like he was never a fan of those explosion things. Seeing Kostya look at him with a glare, Laz had to give a nervous laugh as he saw his starter get Loki by the scruff of his white mane and drag him towards the red head.

Plopping the Shiftry in front of him, Laz had no choice but to return the fully evolved grass dark type back to its pokeball. Pocketing it, Laz only gave another nervous chuckle towards his Starter who glared at the Shiftry that was responsible for instigating the explosion link again.

"Anyway, I'll be here if you're cool to battle."

Laz said as he allowed the pokeball that was on his finger fall down on the floor. As it plopped open, a Tangela came bursting out and ready to go at it. The blueish vines he had were already stretching and getting ready for battle as the red head took notes of their environment. More or less barren but there were at least some boulders big enough to be used as Anchors.

"I'm ready when you are."

[Kathy Dar]

Well, Shade was going to be disappointed now. He didn't get to explode. It had been a close call though. It seemed Kostya didn't appreciate their record of blowing up every time they saw each other.She wondered how strong Kostya was now. When she had Laz had first met, He had battled a much younger Shade, and had completely ran him over. Given Laz's pokemon where growing far faster than hers, she had no doubt Kostya could breeze past her whole team, but she still wondered. Of course, by now she'd never even let Shade attempt to battle him. She took Shade into his pokeball to stop him from exploding to spite Kostya for getting rid of his battle partner.

Rachel nodded excitedly to a battle. She hadn't battled yet under Kathy's control and she was eager to try it out. Kathy laughed at her eagerness. She seemed to friendly to like to battle, but she did. When the Tangela came out of it's pokeball Kathy raised an eyebrow at Laz. "I'm toast," She commented. Rachel looked the pokemon over, and settled herself into a better position. Kathy paused, not quite sure what to do, but decided to just get going. "Rachel, Iron," She said, using the only combo she had taught the rock/steel type. Rachel paused, hardening her body in Iron Defense, her body shining slightly as her defense was raised. She then charged forward with Iron head, hoping to ram into the Tangela.



[dice=10]
If the number is a 1-3, and Iron Head hits is causes the pokemon to flinch.

[rand=8719272974835437604964433756994999272848467131917476638210055152]

[Lazarus]

"Zip Line."

Laz ordered his little ball of vines who had dutifully followed up with his master's orders. As his opponent got ready, increasing his defense with that last move, Snake would be more busy spreading the cloud of Sleep Powder into the entire battle field in hopes of forcing his opponent to sleep.

When the green powdery cloud was launched, the vines then extended away towards one of the rocks that the Tangela designated as an anchor before the match. Leaving the sleep powder to do it's job against the Shieldon, Snake then wrapped his vines around the boulder and pulled himself towards it.

Zipping through the field, the Tangela let go and rolled into a proper stance once more as he readied himself. Not to mention that when he used Vine Whip to zip through the area, the opponents Iron Head had completely missed it's target.