After taking the moving stairs two at a time, Ran arrives on what is clearly not a particularly popular floor, judging by the small number of other shoppers, but that’s not his focus. Instead, he looks in awe at the rows of bookcases that aren’t just lined up from side to side, but rather for...
2024-11-24 12:09:59 +0000 UTC View PostThe next morning, a few minutes after nine, Ran and Josie walk up to the large glass front doors of the massive Goldenrod Trainer Department Store. Already waiting for them out front is Grady, who waves enthusiastically at the approaching pair.
“Hey guys, you’re finally here!” H...
2024-11-20 08:47:13 +0000 UTC View PostGrady Kendrick, Goldenrod City Gym sponsored trainer and all around cool guy, pictured his journey very differently to how it’s actually turning out.
Oh sure, it’s still amazing! Of course it is! He gets to spend all day with his team, he gets to be out from under Whitney’s shar...
2024-11-17 11:57:10 +0000 UTC View PostIt’s around noon the next day when Ran finally wanders into Goldenrod City. His team is fully recalled once more, a nighttime battle against a belligerent and rather powerful Drowzee and a late morning two-on-two against another two-badge trainer having put some serious strain on them. Of cours...
2024-11-13 12:38:44 +0000 UTC View PostDays later, when the canopy above their heads finally starts to thin out properly and the ambient temperature starts to rise a few degrees, Ran notes Josie’s relieved sigh with some amusement. Though the parts of Ilex Forest they’ve traveled through are hardly the most testing, he can underst...
2024-11-10 11:33:36 +0000 UTC View PostOver the next few days, as they continue to travel through Ilex Forest, Aria rapidly adapts to her new body, whilst Ran’s other team members work their tails off in battling and training, clearly inspired by her recent evolution. As their trainer, Ran happily encourages all of them, making sure...
2024-11-06 13:45:28 +0000 UTC View PostSpending time in town, where the comforts of civilization are at hand, is always nice, but there’s something undeniably relieving to once more making camp for the night. Ilex Forest might not be quite as comfortable a location as an open plain, but sleeping under the open air at least means the...
2024-11-03 09:50:42 +0000 UTC View PostHi all, it's the 1st of November and I figured I'd provide a small update on the state of the Patreon, my plans for the month and just an overall word of thanks to you all for supporting my writing. Now, let me get right to it:
A Viper in the Hole...
has reached 451 wa...
2024-11-01 15:51:55 +0000 UTC View PostFive minutes after handing Spinarak’s ball off to the Pokécenter Nurse, Ran finally relaxes when she returns to the front desk with a comforting smile. She assures him that Spinarak will be fine to travel by the next morning, while Ekans is already back to tiptop shape after just a few minutes...
2024-10-30 13:28:59 +0000 UTC View PostOfficially becoming Gym Leader was a momentous occasion, which put the previous day’s events on a pedestal comparable to the day of his semi-final match at the recent Conference and the day he captured his starter. Today, however, his very first full day as a Gym Leader, is turning out to be a ...
2024-10-27 18:32:31 +0000 UTC View Post“Confusion.” Bugsy orders dryly, catching Ran off guard. As Venonat’s eyes start to glow with pink energy however, he bursts into action.
“Shadow Sneak! Don’t give it an easy target!” He orders hurriedly. Spinarak obliges instantly, sinking into her own stretching shadow even as...
2024-10-27 17:42:31 +0000 UTC View PostThe first few days following Bugsy’s late-evening text messages pass swiftly. Ran starts out by spending half a day visiting the Charcoal Kiln, where Josie casually displays her father’s deep pockets by buying six fire-type boosting Charcoal pieces at once. Ran’s old part-time employer is s...
2024-10-23 12:20:20 +0000 UTC View Post“Get spooky and follow up with Poison Sting.” Ran orders, ignoring Tommy’s order for Paras to produce Stun Spore, trusting in Spinarak to handle that threat without further instruction.
His trust isn’t misplaced, as while Paras starts shaking and throwing paralytic spores into the a...
2024-10-20 08:17:42 +0000 UTC View PostAfter an almost uncomfortably tight hug and a move to the kitchen, where his father is clearly in the middle of making dinner, Ran ends up sitting at the dinner table with a glass of water, as his father slowly stirs the pasta sauce he’s got on the fire.
“Some advance notice would’ve ...
2024-10-16 11:49:20 +0000 UTC View PostSpencer Curtis, aspiring trainer and future Azalea Town Gym Leader, has been having a few absolutely rotten days. Which, considering he’d recently won his very first badge, was very much not what he’d been expecting. In fact, looking back on things later, he’d come to the vexing conclusion ...
2024-10-13 08:14:43 +0000 UTC View PostJourneying through Union Cave the second time proves a very different experience to Ran’s first jaunt through the most well-patrolled cave structure in Johto. The difference a few weeks makes is very apparent, as the native pokémon are far more active and belligerent, stirred up by the large i...
2024-10-09 11:37:28 +0000 UTC View PostA few more largely uneventful days later, a few hours before dinnertime, Ran and Josie arrive at a, for Ran, familiar location. Union-32 Rest Stop is a lot busier than it was during his previous visit however, the arena out back actively in use even as they approach and the tables out front hosti...
2024-10-06 10:23:33 +0000 UTC View PostThe next day at three past eight in the morning, Josie comes rushing into the pokécenter’s foyer, shooting Ran an apologetic grin when she spots him. He merely lifts a single unimpressed eyebrow, before gesturing for her to lead the way out once more, which Josie does without complaint. Side-b...
2024-10-02 10:54:38 +0000 UTC View PostYou are Totagi Kaneze. You are a chunin of Konohagakure. You are the most sensible member of the former genin team 24, led by jonin Hoheto Hyuuga. You are the most promising medic-nin Konohagakure has produced since Shizune-sensei at least, no matter what that old hag Tsunade claims about Sakura ...
2024-09-29 13:58:03 +0000 UTC View PostEager for a diversion, rather than having to endlessly mull over Bugsy’s words, Ran opens Josie’s messages, or, as he immediately finds out, singular unread message.
Josie: Hey, I’m still in town for the rest of the day and now that we’ve both had some time...
2024-09-29 12:34:58 +0000 UTC View Post“To winning our first badges!” Ran toasts enthusiastically, finally drawing a real smile from Spencer for the first time in what feels like forever.
They’re sitting in a small restaurant not too far from the Gym, drinks already arrived and lunch on the way, celebrating their accomplis...
2024-09-25 14:48:56 +0000 UTC View PostGlancing at his pokégear, he realizes with a start that enough time has passed for him to enter the Gym and enter its reserved waiting area. Ran moves to do just that, surprisingly not running into Spencer along the way, as Violet City’s Gym offers a handful of small private waiting rooms for ...
2024-09-22 10:55:00 +0000 UTC View PostEventful as Sprout Tower and meeting Josie were, the remaining days before Ran’s scheduled Gym challenge pass in that weird flow state where he’s very aware of each day passing and gets plenty done every day, but it still feels as if time’s flying by at an almost irresponsible pace. His tea...
2024-09-18 12:04:58 +0000 UTC View PostThe monk breaks eye contact for a moment to glance around the room, before speaking softly, “You examined our arts quite thoroughly. You’ve had a chance to see the beauty in cooperation. When next you are faced with conflict, will you act to seek reconciliation?”
Ran’s instinctive a...
2024-09-15 11:26:30 +0000 UTC View PostFive days later, just as afternoon is shifting into evening, Ran and Spencer enter Violet City. Route 32 had proven well-maintained and not in itself a great challenge. It held some nice variety as far as wild pokémon went, with the plentiful Mareep just one noteworthy example of the pokémon ne...
2024-09-11 11:05:22 +0000 UTC View PostAfter a very brief examination, Scyther is recalled as Ran approaches his defeated friend. Hesitantly, he speaks up in an attempt to offer some consolation, “You were unlucky, there aren’t many Spearow that know Steel Wing.”
Spencer’s answer is a sharp snarl, “I know that. Let’s...
2024-09-08 10:24:48 +0000 UTC View PostThey make it out of Union Cave four days later, the midday sun painfully bright after only having had their handheld torches to provide light for the better part of a week. They come out into a dry, harsh clearing, the forest receding away from the foot of the cave structure they step out of and ...
2024-09-05 17:42:40 +0000 UTC View PostThe first hours pass easily enough, Ran entirely in his element, as the only difference with the errands he’s been running for years so far is Spencer’s presence. By lunchtime however, it becomes quite clear that while Ran hasn’t just been planning but, thanks to his jobs, also been physica...
2024-09-03 19:53:51 +0000 UTC View PostOn CGC-morning, Ran gets up with disgustingly mixed feelings. The moment he’s been looking forward to for nearly three years soured by the knowledge that he’ll be receiving his coveted second license out of Bugsy’s hands. He still carries out his morning preparations dutifully, sharing a fi...
2024-09-02 16:10:33 +0000 UTC View Post