[Training][Development] Where do we go from here?

[MegaAbsol]

"Abyss! Look what Mom sent!" The tone of Eve's voice made the Absol look around. The objects in her hand spurred the Absol's curiosity, and abandoning his ruminative posture, he got to his feet, stretching and arching his back like a typical feline, before stalking over haughtily. Eve giggled before settling on the comfortable chairs of the Centre. Pewter city mainly focused on mining, so the area was full of coat dust and ores from Mount. Moon, but the Centre was spick and span - flawlessly clean like all Centres. To be honest, the oppressively clean atmosphere dug into the trainer slightly, but then again, she'd theorize in an attempt to rationalize, the Centre was for Pokémon, and hygiene was necessary.

Her thought process was, as always, interrupted by Abyss placing a paw on her hand. "Huh? Oh, right. These." She held up the two shiny objects. Oblong in shape and razor thin, any trainer worth their salt would know what they were. Discs. TMs. Short for Technical Machines, they gave Pokémon access to powerful moves that they might not normally learn. Of course, the Absol would passively watch as Eve struggled with the objects, trying to figure out how to use them. Her mother had been wise to send her the extra durable ones, which maintained their utility even after multiple uses.

Finally fitting them into a device that evidently came just for the purpose, and a moment of figuring out that the projection fitted onto the button of a pokeball, Eve pressed the plunger like object rather awkwardly. She watched Abyss for any kind of twitching or for an enlightened look to spread across his face, but all that looked back at her was a mildly impatient, somewhat cross looking Absol. "...What, nothing?" She spread her arms in confusion, flummoxed.

"..." The trainer huffed, as the duo walked down the path. Having gained a free day by a stroke of luck, the female had grabbed the opportunity to spend the day out, away from her somewhat cynical travel partner. "What? I didn't know it was going to do nothing." The peeved trainer poked the Absol's head, eliciting a grumble from the quadruped. With a sigh, Eve pushed her hair away from her face to hold Abyss' pokeball up, staring down at it through half-lidded eyes. "Why didn't it work?" She murmured quietly, her face registering none of the frustration from before; only a mild confusion. The data should have flowed through the device, and through some unknown method, passed on to the inhabitant.

"...Hmm. Maybe you actually got to be in the ball for it to work?" The words tumbled out in a vague theory, but immediately Abyss bristled, turning a fierce gaze onto his trainer. Oh, right. He didn't like his ball. "Oh, come on. The gain's yours, and besides, it's only a couple of seconds. I'll let you out immediately. Promise." Eve waggled her finger in front of Abyss' face, and after a moment of silence, the Absol grunted his approval. Eve cringed; he was very much going to make himself heard about how he hated it...later. Quickly repeating her procedure of transferring data with the second of her TMs, she took a deep breath, and drew Abyss into his pokeball.

The lack of the white-furred canine by her side made her feel very much alone. It didn't help that she was outside, and was immediately caught with a paranoid fear that if she wasn't mauled to death by a foot high purple rat, she'd almost certainly be approached by a stranger who'd try to engage her in conversation. And she couldn't decide which one was worse. Her heart rate rose, her breath caught, and it was as though she was on the brink of a nervous breakdown. Her quivering limbs went numb, and she could barely feel the pokeball in her hand. Dropping to her knees, a stone cold sober girl at the back of her mind calmly questioned why she was experiencing intense anxiety when Abyss wasn't by her side. She'd never had this kind of episode before, even when she had to go to the store.

Had she subconsciously been centering her existence around him? In hindsight, it was true. Initially, it was grumbles galore as she rose early to take Abyss out for a walk, or run. Then breakfast for the ravenous two. Some light relaxation, where Eve usually read out books to Abyss, or reclined back and drew sketches, mostly of the Absol wandering about. She'd even taken to talking and trying to mentally converse with the Absol - which, of course, failed. Abyss never responded in kind to her words - which made her envious when she saw trainers walking around with a Pokémon by their side, animatedly chatting to them while the recipients - usually small Pokémon like Chikorita or Eevee that nested on shoulders - shook with laughter and replied with zeal in their own language. Abyss was...surprisingly like his name. A silence that pervaded all.

If they weren't strolling or training, then lunch it was. Also together. Perhaps their bond would always be a nonverbal one. She'd never even heard Abyss bark. Growl, yes, grumble, oh yes. Unlike other canines, who, just before barking out loud, whispered 'boof', Abyss just touched a hand with his nose to gain attention. His overall demeanor was that of a longsuffering martyr - the majestic sweep of his head, the disdainful look on his finely sculpted face. He was cruel - and yet so beautiful. Abyss, my fallen angel, where are you?

Eve couldn't take the oppressive pressure on her chest any more. The sphere fell out of her hands, and scarcely had it touched the ground than the great Absol bounded out in a burst of light. All at once, as though she could draw breath again, she gasped long rattling lungfuls of air. Her quivering being was hunched over, and her tightly closed eyes were facing her knees. Her downturned face did not see the look of concern that flitted for a fleeting moment across the Absol's face, even as he stood stock still.

But what could he have done? Run for help? Performed CPR? This fragile human girl who he couldn't even touch carelessly for an idle caress with his paws without piercing her skin - scars already littered her hands, small white threads lining her appendages. His pride hated him for the truthful admission, but he knew that life away from her had already turned into an unthinkable dream, a haunting nightmare. Could it be possible for two organisms to be so mutually dependent on each other, neither of them better than the other? Perhaps, from their weakness, they would learn strength. But for now, the Absol was content to bask in those golden days, where he lay sunning himself in the last of the evening rays as she swung gently in a hammock, reading - both in their respective worlds, so far yet so close.

Eve felt immediately better as Abyss swiveled around to face her, and snuffled close to her tearing eyes. "...Yeah, no, I'm fine..." She breathed out in what sounded like a pained voice to her. Did that unrecognizable chord really belong to her? It couldn't have been more than a few seconds since Abyss was put away! Forcing a watery smile, she struggled to her feet. She'd completely forgotten her initial goal - to train up. The Pewter Gym specialized in Rock types, and if Abyss hoped to make even a dent in their impeccable defenses, he'd have to hone himself. She hoped the new moves helped...

As she sat on a rock, catching her breath, Abyss padded out some ways off, aggressively facing a tree. She couldn't help but crack a smile as he stood still again - he was waiting for orders. "Alright, Abyss," She called, causing the Absol to face her, "The new moves are something called Dark Pulse and Swords Dance. Remember that." She could have sworn she saw the canid nod. "I'll be relying on these a lot, since Swords Dance raises your attack," Abyss' eyes gleamed, "And Dark Pulse is a special move, simply for some variety," Eve finished matter-of-factly.

"Try using Swords Dance. See if you feel an energy filling up in you." She looked expectantly at the Absol, who lowered his head, furrowed his brows, and glared at the tree. Nothing. Of course, it was silly to have expected something, really. The trainer grinned sheepishly and the Absol glared sharply at her. It struck a chord, and the smile faded. Her own brows knitted into a frown, and she was about to rap out a rebuke when Abyss suddenly turned his head away, looking back at the tree. Disgruntled, but biting back bitter words for now, Eve fidgeted uncomfortably. Abyss wasn’t a difficult Pokémon as such; she just wished he wouldn’t be so cynical.

Abyss slowed his breathing, focusing on the tree. Thoughts of his horn wafted into his mind, and he felt power gather there. His fur bristled slightly as he began to feel lighter on his feet, but before he could get much further than the initial stages, the power faded, leaving him surprisingly weary. He let out a sudden gasp, startling his trainer, but she sat tight, not budging to come running to his side with medication and help. He wasn’t sure whether to be glad or disgruntled. He knew his face twitched in dissatisfaction, just a physical tic of his. It seemed to infuriate his trainer, and momentarily he was caught off-guard. Why such a foul mood? Shuffling his paws uncomfortably, and suddenly feeling incredibly awkward, he glanced this way and that, trying to avoid Eve’s burning gaze. Was this how she felt all the time? The sentiments were rolling off her in powerful waves, and the sensitive Disaster Pokémon could feel them keenly.

Shaking the thoughts out of his head, he focused on himself again. Out of the corner of his eye, he was subconsciously aware of the female relaxing, and he redoubled his efforts. He would deny it to his last gasp, but he did in fact rather appreciate the praises she freely showered on him. He…wanted to earn her praise. Yes, he wanted to be praised. His onyx lips curled into something of a smirk, and as he felt his muscles bunch, he launched forward at the tree, glowing horn pointed forwards.

There was a sickening crunch as he collided head first with the unyielding bark, and slid unceremoniously to the ground. His horn dragged along the bark, leaving deep grooves, and his paws splayed, claws flexing. He bit his lip, trying to ignore the waves of pain washing over him. That was graceful. Painfully aware of his trainer’s expectant gaze on him, he got to his feet slowly. The silence was unnerving him, the only sound being the swishing of falling leaves. He huffed, and distanced himself from the tree again.

The second time, he felt surer of himself, but still practiced caution as he moved to ram against the tree. Turning his shoulder to the woody surface, he braced himself for impact, and was rewarded with a slight whump and little to no injury. He was going to be bruised tomorrow, and perhaps injured today, but he would master the skill if it killed him! Bleeding but not beaten. A glorified image floated before his eyes, pushing his ambition, akin to greed, that much further, even if slightly. His eyes blazed, his lithe white form flashed, and he rammed himself against the tree again and again, shaking the monolithic structure to its roots.

When he finally stopped, gasping for breath, muscular body quivering as his senses screamed, everything about him seemed to blur together before sharpening into contrast. What was happening? Savagely shaking his head, he pawed the ground, leaving deep grooves in the sand. His breath escaped in ragged puffs, but the canine refused to teeter. His claws dug deep into the ground, as though he were seeking strength from the earth itself. Rooting himself into the present moment, his gaze rose to lock on to the tree. This time. He knew it.
He launched himself off with surety again, trying to repress the waves of pain that threatened to tear him apart. As his soaring form neared the battered tree, he tensed himself, instinctively turning his shoulder towards it; when suddenly, with a flick of his paw, he sent claws and horn scything upwards with a swift upper cut. He noted, with some satisfaction, the deep cut he made, before his poorly balanced pose sent him crashing to the ground.

Chuffing with frustration, he slowly got to his feet. He’d thought he’d got it this time. Discreetly stealing a glance at the yet impassive Eve, he turned a baleful glare back at the tree. The slashing cut – which was once a matter of pride – offered no solace now. His trainer was deeply absorbed in inspecting a ball – oh, how he wished she’d play with him, just one game! Exhaling sharply, he turned back to the tree with something like resignation. If it had come easier the third time, he felt he deserved praise – and was affronted when he received none. What was this, the silent treatment?

Dashing forward, and this time instead of barreling straight ahead into a reckless charge, he moved with sharp finesse, and slashing quickly, jumped back before coming to a standstill to survey the damage. It was a quick, albeit inaccurate form of attack, and tended to leave one blundering about in confusion if the strike didn’t connect. A reckless abandon, a swift flirt of unsheathed claws. That was all it took. Deceptively simple, no?

The cuts, though multiple, were shallow – as expected, really, but Abyss couldn’t help but feel a small bloom of bitter disappointment within. Was this new technique of Swords Dance really even working? He couldn’t see or feel any kind of difference in himself. It didn’t help that his trainer had evidently abandoned him to go figure out his own way. This was not what he meant by solitude. This was…isolation!

He couldn’t take it anymore. The sun was beating down mercilessly on his furred back, and his body was on breaking point. His mind buzzed with frustration, and his paws clenched with the sheer unfairness of it. Before he knew it, he loped over to a surprised Eve and sank his teeth into her hand.

“OW!” The sharp call of pain shook Abyss back to his senses, his grip released and he cowered in abject shame. What had he done? Why did he have to vent his frustration onto Eve, of all people?! His fur flattened, and he physically dropped to his belly, expecting harsh punishment. It was not Eve’s way to hit, but he had just bitten her, after all. He couldn’t even meet her gaze. Intense regret burned in him; Arceus knew why he’d taken an irrational decision in the heat of the moment.

He sneaked a look up. The female was inspecting her bleeding hand. The bite was deep; in that single moment, he had felt his teeth connect, but it was in the fleshy part of the side of the palm, so maybe it wasn’t that bad. He could see her chest heaving, either from shock or sentiment. Her mouth opened and closed several times, as though she were to say something before having second thoughts. No doubt struggling for the sharpest, the right words.

“Heh. Not a bad bite. I guess it’s working after all, then,” His eyes which were screwing shut in anticipation of the blow widened in surprise. His tongue stuck out, and his head tilted to a side. He wasn’t a particularly expressive ‘mon, but at the moment, he felt like rolling over on his back. He watched her take out a handkerchief and crudely bandage up her hand, wincing and moving slowly in her pain. She’d made sure to give him his shots in the first few weeks, but it would still need medical attention. His own mouth quivered in the beginnings of a whimper.

“Abyss.” The sound of his name made him look up again, straight into the face of his crouching trainer. His gaze was quickly averted, but moments pause made him look back again, albeit all the while fidgeting. Still, he would bear it. Did he not deserve it? “You want to be left alone, but you hate it when you get it. You crave attention, and yet, when you receive it, you push me away,” Her voice was grim, but soft. Each syllable hammered into him, making him grovel further in the dust. “Abyss, Abyss, boy,” Her tone turned kinder. “Do you know why I left you?” The Absol’s eyes were limpid as he awaited the answer. “So you’d find your own pace. Your own style. It worked, didn’t it? Right?” Eve was trying to be encouraging, but she had the feeling that it was falling flat on its face. She knew the situation to be one of gravity, and let she could hardly find the words to say.

“…Come on, boy. Let’s try again,” With quiet resignation, she got to her feet. She turned away, expecting no response, but was pleasantly greeted with a quiet ‘Sol’. She couldn’t suppress a leery grin as she stood behind the canid. Her canid.

“You almost got it that time. Try centering more attention towards it. Focus your energies to deal the most damage in the smallest time necessary. Find your enemy’s weak spot and exploit it. Find yours, and protect it.” The words were more or less by rote from her textbooks of school, but they seemed to do the job. Abyss flexed his muscles with renewed vigor, and flashed out again with a new confidence. On and off. Strike after strike. Hardly had he launched off the tree and replanted paws on earth was he gone again. The longest chain he could uphold before a rest was about five strikes, but even that was an improvement to the slow progress he’d been making alone. Eve had been taking careful notations of how deep the marks were, and she could chart gradual progress. It wasn’t like Abyss to do things slow, but the new move thing seemed to have trumped him. That being said, she could see the difference every half hour later. His claws were sharpened to a razor edge like finesse, curving beautifully. His paws were broad, and flat, but he’d learnt to walk on his toes, resting his weight on the first knuckle of his paws. They allowed him a faster start, though he seemed to have trouble balancing so. Mountainous regions demanded intense balance and a death grip. Abyss always clung to the earth with the same tenacity he clung to life – Eve had never seen him swept off his feet. While that was reassuring, knowing he’d never go off his paws to fall at the mercy of his opponent, the careful balance he maintained at all times seemed to restrict his movement. He couldn’t make any especially daring flashes in his care. A part of his mind was preoccupied with it, at all times. At no point, as long as he followed his instinct, could he completely focus on the attack.

The revelation troubled Eve, and as noon approached, the duo beat a retreat from the burning sun, taking respite in the nearby shade. Sharing out some food and water, Eve voiced her concerns to the Absol, who listened more or less attentively. An hours rest was all they took. Back to the training it was. The teenager could see the Absol making a genuine effort at understanding and executing the movement. He practically strained with anticipation, leaning forward slightly on his paws. The tips of his claws rested on the ground, and it seemed absurd that the entire canine could be balancing on them, especially as they were to be kept whip sharp, and any pressure on them would blunten, or in excess, break them. While the claws would regrow eventually, it was sometimes painful, and could take a while.

For the female, it was an enlightening confidence session. Perhaps as penance, Abyss refused to move until she gave the command. Her ‘now!’ would crack out like a gunshot, and he’d be off immediately, almost as though he sensed the order before she gave it. It was a fine display of reflexes, and Eve noted with resignation that Abyss would always lean towards a quick, fast paced battle. Go in with lightning speed, if it didn’t take the opponent out, get back out with the same speed. Either way, he went untouched. A war of attrition suited him ill; he simply did not possess the bulk for it. The trainers’ watchful eye roved over the fragile build, the almost feline, delicate being. She knew the strength that bunched underneath the thick pelt, but at the same time, one couldn’t help but feel that the next gust of wind would blow the Absol over to shatter it into a million pieces. A little porcelain doll.

Eve was sure she’d eventually learn the times to bark out a command – perhaps see any opportunity Abyss would miss. If the heat of the battle did not catch and sweep her along in its whirling madness, her timing, she hoped, would be impeccable. She was to be the supreme power behind her Disaster Pokémon, and she wasn’t sure if she was ready for that kind of responsibility yet. And yet…and yet she’d dreamt of being a trainer her entire life. Explore the world, she’d thought, with a childish innocence. She could not look back at them with a weary, philosophical smile. Abyss was the best Pokémon she could have asked for, she knew that much. And yet…and yet her heart quivered with uncertainty. Whose capability did she doubt? Abyss’, or hers?

She’d hardly noticed the blood soaking her handkerchief through, and the soles of her feet burned from the fierce sun rays. “Abyss, take five,” She called out; it must be hell under that thick pelt. Hobbling along the smoldering ground, mumbling a string of curses under her breath, she picked up another handkerchief. Gritting her teeth as she gingerly applied pressure, she turned to walk towards her white-furred canine companion, but noted with mild surprise that he’d already seated himself beside her. She stifled a smile; she could live with this.

By now, the tree was looking roughed up, and Abyss was having a better understanding of where to strike. Maybe their session hadn’t been a complete failure. “Hey, hey. Let’s try the other one. Dark Pulse. Should make for some variety, and this should be easier. Try forming energy into a physical body…however it is you ‘mons do that.” Eve shrugged noncommittally, returning to her perch. This time, she stationed herself squarely in the sun. It would probably be pointless to pompously state that she wasn’t getting up until they finished; if Abyss worked in the sun, so did she, and besides, she was surely no stimulus to get him to work better. But Abyss cast a single worried look at her cradled hand, still seeping blood through the deep punctures, and the guilt drove itself in, deep, like a rankling thorn.

A crown of thorns. He’d made himself known, but for what? Spitting out a couple of bitter words in his language, he growled savagely at no one in particular. This would be over soon. He hoped to make it quick. He adopted a defensive stance, best for centering his balance. A low and wide posture grounded him completely into his position, and his maw opened. At first, nothing but a growl formed, but eventually, as he thought about the energy that channeled through him as she sighted the future, a small dark orb formed. He was a teller of time! This was but a lowly task before him. Evidently self-inflation did nothing to expand the dimensions of the orb, and with a scoff, the energy dissipated. He’d got the beginnings remarkably quick, and didn’t really dent his energy much.

“Yeah, go, Absol!” Eve cheered faintly from the background. The oppressive heat was making her slightly queasy, and she felt nausea roll across her in waves. Why had she persisted in being such an obnoxious Mary Sue? Justice was an idealistic idea, not one she felt she could really take now. She slithered to the ground, feeling her muscles numben, and she could but watch Abyss mutely. She didn’t miss the flicker of concern, and how his head immediately whipped back, face contorted with concentration. This time, with a sharp cry of ‘Sol!’, a large dark sphere formed, translucent and shimmering with ethereal energy. It was a most acceptable size, perhaps about the size of Eve’s head, but it was evidently not stabilized, as it quickly shattered and dissipated. It seemed liquid in property, and yet was not so. The closest it could come to was a plasmid substance. Pure energy. What was its source? What was its destination? She knew not. She only knew that this dark matter was something that could be harnessed, and possibly by a great input of one’s own power, converted into a physical manifestion possessing incredible power.

For a moment, she hesitated. Was that too much power for one to possess? Her features registered a grim humor. Was she really questioning her morals now? Well, wonders never ceased. Abyss was back at it, focused on creating a stable orb. It looked like a rip in the fabric of the space-time continuum. One that had no beginning, and no end. But what did she know? It’s not like she’d ever seen something like that outside of books.

This time, Abyss seemed to hold the shaky sphere together, but as he tried to toss it, his neck arcing upwards, the sphere trailed and sloshed before once again shimmering out of existence. The canine was clearly tired now, and looked around beseechingly, asking for release. Perhaps it was the sheer knowledge that resided in the teenager, who happened to know that if she replied negatively, Abyss would keep at it until he dropped of exhaustion, but as it stood, she nodded at him, beginning to get to her feet. They’d clearly had enough. Her limbs screamed in protest as her frozen muscles contracted, and she could hardly walk, but the promise of the comforts of her room back in the Pokemon Centre allured her, and she hobbled on, Abyss keeping a steady pace beside her. Not quite the fairytale ending she’d hoped for; in fact, it wasn’t an ending at all. It was only the beginning.

(Oh god my hands @-@ Felix, if you'd please...)

[Felix Leonis]

Official training wordcount: 3036
EXP gained: 304
Total levels gained: 13
leftover exp: 13 (again lol)
Happiness gain: 150 cap reached for absol
TM's learned: dark pulse sword dance

I'll edit your stuff accordingly

[MegaAbsol]

Omg yasss :D I haz my Night Slash I can now die happy ^w^/ Also, unlucky number 13 >>
That being said, can I now consider Dark pulse and Swords Dance completely learnt? I can use them reliably at full power?

Feel free to respond in this, I'll just have my character...

[EXIT]

[Felix Leonis]

well... let's say 75% certainty, that's what I was told after training echoed voice. Training and actual battle aren't the same after all xD

[MegaAbsol]

Huh o3o Who was modding you at that time? Anyways, alrighty then, thanks~! Feel free to now make a thread in Pewter. Or do you want me to?

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