Chapter 2

The First Partner

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Nostus Belongs to @forgottenjade over at: https://bsky.app/profile/softsheepewe.bsky.social

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Travel Journal — Day 2

Mum said Professor Elm only needed one small favour.

I've learned that when adults say “small favour,” they usually mean something that somehow takes the entire day.

Still... I get to meet one of Professor Elm's Pokémon today, So I suppose I can't complain too much.

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Chapter 2.1

Morning arrived in New Bark Town not with a sudden blaze, but with the gentle insistence of gulls calling over the rhythmic hush of waves against the shore. Ravina's eyes fluttered open to the unfamiliar ceiling, the events of yesterday filtering back slowly: Johto, New Bark, Professor Elm, and her mother's mysterious errand. She groaned, rolling onto her side as sounds from downstairs drifted upward, cupboards opening, the clink of ceramic, and footsteps with far too much energy for this hour. Nostus.

When Ravina reached the kitchen, her mother was already a portrait of efficiency. Dressed for work in her open white coat, Nostus cradled a coffee mug while the dining table had transformed overnight into a command center. Folders stood in neat stacks, some sporting colored tabs, one even boasting a handwritten index taped to its cover.

Ravina froze halfway into the room. "...You've been awake for how long?"

Nostus glanced at the clock. "Long enough."

"That's not an answer."

"It's the only one you're getting."

Ravina shuffled toward the cupboards. "You've been here one day."

"An astute observation."

"And you've already reorganized Professor Elm's paperwork."

"Not reorganized." Nostus sipped her coffee. "Triaged."

Ravina stared at the organized chaos. "That sounds worse."

"It is."

She fumbled in the breadbox, dropping two slices into the toaster with a clatter. "So how bad is it?"

Nostus's expression became very still. "...There is a drawer in his office labeled 'Important Things.'"

Ravina waited, butter knife hovering. "And?"

"It contains receipts, three research proposals, an expired ferry ticket, half a sandwich wrapper, and a birthday card he forgot to send four years ago."

Ravina snorted. "You like him already."

"Professionally, he terrifies me."

"Same thing."

Nostus's mouth twitched. "Mrs. Elm asked if you'd come by once you're ready."

"For the errand?"

"Mhm."

"What am I actually doing?"

"Professor Elm can explain it."

Ravina narrowed her eyes. "You know."

"I do."

"And you're not telling me."

"I am practicing restraint."

"That's very mature of you."

"I thought so."

Ravina retrieved her toast and then paused. "How far am I going?"

"Several hours if you walk at a sensible pace."

That got her attention. "...Several?"

"Mr. Pokémon lives beyond Cherrygrove."

Ravina stared at her. "You neglected to mention the part where the 'small favour' involves leaving town."

"I assumed the travelling part would improve your opinion of it." Nostus smiled over her coffee. "You came to Johto to see Johto, remember?"

"I came because you came to Johto."

"Details."

Ravina sighed dramatically. "Fine." she huffed as she took a bite of toast. "But if I'm eaten by something in the woods, I'm haunting you."

"I'd expect nothing less."

Ravina’s Pokémon Adventure (HGSS) Chapter 1.3

13/08/2026 Failsy

OC's Ravina's Pokemon Adventure

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>> Nostus Belongs to @forgottenjade over at: https://bsky.app/profile/softsheepewe.bsky.social

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Chapter 1.6

That evening, mother and daughter settled into the house the League had arranged for visiting researchers.

It was larger than necessary, spacious enough for Nostus' six veteran Pokémon should she decide to release them from storage. The study had already been claimed as a temporary office, but even so, binders from Elm's laboratory sprawled across half the dining table like a paper avalanche in progress.

Ravina stared at the small mountain of documents before sitting down beside her mother. "...You've been here four hours."

"I'm making progress," Nostus murmured, her focus locked on the document in her hands.

"You're nesting."

"I'm organizing."

"That's what nesting is," Ravina whined, gesturing dramatically at the growing pile.

Nostus simply smiled, her pen never pausing as she continued her assault on Elm's disorganized empire.

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Chapter 1.7

The evening settled around them as boxes from the fish and chips shop sat half-empty on the table, the scent of fried cod and malt vinegar hanging in the air between them. Ravina methodically collapsed cardboard while Nostus remained entrenched in Professor Elm's files, her pen scratching against paper with relentless precision.

"Ravina."

"Hm?" She flattened another box with a sigh.

"Professor Elm mentioned something today," Nostus said without looking up.

"Oh?"

"He needs someone to pick up something from an old colleague tomorrow."

Ravina paused, her fingers hovering over the tape dispenser. "...Me?"

"He asked if you'd be interested." Nostus's tone held that parental quality of making requests sound like inevitabilities.

"I've been in Johto for exactly one day," her daughter countered, eyebrow raised.

"Which means you're uniquely qualified."

Ravina laughed, the sound echoing slightly in the spacious room. "I don't think that's how qualifications work."

"No?"

"No."

Nostus finally closed the folder, the soft thud punctuating the conversation. "Professor Elm is looking for some trainer assistants for his Pokémon research."

"Yes? And?"

"He'll probably offer you one."

"One what?"

"A Pokémon."

"What, really?"

"Probably."

"...Probably?" Ravina's fingers stilled completely.

"He seemed to think so."

Ravina blinked, processing.

"...Wait."

Nostus propped her chin in her hand. "You're going to be here for months while I rescue his laboratory from administrative collapse."

"Mhm."

"So… you could spend every day sitting in this house..." She gestured vaguely at the growing paper empire on their dining table. "...or you could see Johto."

The room grew quiet as Ravina's gaze drifted toward the dark window. Outside, the lights of New Bark glimmered like scattered stars, a peaceful scene that suddenly felt more like a launching point than a destination. She'd arrived expecting a long vacation, perhaps some mild sightseeing between complaints about small-town life.

Now... she might be leaving with a Pokémon. A slow smile spread across her face despite herself. "...I suppose one errand couldn't hurt."

Nostus returned the smile, her expression knowing. "I had a feeling you'd say that."

That night, while Ravina drifted off to sleep, the sound of waves rolled gently against New Bark's shoreline.

Tomorrow would begin as an ordinary errand.

Neither Ravina nor anyone else in New Bark yet realized that before the sun set again, three young Pokémon would find his partner, and the quiet little town would become the starting point of three very different journeys.

Ravina’s Pokémon Adventure (HGSS) Chapter 1.2

12/08/2026 Failsy

OC's Ravina's Pokemon Adventure

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>> Nostus Belongs to @forgottenjade over at: https://bsky.app/profile/softsheepewe.bsky.social

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Chapter 1.3

Professor Elm's laboratory occupied a modest position on the town's edge, its weathered stone facade suggesting years of dedicated research within. The building itself appeared respectable, but the office... the office was another matter entirely. Ravina halted in the doorway beside her mother, her magenta eyes widening as she took in the chaotic landscape before them.

Every horizontal surface had surrendered to teetering stacks of paper, books lay splayed open across the floor, folders leaned at precarious angles that defied gravity, and sticky notes covered every filing cabinet like colorful migrating birds. Somewhere beneath this avalanche of documentation sat Professor Elm himself.

"Oh!" The professor emerged from behind a tower of documents, his hair slightly disheveled. "You must be Nostus!"

"I sincerely hope so," Ravina's mother replied, extending a hand with professional poise. "Professor Elm?"

He hurried forward, nearly tripping over a cardboard box labeled in faded ink: "Evolution Survey 3... Maybe?"

"Ah, yes! It's wonderful to finally meet you." He shook Nostus's hand with enthusiasm that sent papers fluttering from a nearby pile. "I cannot tell you how grateful I am that you accepted this assignment."

Nostus's gaze swept methodically across the room, her expression maintaining perfect professional composure despite the organizational nightmare before her. "...How long has your filing system looked like this?"

Professor Elm blinked owlishly. "My filing system?"

"...Yes."

"...Oh." He paused, looking around his office as if seeing it for the first time. "Long enough that I don't really notice anymore."

"I see." Nostus turned to Ravina, a faint smile playing at her lips. "I may be here longer than anticipated."

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Chapter 1.4

As Ravina struggled to process her mother's extended stay in this quaint town, the lab door swung open. Daphne Elm glided in, balancing a tray with steaming teacups that clinked softly with each step. Her warm brown eyes twinkled with an understanding that suggested she'd witnessed this exact scenario countless times before.

"I'm terribly sorry," she said, her voice carrying a gentle melody that soothed rather than apologized.

Nostus shook her head slightly, reaching for a cup. "No need for apologies."

Daphne laughed, a sound like wind chimes. "Oh, but I think there is." Her gaze drifted to her husband, who had already become completely absorbed in a rediscovered notebook, scribbling furiously while muttering about Pokémon migration patterns. "...He's brilliant, isn't he?"

"Ingenious," Nostus agreed, taking a measured sip. "But also three quarters behind on his compliance documentation."

Daphne sighed with practiced patience, setting down the tray. "Thank you for coming to our rescue."

Nostus's smile widened, genuine and reassuring. "It's what I do. I'll have him sorted soon enough"

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Chapter 1.5

The afternoon dissolved beneath an unending mountain of paperwork, at least for the adults. Ravina, after halfheartedly helping carry a few boxes, realized she'd mostly been migrating the same documents from one precarious stack to another. She escaped outside where the breeze carried the crisp scent of the nearby lake, cementing the town's defining qualities: quiet, peaceful, and dreadfully uneventful. Leaning against the rough bark of a tree overlooking the water, she sighed dramatically. "So... My exciting vacation begins."

Ravina’s Pokémon Adventure (HGSS) Chapter 1.1

11/08/2026 Failsy

OC's Ravina's Pokemon Adventure

Chapter 1

A Vacation That Wasn't

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>> Nostus Belongs to @forgottenjade over at: https://bsky.app/profile/softsheepewe.bsky.social

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Chapter 1.1

The train glided into New Bark Town Station under a brilliant spring sky, the gentle hiss of brakes cutting through the quiet morning air.

Ravina Shales pressed her forehead against the cool glass, her breath fogging a small patch as she watched the town emerge. White picket fences lined streets where bicycles leaned against painted porches. Gardens burst with spring blooms—tulips and daffodils swaying in the breeze. Beyond the neat houses, emerald hills rolled upward like sleeping giants, their slopes giving way to dense forests that carpeted the horizon, leading deeper into Johto's wild heart.

It wasn't WilderHolm. Not even close.

"Smaller than I imagined," she murmured, her voice barely audible above the train's rhythm.

Across the aisle, Nostus Shales chuckled without looking up from the paperwork spread across her lap. Her fingers moved with practiced efficiency, organizing documents into neat stacks despite the train's gentle sway.

"You've said that about every town since we crossed into Johto."

"Because everything is smaller," Ravina insisted, turning from the window to face her mother. "The buildings, the streets, even the sky seems lower."

"The cities aren't," Nostus countered, finally glancing up. Her dark eyes held a warmth that contrasted with her sharp features.

"The train station definitely is."

"It serves its purpose with one platform," Nostus said, securing the last document with a paperclip before tucking everything into her briefcase.

Ravina crossed her arms, her shoulders slumping dramatically. "I was expecting something grander. At least three platforms, maybe a clock tower."

The train emitted its final hiss as it settled into position. Nostus rose in one fluid motion, her movements economical and precise. She slipped the briefcase's strap over her shoulder, the white lab coat, still crisp despite the journey, billowing slightly as the automatic doors slid open, revealing the platform.

Fresh air drifted inside, carrying the scent of damp earth and new growth.

"Come on," Nostus said, stepping onto the platform without looking back. "Professor Elm is expecting us."

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Chapter 1.2

New Bark Town breathed a different kind of peace. Laughter echoed as children wove through streets where elderly neighbors exchanged greetings over well-tended flowerbeds. Down by the shore, a fisherman's weathered hands worked steadily at his nets, the rhythmic motion a familiar sight to passersby. The rich scent of baking bread from a nearby shop wove through the morning air, a warm invitation that made Ravina's stomach rumble.

Compared to the sprawling, impersonal cities Ravina knew, New Bark existed on a human scale—where faces were familiar and the pace of life matched the gentle roll of the surrounding hills.

"...I suppose I could get used to this," Ravina admitted reluctantly, watching a Pidgey land on a fence post with an inquisitive tilt of its head.

"I told you," Nostus replied, her tone holding just enough satisfaction to tease.

"I didn't say I wanted to stay forever," Ravina countered, kicking at a loose stone on the path.

"No." Nostus's smile softened the edges of her response. "But you stopped complaining."

Ravina’s Pokémon Adventure (HGSS) Chapter 1.1

05/08/2026 Failsy

OC's Ravina's Pokemon Adventure Uncategorized

Chapter 1

A Vacation That Wasn't

- - - - -

Nostus Belongs to @forgottenjade over at: https://bsky.app/profile/softsheepewe.bsky.social

- - - - -

Chapter 1.1

The train glided into New Bark Town Station under a brilliant spring sky, the gentle hiss of brakes cutting through the quiet morning air.

It wasn't WilderHolm. Not even close.

"Smaller than I imagined," she murmured, her voice barely audible above the train's rhythm.

"You've said that about every town since we crossed into Johto."

"Because everything is smaller," Ravina insisted, turning from the window to face her mother. "The buildings, the streets, even the sky seems lower."

"The cities aren't," Nostus countered, finally glancing up. Her dark eyes held a warmth that contrasted with her sharp features.

"The train station definitely is."

"It serves its purpose with one platform," Nostus said, securing the last document with a paperclip before tucking everything into her briefcase.

Ravina crossed her arms, her shoulders slumping dramatically. "I was expecting something grander. At least three platforms, maybe a clock tower."

Fresh air drifted inside, carrying the scent of damp earth and new growth.

"Come on," Nostus said, stepping onto the platform without looking back. "Professor Elm is expecting us."

- - - - -

Chapter 1.2

Compared to the sprawling, impersonal cities Ravina knew, New Bark existed on a human scale—where faces were familiar and the pace of life matched the gentle roll of the surrounding hills.

"...I suppose I could get used to this," Ravina admitted reluctantly, watching a Pidgey land on a fence post with an inquisitive tilt of its head.

"I told you," Nostus replied, her tone holding just enough satisfaction to tease.

"I didn't say I wanted to stay forever," Ravina countered, kicking at a loose stone on the path.

"No." Nostus's smile softened the edges of her response. "But you stopped complaining."

Keva Loses to the Taurus Demon (DS1-8)

30/05/2026 Failsy

Keva's Misadventure OC's

Traveling over the battlements on the outer walls of Undead Berg, Keva was ambushed by and enormous demon that issued a challenge.
failure demanded his desires be satisfied.