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The PA system started to sound off at the park.

"All non-contestants, please exit the park grounds. All non-contestants, please exit the park grounds. The Contest will start in 30 seconds. The Contest will start in 30 seconds.

The people started to clear the grassy area.

"All contestants in 3......2.......1......"

A buzzer sounds off. Let the catching begin.

"Eh... okay..." Not too bad, but Aden hoped he wouldn't have to hear that PA system too much. To him, it was a little... well, he couldn't quite place it. So instead, he let Mareep out. "Mareep, stick with me... I have no idea what we're going to find here."

She barely even saw Aden on account of the grass, quickly following before she ended up losing him. There were a lot of bugs, though... just what was he planning on, if anything at all?

"Huh...?" Aden overheard Ryan for a second, but wasn't sure as to what. That is, until Mareep gave out a cry and ended up zapping some poor Caterpie. He had spun around just in time to see the end result, in fact. "...Oh. Um. Look, I know you probably want to train and all, but I don't think they'd appreciate it if someone just went in here and knocked out a bunch of Pokemon because it wasn't what they were looking for. Come on."

The two went on elsewhere, as the Caterpie weakly shrilled. Last time it tries to say hi to an electrical sheep.

Aden, on the other hand, would see some other unusual specimen. He didn't know what to make of it. It looked like a cricket... "Huh. Hey, Mareep, how about that?"

His Mareep would give Aden a confused look. "Come on, it's right over... there...?" By the time he turned back around to point out the find, it was gone. "Jeez, already? Never mind, Mareep, let's keep-"

"Deedl deedl deedl deedl deedl..."

"Now what's there? Mareep-"

"WHOOOOOOOOOOP!"

"Out of the grass, there's gotta be another place to look!" And quickly, Aden and his sheep were out of that patch of grass. Whatever the heck that thing was, they didn't want to know anytime soon.

An encounter Aden wouldn't be seeing much of. Why? He soon had his own issues. While he ran out to get away from the bug that decided to scream him out, it also got the attention of others seeing the result- and laughing- and a fair few bugs aside. Most shrugged it off, save for one that was trying to get a bite to eat itself. A Scyther.

It immediately figured he was the cause of the disturbance, and had only one way of resolving this issues. By racing to him at lightning speed, putting one of its arms to his neck. "Uh...!"

Aden... would have it a little tougher, what with a Scyther bearing the notion to remove his head from his shoulders.

"Scy, scyther scyth..."

"What, that noise? That wasn't me! The stupid thing went behind me and caught me off guard!"

This didn't seem to appease the Scyther, as it started to move its other arm closer. A clean cut was to be had, at least until Mareep gave it a weak jolt. Not enough to really harm it, and not enough to instill paralysis either. But it did make Scyther move back a bit.

"Mareep, I was fine..."

Looking back and seeing the look on her face, though, told him all he needed to know. She was worried and looking out for him. Still, he was uneasy about letting her fight. "Look, just leave this to me, alright? Thanks for the save."

Aden remembered the rules, and he wanted to try and get this without it being hurt too badly. Without hesitation, he threw one of the Park Balls, only for Scyther to dodge it easily and start racing at him. In a mild panic, he tossed another. And another. His fourth managed to land its mark, only inches away from Aden's hand. He was quick to step back as the ball wobbled, panting.

"There... geez. I had enough Scyther back at the Azalea Gym, I don't need this now..." He commented, thinking he was in the clear as the ball stopped wobbling. He started near it again, cautious, when the worst showed itself; Scyther broke free, and was even more ticked.

"Scyth..."

"Son of a-"

"Reeeep!"

Screw Aden's decision, she was doing something. This time, a Thunder Wave coursed through, catching the Scyther before it could make another move. Aden, being stubborn as he was sometimes, tried to speak up.

"Really, I'm-

"Ma, reep."

"Alright, alright, fine." Yeah, when the mild sheep actually says to screw the rules, it was probably wiser to follow. "In that case, let's start this... Mareep, start charging up!" He called, bracing himself. Mareep began to build up more electricity around her, her wool expanding for the moment.

Scyther responded by moving in for the sheep instead, only for Aden to throw another ball. "Not this time!" However, this failed; Scyther simply sliced the ball into two. This afforded Mareep enough time to let off a harsh Thundershock, zapping the bug and making it back off for a bit.

But only a bit. It soon retaliated with an Air Slash, cutting Aden and Mareep up a bit as the gale blew through. "Ngh..."

"Ree..."

"We'll be fine, Mareep. Just charge up all you can and brace yourself."

Mareep responded by charging as she did before, with Scyther getting a slash in. It hurt to be sure, but she'd manage. The resulting discharge still made the bug reel, starting to dislike all the shocks it's been receiving. It was starting to wear it out too.

"If you're alright, now! Another Thundershock!" This didn't bode too well, what with Scyther getting shocked again and skidding back. Instead of trying to fight more, it went to flee... except, the earlier paralysis wasn't cooperating in the process.

"Hey, you're not running. Take this!" Aden shouted, before throwing another Park Ball and ensnaring it. The ball wobbled as it landed on the ground, the overall fighting from within weaker than before. It wouldn't take long for it to stop, resounding with a ping. The trial, as it were, was over. For now. "Ugh... okay. Forget the whole not weakening thing... Mareep, let's cut our losses here, alright?"

He picked up the ball and started to turn, seeing something he hadn't quite expected with Mareep. It seemed like where she was cut was glowing a little, soon followed by the rest of her. "Mareep? Uh... why're you glowing?" He might be forgiven for being taken back a bit, shielding his eyes as the glowing brightened. Neither of them were too sure of what was going on, or why Mareep suddenly found herself standing on her hind legs.

The cries didn't help matters, and Aden was quick to come closer when the glowing ceased. That is, until he failed to see where Mareep was at all. "Wait... Mareep? Don't tell me some other weird thing's about to happen..."

"Fla."

"Huh?"

Aden still wasn't too sure, until something walked closer. But it wasn't a fluffy, yellow sheep. It was still like a sheep, but most of the wool was gone. Instead, there was skin. Lots of pink skin, with what looked to be a rubbery texture. The confused Pokemon looked around, at the looks, and at the tail. A blue ball-tip? Well, it was different to say the least. "Uh, okay, who are you and what have you done with Mareep?" He finally asked.

A look following was enough to tell Aden that, for one, she was Mareep. And for another, she wasn't too sure either. It took him finally taking out his SNAG to find out what was now before him to realize what really happened. "Oh... so... wow. Um... yeah, let's cut our losses..." A little stunned, Aden went on to finish things up. His Mareep- or rather, his Flaaffy- followed, trying to get used to the new way of walking.

Ryan picks up the Park Ball and heads back to the Gate. he leaves his Trainer ID with the guard and the ball. He then recalls his Jolteon and heads back into Goldenrod.

Once there, he would head over to the Gym. Time to visit before Blizz and Aden arrived. Ryan was still on good terms with Whitney, even though he had turned her precious pink cow into hamburger last time he came through here on his Gym Challenge,

I trudged out of bed and then made my way off for the shower, if for anything, to tame the bed head. Afterwards, breakfast. Buffet like any other Pokemon Center. Though really? I was all game for pancakes. They were smelling pretty good this morning.

Another check with the watch and, with a sigh, I took out my SNAG. They probably were done by now. I started to signal off for Aden, rubbing my eyes.