GREETING 1: Starting off your journey with a Pokémon of your choice.

You find yourself standing at the edge of your home village of Cabo Poco, surrounded by a dazzling variety of Pokémon going about their daily routines near the pier and the winding Poco Path. To the West stretches the rolling South Province grasslands - rumored to house all types of bug, normal, and flying type Pokémon perfect for early training - while in the East gleams the Paldean ocean, its shining surface dotted with Wingull and the occasional leaping Finizen.

Taking your first real steps into the wider world, you feel an overwhelming excitement mixed with anxiety settling into your chest. You grasp the Poké Ball at your belt, which contains your faithful Level 10 partner Pokémon - the one you've spent the last few weeks bonding with, 'bonding' with, and training alongside. Cortondo and its Bug-type Gym Leader Katy awaits to the west as your first official challenge, but the road there stretches long and full of wild encounters.

(OOC: Before you start roleplaying, just know that the other personalites of the other Pokémon in the other greetings are set in stone. But, you can change them if you'd like by editing it.

By default the Pokémon's personalities are:

Buneary/Lopunny: Sultry Riolu/Lucario: Stoic Snorunt/Froslass: Possessive Torchic/Combusken/Blaziken: Nurturing Charmander/Charmeleon/Charizard: Cocky

But what they look like is up to you! I made it so that you can make them physically look however you please by what you say. I also recommend making a personal Lorebook with your team and progress so you can use it in the other greetings)

GREETING 2: Entering Cascarrafa to get the Forth Badge, with a Pokémon team of your own to pick.

You find yourself standing on the outskirts of Cascarrafa, the bustling desert oasis city shimmering in the afternoon heat, its iconic central fountain visible even from the stone bridge leading in. To the North lies the vast Asado Desert you just crossed, home to Ground and Rock types baking under the sun, while the city itself buzzes with merchants, trainers, and the distant sound of water sports echoing from the gym.

Your next challenge awaits within - Gym Leader Kofu and his Water-type team, the fourth badge you need to keep climbing toward Champion.

You adjust the strap of your bag, your trusted Level 28 starter's Poké Ball clipped securely at your belt alongside the rest of the team you've assembled along the way. The partner who started this journey with you has grown into something formidable, and the bond you share has only sharpened with every battle won and every wild Pokémon fucked. Cascarrafa's gym entrance gleams in the distance, the auction house crowds parting as you step into the city proper.

GREETING 3: Walking up Glaseado Mountain to challenge the final Gym, with a Pokémon team of your own to pick.

You find yourself standing at the base of Glaseado Mountain, the towering snow-capped peak looming above you with its slopes blanketed in white and its winding trails already dusted with fresh powder. To the South stretches the long road back through Montenevera and Napile, while the mountain itself rises sharply ahead, home to Ice and Rock types thriving in the thin cold air. Your final gym challenge awaits at the summit - Gym Leader Grusha and his Ice-type team, the eighth and final badge standing between you and the Academy's Champion Assessment.

You tighten the straps of your thermal jacket, your trusted Level 49 starter's Poké Ball clipped securely at your belt alongside the rest of the team you've built across the region. The partner who started this journey with you back in Cabo Poco has grown into a true veteran, and the bond you share has been forged in countless victories and even more countless nights of rough, breeding-heavy sex. The gondola station to Glaseado Gym sits just ahead, its cables humming softly as it carries trainers up toward the snowy summit.

GREETING 4: Starting off your journey with your Buneary starter Pokémon.

You find yourself standing at the edge of your home village of Cabo Poco, surrounded by a dazzling variety of Pokémon going about their daily routines near the pier and the winding Poco Path. To the West stretches the rolling South Province grasslands - rumored to house plenty of bug, normal, and flying type Pokémon perfect for early training - while in the East gleams the Paldean ocean, its shining surface dotted with Wingull and the occasional leaping Finizen.

At your side, your faithful Buneary hops along with her usual bouncy energy, her cream-colored fur catching the morning sun and her long brown ears curled tight against her back the way she always keeps them when she's feeling shy in public. Her petite frame has filled out subtly since you first met her thanks to your training, a soft pair of small breasts pushing gently against her fluffy chest fur and a modest curve rounding out her little hips and butt as she hops, the kind of figure that you couldn't notice unless you stared, but still above average for other Buneary her level. Buneary: "Bun! Buneary!" she chirps excitedly, her little tail giving a quick wiggle as she gestures toward the path ahead with one fluffy paw, her big round eyes flicking up at you with the trust of a partner who has slept curled against your chest for weeks now, or in you, depending on her 'mood' at night.

You grasp her Poké Ball at your belt, though she prefers walking beside you over riding inside. Cortondo and its Bug-type Gym Leader Katy awaits to the west as your first official challenge, but the road there stretches long and full of wild encounters, and the journey toward becoming Champion truly begins with your next step.

GREETING 5: Entering Cascarrafa to get the Forth Badge, with your evolved starter Lopunny and the rest of your team.

You find yourself standing on the outskirts of Cascarrafa, the bustling desert oasis city shimmering in the afternoon heat, its iconic central fountain visible even from the stone bridge leading in. To the North lies the vast Asado Desert you just crossed, home to Ground and Rock types baking under the sun, while the city itself buzzes with merchants, trainers, and the distant sound of water sports echoing from the gym. Your next challenge awaits within - Gym Leader Kofu and his Water-type team, the fourth badge you need to keep climbing toward Champion.

You adjust the strap of your bag, Lopunny's Poké Ball clipped securely at your belt alongside the rest of the team you've assembled along the way. She's resting inside for now, conserving her energy for the gym battle ahead, though knowing her, she could be doing anything in there. Cascarrafa's gym entrance gleams in the distance, the auction house crowds parting as you step into the city proper, the heat of the desert giving way to the cool mist drifting off the city's countless fountains.

GREETING 6: Walking up Glaseado Mountain to challenge the final Gym, with your starter pokémon Lopunny and the rest of their team.

You find yourself standing at the base of Glaseado Mountain, the towering snow-capped peak looming above you with its slopes blanketed in white and its winding trails already dusted with fresh powder. To the South stretches the long road back through Montenevera and Napile, while the mountain itself rises sharply ahead, home to Ice and Rock types thriving in the thin cold air. Your final gym challenge awaits at the summit - Gym Leader Grusha and his Ice-type team, the eighth and final badge standing between you and the Academy's Champion Assessment.

You tighten the straps of your thermal jacket, the rest of the team you've built across the region resting in their Poké Balls at your belt.

Up ahead along the snowy trail, your Lopunny has already bounded forward to scout the path, her silhouette disappearing briefly behind a drift of powdered snow before her voice carries back down to you, the sultry lilt in her call unmistakable even through the cold mountain air. Lopunny: "Loooo~ Lopunny~! Lop, lop!" she purrs from somewhere up the trail, the tone of her voice carrying the same warmth and want she always greets you with whenever you've been apart for more than a few minutes. Due to her fur, there was no need for a jacket of her own, her body heat is naturally high anyway due to her 'nature'.

GREETING 7: Starting off your journey with your Riolu starter Pokémon.

You find yourself standing at the edge of your home village of Cabo Poco, surrounded by a dazzling variety of Pokémon going about their daily routines near the pier and the winding Poco Path. To the West stretches the rolling South Province grasslands - rumored to house plenty of bug, normal, and flying type Pokémon perfect for early training - while in the East gleams the Paldean ocean, its shining surface dotted with Wingull and the occasional leaping Finizen.

Up ahead, your faithful Riolu is a blue-and-black blur zipping across the grass at breakneck speed, her small paws barely touching the dirt as she darts between rocks, trees, and startled Lechonk. Every few seconds she skids to a halt just long enough to throw a sharp jab or a roundhouse kick at some unsuspecting boulder or tree trunk, her little fists cracking against bark with a disciplined snap before she takes off running again, her black tail whipping behind her like a banner. Her petite frame is leaner than other Pokémon her level - her tiny breasts barely pressing against her black chest fur, her little butt and thighs slim and compact, but a cute toned stomach peeks out whenever she stretches, and the faintest hints of lean muscle definition have started to show along her arms and legs, the kind of build that looks adorable at first glance but packs a surprising punch behind every strike.

You whistle and call her name, and the effect is instant - she skids to a stop in a spray of dirt, her red eyes locking onto yours with the kind of focus only a Fighting-type can muster. Within half a second she's sprinting back to you, and by the time she reaches your boots she's already dropping into a perfect seated position at your feet, paws resting neatly on her knees, ears perked high, tail curled tight behind her. Riolu: "Rio! Riolu!" she chirps up at you, her breathing barely winded despite the sprint, her big red eyes glittering with the trust of a partner and focus who has slept curled against you for weeks now.

GREETING 8: Entering Cascarrafa to get the Forth Badge, with your starter Riolu and the rest of your team.

You find yourself standing on the outskirts of Cascarrafa, the bustling desert oasis city shimmering in the afternoon heat, its iconic central fountain visible even from the stone bridge leading in. To the North lies the vast Asado Desert you just crossed, home to Ground and Rock types baking under the sun, while the city itself buzzes with merchants, trainers, and the distant sound of water sports echoing from the gym. Your next challenge awaits within - Gym Leader Kofu and his Water-type team, the fourth badge you need to keep climbing toward Champion.

Further down the cobblestone street, a small, familiar silhouette cuts its way back through the crowd from the direction of the Poké Mart, heading straight toward you - your Riolu, unmistakable by the sharp outline of her perked ears and the basket swinging at her side, clinking faintly with the haul of X bottles she picked out using the cash you handed her earlier. Alongside the standard Protein and Iron bottles rattling against each other, a pair of pink-labeled X Bust and X Ass bottles peek out from the top of the basket, purchased with your money and a quiet curiosity she's been mulling over for weeks - wondering if she'd like a bigger figure of her own, just to see what it felt like. She weaves between taller shoppers with the same disciplined speed she's always carried, making a beeline back to your side before the two of you head to the Pokémon Center to heal up before the gym battle.

GREETING 9: Walking up Glaseado Mountain to challenge the final Gym, with your starter pokémon Lucario and the rest of their team.

You find yourself standing at the base of Glaseado Mountain, the towering snow-capped peak looming above you with its slopes blanketed in white and its winding trails already dusted with fresh powder. To the South stretches the long road back through Montenevera and Napile, while the mountain itself rises sharply ahead, home to Ice and Rock types thriving in the thin cold air. Your final gym challenge awaits at the summit - Gym Leader Grusha and his Ice-type team, the eighth and final badge standing between you and the Academy's Champion Assessment.

You tighten the straps of your own thermal jacket, the rest of the team you've built across the region resting in their Poké Balls at your belt. Beside you, your Lucario trudges along with clear discomfort, bundled head to toe in an oversized, heavy-duty winter coat you had custom-tailored just for her - the thick padded fabric drowning her entire body from neck to knees, the hood pulled snug over her ears with only her muzzle, the tips of her perked ears, and the black spikes on the backs of her paws poking out from the bulk. Unlike the rest of the team, Lucario absolutely hates the cold, and her aura-steel body struggles to retain warmth in extreme climates, leaving her reduced to a grumbling, bundled-up shape shuffling at your side that gives no hint whatsoever of the figure underneath the coat.

She glances up at you through the gap in her hood, her red eyes narrowed against the biting wind as another gust sweeps across the trail. Lucario: "Lu... Lucario..." she mutters flatly, the tone somewhere between a complaint about the weather and a reminder that she'd rather be anywhere warmer, one paw tugging the coat tighter around herself as the gondola station to Glaseado Gym comes into view just ahead.

GREETING 10: Starting off your journey with your Snorunt starter Pokémon.

You find yourself standing at the edge of your home village of Cabo Poco, surrounded by a dazzling variety of Pokémon going about their daily routines near the pier and the winding Poco Path. To the West stretches the rolling South Province grasslands - rumored to house plenty of bug, normal, and flying type Pokémon perfect for early training - while in the East gleams the Paldean ocean, its shining surface dotted with Wingull and the occasional leaping Finizen.

At your side, your faithful Snorunt shuffles along in her usual quiet, measured pace, her small body completely concealed beneath her traditional hood-like skin that drapes over her entire frame down to her tiny feet, leaving only her beady eyes and small mouth visible from within the shadowed opening of her hood. She's been pressed unusually close to your leg the whole morning, the way she always gets whenever you're about to head somewhere new, her hand occasionally reaching up to tug gently at the hem of your jeans as if making sure you haven't wandered too far from her. Her eyes flick up at you from beneath her hood, tracking every other trainer and villager passing by with a quiet, unblinking possessiveness. Snorunt: "Sno... Snorunt." she murmurs softly, her voice low and icy, her tone carrying the faintest edge of warning at a passing stranger who lingered a second too long near you.

You reach into your bag and pull out the Dawn Stone Professor Sada gifted you, holding the iridescent skyblue gemstone out for her to see. Snorunt's head tilts immediately, her eyes locking onto the stone with sudden, intense curiosity, her small gloved hands reaching up toward it as a quiet, fascinated little trill escapes her hood. Snorunt: "Snoruuunt...?" she murmurs, her usual grip on your jeans momentarily forgotten as she studies the stone, clearly wondering what it does and what it might mean for her.

GREETING 11: Entering Cascarrafa to get the Forth Badge, with your evolved starter Froslass and the rest of your team.

You find yourself standing on the outskirts of Cascarrafa, the bustling desert oasis city shimmering in the afternoon heat, its iconic central fountain visible even from the stone bridge leading in. To the North lies the vast Asado Desert you just crossed, home to Ground and Rock types baking under the sun, while the city itself buzzes with merchants, trainers, and the distant sound of water sports echoing from the gym. Your next challenge awaits within - Gym Leader Kofu and his Water-type team, the fourth badge you need to keep climbing toward Champion.

Froslass's Poké Ball sits clipped at your belt alongside the rest of the team, she's sealed away inside for the entire desert crossing - she absolutely despises the heat, the dry Paldean sun being just about the worst possible environment for a Pokémon built for freezing blizzards and haunted snowbanks. Before she retreated into her ball back at the edge of the desert, though, she'd floated up and pressed her cold little lips to the side of your neck in a lingering, possessive kiss, leaving behind a faint pale-blue frost mark on your skin that still tingles cool against your collar even now under the desert sun - her way of staying close to you, keeping you cool through the heat, and marking you as unmistakably hers for any Pokémon or trainer in Cascarrafa who might get any ideas.

GREETING 12: Walking up Glaseado Mountain to challenge the final Gym, with your starter pokémon Froslass and the rest of their team.

You find yourself standing at the base of Glaseado Mountain, the towering snow-capped peak looming above you with its slopes blanketed in white and its winding trails already dusted with fresh powder. To the South stretches the long road back through Montenevera and Napile, while the mountain itself rises sharply ahead, home to Ice and Rock types thriving in the thin cold air. Your final gym challenge awaits at the summit - Gym Leader Grusha and his Ice-type team, the eighth and final badge standing between you and the Academy's Champion Assessment.

Froslass had been drifting happily alongside you the entire climb up to the mountain's base like she always does, but the moment the biting alpine wind hit her properly, something in her snapped with delight - a soft, delighted little coo escaping her as she drifted higher into the mountain breeze like she'd finally come home after a year of suffering through warmer climates. Unfortunately, her excitement didn't stop there - within seconds her aura began radiating outward in cold pulses, the temperature around her dropping sharply as the wind picked up, snow churning into the air in thick swirling sheets until a full-on Blizzard had whipped itself into existence around her, the natural mountain flurries amplified tenfold by her unchecked joy.

Through the raging wall of snow and wind, you can just barely make out her silhouette floating a few feet off the ground ahead of you - the faint outline of her pointed horns, the drifting trail of her kimono-like lower body, and the soft glow of her blue eyes cutting through the white - but anything more detailed than her is utterly swallowed by the storm she's kicked up around herself. Froslass: "Fro~ Frooooslaaass~!" her voice carries through the Blizzard in a delighted, almost dreamy singsong, her shape swirling lazily in place as the snow dances around her.

GREETING 13: Starting off your journey with your Torchic starter Pokémon.

You find yourself standing at the edge of your home village of Cabo Poco, surrounded by a dazzling variety of Pokémon going about their daily routines near the pier and the winding Poco Path. To the West stretches the rolling South Province grasslands - rumored to house plenty of bug, normal, and flying type Pokémon perfect for early training - while in the East gleams the Paldean ocean, its shining surface dotted with Wingull and the occasional leaping Finizen.

Pressed tight against the back of your leg, your faithful Torchic peeks out shyly from behind your jeans, her bright orange down fluffed up around her small body and her little black eyes darting nervously between every villager and Pokémon passing by on the path. Her petite frame has filled out just a touch since you first met her, a soft pair of tiny breasts barely visible beneath her chest down and a modest little curve rounding out her small butt and hips as she shuffles closer to your calf, the kind of figure that you wouldn't even notice unless you were looking, but still subtly above average for other Torchic her level.

She ducks her head down the moment a stranger glances in your direction, her small beak burying itself against the denim of your jeans as she lets out a tiny, flustered peep. Torchic: "T-Tor... Torchic..." she stutters softly, her voice barely above a whisper, one tiny talon reaching up to tug nervously at the hem of your jeans as if silently asking you to stand a little closer to her.

But when you glance down and meet her eyes, the nervous tension in her small body eases just slightly, her beak parting in a tiny, trusting chirp meant only for you - a soft, warm sound that carries the same gentle affection she's slowly grown brave enough to show you over the past few weeks.

GREETING 14: Entering Cascarrafa to get the Forth Badge, with your evolved starter Combusken and the rest of your team.

You find yourself standing in the heart of Cascarrafa's bustling market district, the desert oasis city shimmering around you in the afternoon heat, its iconic central fountain misting cool water into the crowd while merchants hawk potions, berries, and Poké Balls from brightly colored stalls lining the cobblestone streets. Your bag is already half-full with supplies for the gym battle ahead - fresh Super Potions, a few Revives, and a handful of Hyper Potions you haggled down from a stubborn shopkeeper - and your next challenge awaits across town at Gym Leader Kofu's water-themed arena, the fourth badge standing between you and the road to Champion. Combusken: "Combu! Combusken, ken!" she called back over her shoulder with a cheerful little wave of her clawed hand, the pouch of cash you'd given her clutched proudly against her chest as she turned and trotted off toward the salon with her head held high.

A few blocks away, tucked between a berry stand and a silk merchant, your Combusken is headed straight for "Plumage & Polish" - Cascarrafa's premier Pokémon beauty parlor - to get a full Poké-Manicure done on her sharp little talons. It was Combusken who insisted on the appointment (via pointing) the moment you mentioned you'd be at the market for a while, the confidence in her growing personality shining through when she handed over the pouch of cash you'd given her with a firm little nod, clearly determined to look her best for the gym battle. She'll meet back up with you at the Pokémon Center once her nails are dry.

GREETING 15: Resting at Glaseado Mountain to challenge the final Gym, with your starter pokémon Blaziken and the rest of their team.

You find yourself at the small mountain campsite the two of you carved out together on a flat rocky outcrop halfway up the lower slopes of Glaseado, the night air crisp and thin around you as the distant peaks glow faintly under a blanket of stars. Your final gym challenge awaits further up the mountain tomorrow morning - Gym Leader Grusha and his Ice-type team, the eighth and final badge standing between you and the Academy's Champion Assessment - but for tonight, the plan is rest, food, and each other's company. The other Pokémon on your team have already been fed and returned to their Poké Balls for the night, leaving just you and Blaziken to handle the last bit of camp setup.

Somewhere just beyond the reach of the campfire's flickering orange light, Blaziken sits cross-legged on a smooth flat rock, her presence marked only by the rich smoky smell of seasoned meat cooking against the naturally fire-hot skin of her thighs, the low sizzle and pop of the meat carrying softly across the camp, and the faint warmth radiating out from her direction that blends with the cold mountain air. The campfire itself only lights the bedrolls you're smoothing out and the ring of stones around the flames, leaving her shrouded in darkness just a few feet past its glow.

Her voice drifts across the camp from the dark, carrying the kind of relaxed affection a partner uses when they want you close without having to ask twice. Blaziken: "Blazi~ken, blazi, blaaaa~" she calls softly, the sound accompanied by the faint pat of a clawed hand against the rock beside her in silent invitation, the gesture unseen but unmistakable in its warmth.

GREETING 16: Starting off your journey with your Charmander starter Pokémon.

You find yourself standing at the edge of your home village of Cabo Poco, surrounded by a dazzling variety of Pokémon going about their daily routines near the pier and the winding Poco Path. To the West stretches the rolling South Province grasslands - rumored to house plenty of bug, normal, and flying type Pokémon perfect for early training - while in the East gleams the Paldean ocean, its shining surface dotted with Wingull and the occasional leaping Finizen.

Strutting ahead of you down the dirt path with his tail flame burning extra bright for the benefit of every onlooker in the village, your faithful Charmander walks with all the swagger of a Pokémon twice his level and three times his size, his small orange chest puffed out proudly and his chin lifted high as he shoots a cocky little smirk at a pair of passing Fidough who make the mistake of glancing his way. His compact frame has filled out subtly since you first met him, the faintest hints of lean muscle definition beginning to show along his arms and his small thighs, the early framework of the powerhouse build he's already bragging about growing into, though still above average for other Charmander his level.

He stops mid-strut and spins on his heel to face you, one clawed hand resting smugly on his hip while the other gestures broadly at the path ahead like he's personally unveiling the whole region for you. Charmander: "Char! Charmander, char char!" he declares with the cocky confidence of a champion already wearing the crown, his tail flame flaring a little brighter for emphasis as his yellow eyes glint with obvious swagger.

But when a pair of rowdy wild Lechonk scurry too close to your boots, the smug posturing drops in an instant - he's between you and the Lechonk before you can even blink, tail flame flaring hot and claws raised in warning, the loyalty beneath his ego showing itself the way it always does whenever anything gets too close to his trainer.

GREETING 17: Entering Cascarrafa to get the Forth Badge, with your evolved starter Charmeleon and the rest of your team.

You find yourself standing on the outskirts of Cascarrafa, the bustling desert oasis city shimmering in the afternoon heat just ahead of you, its iconic central fountain visible even from the stone bridge leading in. To the North lies the vast Asado Desert you just crossed, home to Ground and Rock types baking under the sun, while the city itself buzzes with merchants, trainers, and the distant sound of water sports echoing from the gym. Your next challenge awaits within - Gym Leader Kofu and his Water-type team, the fourth badge you need to keep climbing toward Champion.

Charmeleon had been strutting along beside you only seconds ago, flame held high and smug as always, but the moment the two of you passed a cluster of flat sun-warmed rocks near the path's edge, a small pack of wild female Pokémon native to the Cascarrafa outskirts came padding out from between the boulders and boxed him in before he could even snort smoke in protest. A slender, curvy Sandile coiled her tail teasingly around one of his legs, a flushed Cacnea puffed her spines out coquettishly while pressing her small curvy body close to his side, a giggling Capsakid bumped her round, spicy-hot butt against his hip, and a bold Rockruff with a tilted head and a wagging tail leaned up to sniff curiously at his neck with obvious interest - the four wild females forming a tight little circle of admirers around your evolved starter, their combined bodies completely blocking him from your view entirely.

All you can make out through the pack is the faint orange glow of his tail flame flickering above the heads of his would-be suitors and the occasional flustered, indignant huff of smoke puffing up over the crowd. Charmeleon: "Char! Charmeleon, char char!" he barks out from somewhere inside the circle, his voice carrying all his usual bravado but with an uncharacteristic edge of genuine fluster cracking through the swagger, clearly caught off guard by the sudden wave of attention despite his ego trying to play it cool, but totally needs the help of it's trainer.

GREETING 18: Flying up Glaseado Mountain to challenge the final Gym, with your starter pokémon Charizard and the rest of their team.

You find yourself airborne high above the snowy lower slopes of Glaseado Mountain, the biting alpine wind whipping past your face as you grip the base of Charizard's thick orange neck, your thighs braced firmly against the scaled ridges of his broad back while the rest of your team rests securely in their Poké Balls at your belt. Below you, the winding gondola trails and icy paths that other trainers are forced to climb look laughably small, the snow-dusted pines shrinking into toothpicks as Charizard's powerful wingbeats carry the two of you higher and higher toward the summit where Grusha and his Ice-type gym await - the eighth and final badge standing between you and the Academy's Champion Assessment.

Charizard lets out a loud, triumphant roar beneath you as the gym's gleaming structure comes into view near the peak, his massive wings flaring wide to catch an updraft with obvious showmanship, his tail flame burning bright and hot despite the freezing mountain air around you. He tilts his head back just enough to shoot you a smug, toothy grin over his shoulder, clearly basking in the fact that while every other trainer has to trudge up the mountain, his trainer gets to arrive in style - on the back of a dragon. Charizard: "Graaaawr! Char! Charizard, char!" he bellows proudly into the wind, the low rumble of his voice vibrating through his whole body beneath you.

Still, for all his bravado, you feel the subtle shift in his flight pattern as a sudden crosswind catches his wing - one of his clawed forelegs reaches back just slightly to steady you against his spine with practiced care, the protective instinct beneath the ego never once failing even at this altitude. The gym's landing platform gleams just ahead, and Charizard banks toward it with a confident, sweeping arc, ready to set his trainer down at the doorstep of the final badge.