Iris walked down the road to the mart as she usually did on her Monday route. Her small Pikachu a strange little thing with a lightning shaped scar on its left cheek and a look that said beware, rode on her shoulder as she walked along. Norman and Dan were off in the distance as usual battling their pokemon.

“Mimi Tuff block that rollout.” Norman screamed as his Jigglypuff launched into the air barely missing the Voltorb that came cascading down the hillside. Dan laughed to himself as Jigglypuff tried intensly to stay out of the way of the spherical pokemon.

Thrash sat a couple of feet away watching his small glob of a pokemon continuously change into the faces he was making. His small ditto seemed quite good at transforming into other things but bad at mimicking their moves.

Pikachu, Voltorb, Mimi tuff, and ditto stopped what they were doing and looked off into the west. Another pillar of smoke rising from the woods far to the west of Ryslar village. Pokemon seemed to be going missing in multiple areas of the island of Chantan and whenever one of those large explosions seemed to go off all the pokemon seemed to hide from whatever it was causing it.

Iris got a call on her pokedex/phone from her grandfather. The reception was fuzzy and she couldn’t hear everything he was saying

“Iri- bri- chu- to the lab I nee- favor fro- you.”
Is all she heard but she could understand enough to understand that her grandfather wanted to see her for something. Her grandfathers lab was slightly farther north of the poke mart.

((OOC you can start from here. You can A continue with your daily stuff B go to your grandfathers lab or you can go play with your friends. Mostly revolved around Iris right now))

The pillar of smoke essentially ended the battle between Norman and Dan; its presence heralding another disaster in the area. The fourteen year old boy looked at his dear Jigglypuff and then to his rival Dan. He gave a silent nod while clenching his teeth, showing his discomfort at the situation.

He knew the Juggling fanatic would understand that Norman was starting to get worried, and so without any words a draw was decided. If it got any worse, the stress would get to Norman, and he would fall asleep due to his rare sleeping disorder: Narcolepsy.

“You did great today Mimi Puff, have a rest for a little bit.” Returning to her Pokéball, Norman turned back to the smoke. His large, round spectacles were a bit dirty due to the dust that was thrown in the air from the battle, but he ignored his urge to wipe them for the moment. He was unsettled by the rate at which these events had been occurring.

When he got out of his trance, Norman took off his glasses and wiped them off. Putting them back on, he lightly caressed his well kept brown hair and made sure his shirt was well tucked in.

A quiet sound distracted him, and he looked to see Iris on her Pokétech. She was so lucky. Norman came from a rather poor family, so he could not afford such trinkets. He was lucky to have been able to save up enough to buy the Pokéball that had caught Mimi Puff, and even then had it not been for Dan and Thrash and their Pokémon, he would have never been able to weaken it to the point of capturing it.

She seemed a little distraught from what she was hearing on the other side of the connection, so Norman thought it best to check it out; maybe he could help her.

Dan hated draws.

"Sure Norman, under the circumstances we can call it a draw for now, but I want a rematch later on ok?"

He then turned to his voltorb. "Voltorb, that was a nice rollout you did. Way to go. Now return!", Dan commanded.

It was strange commanding a ball shaped pokemon (that, strangely enough, looked like a pokeball itself) to return to its pokeball. It sort of reminded him of nesting dolls.

He followed Norman's gaze over to Iris and saw the disturbed look on her face during her phone call.

If we stop battles and jam out before its finished, my voltorb will never become an Electrode like my Dad's pokemon.
Dan followed Norman over to the group of friend huddled around Iris in hopes of learning a bit more of her issue.

"Ugh, why can't this thing ever get good reception..." iris scowled and then yelped when her ear suddenly prickled with pain. She reached up and pulled Fierce, but the Pikachu was firm and she winced.

Iris still had a hold of him when Norman and Dan were walking up, so she looked at them and was about to ask for help when he released her, just like that. She pouted and rubbed the makr quietley, then smiled slightly at the guys.

"Hey..." She looked back down at her pokedex in hopes of another call, but was let down.

"I think Grandad needs me... Sorry you guys."

"No problem Iris. Since the I need to calm down some, would be ok if Dan and I tagged along? The battle was fun while it lasted, but that smoke just keeps getting me more and more worried each time I see it."

"I guess..." Iris rolled her head to one side, pursing her lips. "I don't see why not..."

She shook her head and shrugged, then started walking, motioning them to follow. On her shoulder, Fierce bared his teeth at her friends before facing foreword again, gripping her hair tight for support and making her wince again.

"Say, Iris, Why don't you keep that mean thing in a pokeball, huh? Might teach it some manners." he said with a smile.

"So any idea what your grandfather wants? Maybe it has something to do with those explosions and smoke."

One thing his friends learned about Dan early on is that he seems mean spirited but its all in fun. Kinda hard to take anything seriously when your father is a circus performer.

Looking back he say,"Hey Thrash, the battle's over man. You gonna sit there collecting dust all day?"

"Sorry Dan,I was just thinking of the many reasons that Iris's grandfather needed her.",Thrasher got up and walked around as if he did something wrong,"Well I'll come along if you want me to.Besides I'd still like to know Iris's grandfather.I would like to see what's going on!"And Thrasher loves to battle.He could probably be the best if someone let him try.He loves his pokemon,and he wants to train yhem enough to become good for his father,who was in the Elite 4."And,if my Ditto,and I get bored maybe I could do something along the way?"

Iris pouted a bit and patted Fierce's head, ignoring him nipping at her fingers. "I don't want him in a pokeball, he's like a little bodyguard! Besides, it keeps the boys away," She winked at Dan, then giggled.

She pretty much spaced out during the rest of what Dan was saying, her mind wandering. She only got pulled back when another boy walked over, and she blinked absentmindedly at him while he talked to Dan. Finally, she smiled sheepishly. "Umm.... I don't.... I don't know you, but okay...."

Her famous amnesia strikes again!

"O.K.,Iris when are we going to see your grandfather,now?Because if her amnesia doesn't ware off we may not be going at all,",as much as he liked to see Iris's grandfather he really wanted Iris to be o.k.,"well if we could find something around here we could wear off he amnesia in no tme and...",when Iris said she was O.K.,Thrash got a hold of himself."Sorry about all that Iris,so when we leavin'?"Thrash got embrresed and walked away to talk to himself.

With the unanimous decision by all party members to head off to Professor ____’s lab, the party of youngsters sallied forth. To some, it was a mere form of killing time, yet to others it was decision based on concern due to lack of information. Along with the ominous pillar of smoke, the four children found themselves within the makings of a grand adventure…

Travelling up the trail ahead of everyone else was Iris and her valiant Pikachu “Fierce”. Due to his hostile personality towards males, the gap between the three boys and the lone female was one of obvious hesitancy.

“I really don’t understand why Fierce is like that…” Norman Typekin sighed to his two male compatriots. “It’s not as if he knows that we are friends of Iris, or that we care for her just as much as he does.” Caving in to his habit, the boy took off his glasses and began to wipe them with his worn out shirt. “Then again, Mimi Puff also seems to show unneeded hostility towards girls. I wonder if such a character trait is common among Pokémon.” Putting his glasses back on, Norman looked into Fierce’ eyes, who was still on Iris’ shoulder. The Pokémon had not let up his stare on the three of them the whole time. Norman was just glad that the Pikachu did not zap the lot of them with a thunder shock.

The cranial juices were now pumping in Norman’s mind. Perhaps this hostility was brought on by an instinct to protect. It has been well established in the scientific world that Pokémon are sentient creatures, some have even have been able to gain the ability of speech. However, it is also speculated that Pokémon have a deeper connection to nature then humans do. Perhaps this behavior that Mimi Puff and Fierce have is something that all gender based Pokémon have… as both Ditto and Voltorb are types without gender.

Presently, such a hypothesis is rather simple and useless because Norman has only been able to take note of four Pokémon. Much more data would be required before anything could be said on the matter. Is the protective trait only found in caught Pokémon; or do wild Pokémon also show such aggressive attitudes? Is it only found in Pokémon of an opposite gender of the master; or does it apply even to same-sex relationships? What about aggravation? Is it caused merely by the sex of those who it angered of? If that is the case, is it only in those of the same gender as the Pokémon subject is? Or can it be based on the master’s sex that determines its overtly protective habits?

Norman was thinking these thoughts and more, when Thrash gave him a less-than-subtle push in the shoulder to awaken him from his concentration. The lab was before them.

Proffesor Tree-Top as all of the townspeople called him due to his lab being based within the hollow of a giant tree. Stood within a small sheet. As you near closer you notice he is not within the screen but being videoed upon the screen

"Dear Iris if you are reading this I have left Tree-Top lab on urgent business but I need your help. As you have probably noticed along with your despicable excuse for a pokemon the explosions within the woods are not natural and are not centered around our village. The pokemon are dissapearing Iris and I need your help. Locate me at whatever costs to help me in my experimentation. The next place you should go is Tree-Top village. As you may remember I have told you you cannot reach it on the ground. but through the branches of my lab. Climb the tree and walk the branches north-west of here in hopes of finding me. Inside are pokedex and pokeballs remember you cannot hold more than 6 pokemon on you at a time so choose wisely what you choose. Also i have 6 potions for you you may need it along the journey. Please hurry I can't do this without you."

Another explosion blasted in the distnace and sparrow flocked out above the tree tops before the dozen sparrow instantly dissapeared. Then the small movie replayed the message back.

The door stood ajar and the inside looked as though someone left it in disarray before departing quickly.

The impression Dan got from the lab is, Iris' Grandfather must be one of those absent minded scientists, assuming this is the way his lab always looked.

"Nice place your grandfather has here, Iris. How are we supposed to find the pokeballs and pokedex in all of this?", Dan asked.

He was trying to hide behind his disdain as to the condition of the lab. His true feelings were of dread. He had a problem with heights. His father tried to get him to do the trapeze and Dan failed miserably. Then his dad tried Dan on the high wire. Dan's vertigo affected his balance so much, he became all too familiar with the safety net below. So now he just juggles, and not in the show either. All Dan ever wanted was to be a gym leader, but because there is no such thing as a "ball type" pokemon, that might not be possible either.

"Who ever came up with the idea to put a whole town in a tree needs to be dragged out onto the ground and thunder shocked!"

That's it! Maybe he could be an Electric Type gym leader!"

Norman gave a shudder. The instructions that were left, ending with the scene of Pokémon disappearing was too much for young Norman. At first he began to nod off, his eyes getting heavy. Soon he crumbled to the ground, his brain no longer signaling his legs to stand strong. The more Norman fought the effect, the faster it took over. Soon he was out like a light, his legs rooted to the floor while his upper body fell to one side. Snoring loudly, the boy was now in the realm of dreams doing whatever Norman Typekins do while dreaming.

Fear is not the only trigger to Norman’s condition. Any form of overexcitement can cause him to fall asleep, but fear seems to be the primary sedative to the impoverished fourteen year old.

As Norman succumbed to his disorder, he did one thing that had become a habit for him: he grabbed his Pokéball and held it in his hand. When at last his grip loosened, the ball fell to the floor and out sprung his female compatriot.

“Jigglypuff!” Called the Pokémon. Mimi Puff got acquainted with her surroundings, and seeing Norman on the ground, went to his head. Lifting his noggin, she snuck underneath it and let his head lay on her whole body. Her soft form acted as a pillow, and there she lay… at least, until her eyes happened to gaze upon Iris. At once Mimi Puff jumped up and inflated herself to about three times her normal size: an expression of anger also growing in conjunction with the pink body. As she quickly got up from underneath Norman, she neglected to gently put his noggin back down. With a smack, Norman woke up from his nap. Rubbing his eyes, he sighed.

Seeing his Pokémon take on an aggressive stance, he knew at once that she was trying to initiate a stare down.
“Mimi Puff, behave. Return to your Pokéball.” He looked at Iris and the rest of the group. “I’m sorry guys. I will try and do better next time…” He sighed. He hoped he would not be getting in everybody’s way.

Getting back to the situation at and, Norman managed to calm himself to act normally again. Professor Treetop was now gone, and he wanted Iris to find him. Though he was not a Pokemon trainer, Norman knew that most took up the mantle at about his age. Society did not find it that horrible or peculiar to start travelling at a young age; so his parents should have no problem with him leaving to aid Iris in her situation.

“I know it is pressing that you need to find your grandfather, but could you wait for a little bit? I am just going to inform my parents on the situation. I will be back in a bit… that’s ok with you? Right Iris?”

Iris had managed to zone out, looking at the lab, and Fierce thumped her on the side of her head irritaibley. She yelped, then rubbed her now-red cheek and glanced at her friends, blushing slowly.

"S-sorry you guys, just thinking. And yeah, that's cool, go tell them we're about to be gone for awhile."

She turned back to the lab and walked over to a particularly over-crowded table, brushing aside most of the mess to reveal several pokeballs and potions, slightly scuffed but still usable. Iris picked up a pokeball and smiled at Fierce; the Pikachu snarled and slapped it out of her hand, and she sighed.

"Well, welcome to the adventure you guys!" Iris bent down to retrieve the pokeball and Fierce leapt down onto the table, picking up a potion and glaring at the others, as if to say "Mine". He turned back and started rummaging again, then tensed up and turned around, his small black eyes furious.

"PIKACHU!" He yelled and jabbed a paw at Norman. "PIKACHU!"

Before Iris could react, the Pikachu had chucked the potion straight at Norman's head and she gasped. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry!"

"Pika-pika...." Fierce grunted and leapt to Iris, clinging to the side of her neck, sticking his tongue out at Norman.

"I think he doesn't like you," She giggled, "Sorry~ I-I think you better go call them before he decides to start biting you."