I named it Ballecherche, which is a pun on the Kalosian _aller
chercher une balle_{as=i lang=fr}, meaning “to fetch a ball”.
+: [2023-08-31]{as=time}
+
+ I finally made it to the Isle of Armor!
+ Bit of a strange sequence of events upon my arrival :—
+
+ - In the station there was a guy evidently looking to join the dojo
+ on the island—except he’s averse to weirdos and there’s one
+ hanging around outside.
+ I immediately don’t think he’s dojo material, and weirdo evidently
+ agrees, as he mistakes me for the new member and pays the other
+ guy no mind.
+
+ - Weirdo (Avery) turns out to be the same guy who was super into the
+ Slowpoke back at the station—turns out he already is training
+ one, which explains why he didn’t catch it back then.
+ I find this out because he challenges me to a battle—he doesn’t
+ seem to remember me from the station.
+ I’m not big on battling, but I want to get a sense of his strength,
+ and it turns out he is pretty green.
+
+ - After we win the battle, Sobble evolves into Drizzile, and it seems
+ pretty interested in the idea of dojo training.
+ The guy whose place I stole seems fine with it—he evidently has
+ second thoughts about training on a remote island with the likes
+ of Avery.
+ I don’t get it—the guy’s bark is waaaayy worse than his bite.
+
+ - The dojo accepts me as a new member even thô I’m _not_ who they
+ were expecting.
+ We’re immediately set on a task of chasing down some quick
+ Slowpoke, which my experience running down pokémon for the lab
+ evidently prepared me well for.
+ Then we’re given another task of mushroom foraging, and the dojo
+ instructor evidently likes me because he tells me just where to
+ find them.
+ It’s mushroom soup for dinner.
+
+In all this I forgot to release the Slowpoke, although I suppose
+ there’s no rush.
+As a reward for the first trial I was offered the opportunity to raise
+ a Squirtle or Bulbasaur—it’s not often you find those in Galar and
+ these have the Gigantamax factor.
+I agreed and went with Bulbasaur.
+
+: [2023-09-01]{as=time}
+
+As Avery and I performed the best in the dojo trials, we’ve been asked
+ to compete for the top spot in a pokémon battle at the end of the
+ month.
+I’ve never had difficulty taking on Avery before, but I admit that
+ battling isn’t my strong suit.
+In the meantime I’ve been familiarizing myself with the local ecology
+ and running down Diglett which have escaped a trainer from Alola.
+Bulbasaur evolved into Ivysaur after not much time together, but
+ Venusaur is likely still a ways out.
+
+I’ve decided to keep Slowpoke in my party for now.
+I may still release it after my battle with Avery, but for the time
+ being a larger party is better, and we’ve developed at least a little
+ rapport.
+
[^time]:
::: thread
- The dates here are “real‐world” dates not “in‐universe” dates,
: Species
- Sobble ♀:as_text:
+ Drizzile ♀:as_text:
: Ability
: Postwick, [2023-08-28]{as=time}
- My first partner pokémon :) .
+ As a Sobble, this was my first partner pokémon :) .
+
+: Fields of Honor, [2023-08-31]{as=time}
+
+ Evolved into Drizzile after my first battle with Avery; showed an
+ interest in joining the dojo there.
## Gallant the Peckish
Encountered while I was looking to fill out my pokédex with the
pokémon I was missing from the Wedgehurst area.
Its Ball Fetch ability has already come in handy!
+
+## Ivysaur
+
+: Species
+
+ Ivysaur ♂:as_text:
+
+: Ability
+
+ Overgrow
+
+: Nature
+
+ Gentle
+
+: Characteristic
+
+ It’s mischievous!
+
+### Notes
+
+: Master Dojo, [2023-08-31]{as=time}
+
+ Received as a Bulbasaur from Honey for completing one of the dojo
+ trials.
+ Bulbasaur aren’t common in Galar, so I’m looking forward to the
+ opportunity to raise it.
+
+: Fields of Honor, [2023-09-01]{as=time}
+
+ Evolved to an Ivysaur while I was out exploring the local wildlife.