Cass didn't curse - that was such an unladylike thing to do and she had been born and raised a Moore, taught the ways of high class society at an early age. But darned if she didn't want to right now! Earl managed to vanish around the corner and Cass could feel her heart sink into her stomach. She could not lose her first wild caught pokemon, especially in such an icky alleyway.

A noxious odor seemed to seep from the alley, causing the woman to gag and hold her nose. Even Lord who would passively lay as a scarf around her neck become stiff as his claws dug into her collarbone. If she didn't feel so possessive over her rebellious baby pokemon she would run now... The smell was so bad it was making her feel woozy.

It didn't take long to figure out why. A Grimer would ooze from behind a dumpter a haze of odor seeming to surround its' purple body. "Earl," Cass called out weakly, gagging as she made a desperate effort to find her pokemon and leave immediately, "Where are you?"

It took a moment for her to get her answer. Cass had been avoiding eye contact with purple glob in a vain attempt to make it move on if it thought she had no interest. Her eyes slid down in horror to see what appeared to be the white shell of her Togepi sticking from the side of the Grimer.

For the second time in the last five minutes Cass wanted to say a bad word. "Lord, we have to get Earl, that Grimer is eating him!" She cried out in horror, panic rising quickly and logic escaping.

Lord sighed and was ready to spring from his spot in an effort to save the annoying baby pokemon when his sensitive ears hard something... Giggling from behind the trashcan the Grimer was standing by. Jumping from his perch on Cass' neck he agilely dipped below the trash can and retrieved the cackling Togepi, in time for the candy wrapper colored to match that of a Togepi's egg fell from its' body. As the Grimer's laughter roared throughout the alleyway Lord carried Earl by the nape of his neck back to Cass, a cross look on his face.

"Lord, my hero!" Cass cheered, dropping to her knees and gathering both pokemon in her arms. Despite the noxious odor making her feel unwell tears rolled down her cheeks. The Grimer continued to laugh, its' body shaking in glee as it slowly ozzed back into the sewer grate nearby.

---

LORD - MALE - LEVEL 007 - PICK UP
Bite  - Screech - Fury Swipes - Feint Attack
EARL - MALE - LEVEL 008 - SERENE GRACE
Sweet Kiss - Follow Me - Secret Power

MADE BY NOVA

The tearful reunion lasted for all of a few seconds before Earl was angrily trying to push Cass away from himself. It was clear he felt no remorse for the rude trick he had pulled and Lord found his growing disdain for the fairy type becoming stronger. As the baby pokemon wiggled free, Lord returned to his faithful position around Cass' neck. Instead of closing his eyes and dosing off as he had planned to, his large eyes stayed firmly on the baby type who seemed contented to stay close, for now.

Back on the path Cass led the small team towards the tower, towards the flowers that seemed to grow with a super natural speed as per her original mission. Their aroma began to waft over the path and it instantly put Cass back in a good mood, forgetting the moment of terror and panic she had felt just a bit ago. As they turned a corner they were greeted to a large floral bed on the side of the road. It seemed as if at one point it had been maintained but had been some time ago. Now spring flowers burst forth in dazzling color. Cass couldn't help but smile as she bent down to inspect the flowers, already noticing they seemed to have an odd number of petals and leaves.

"Perhaps it has something to do with the legend that surrounds the Bell Tower?" Cass mused out loud at her two pokemon who watched her curiously pluck a single flower from the ground, roots and all, and place it within a special zip lock baggie for research later.

Earl trodded forward and poked at the flowers which were eye level with his small frame. <"Toge."> He replied firmly, as if parroting Cass' movements. She found herself smiling at the pokemon at being reminded he was in fact a baby despite his ornery nature.

The moment didn't last much longer as an angry Pidgey burst from the flower bush and squawked loudly at their intrusion. Lord growled from his position, hopping down to put himself between Earl and the angry flying type.

"Now Lord, she's not going to hurt us... We're probably disturbing her nest or somet-!!?" Before Cass could finish her statement the Pidgey attacked the trio with a quick attack, knocking Earl on his behind and scratching Cass' face as it went by. Lord took the attack in stride, returning the surprise attack with his fury swipes, managing to land two good blows on the Pidgey before the momentum of the quick attack carried her back to a safe distance.

Earl picked himself up and took a defensive position and decided to join in on the fight without Cass' expressed permission. It seemed as if he following what her other pokemon did. Planting his feet firmly on the ground Earl used secret power. His small body trembled with the effort before launching him forward, slamming into the Pidgey with a brutal body slam.

Cass now held her cheek as it felt warm as a small line of blood pooled underneath the cut the flying type had managed with her talons. "Good going team!" She called out, for once not at all bothered by either of her pokemon's aggression or willingness to go into battle.

The Pidgey was having none of this as she began to use gust. Her small wings kicked up a strong wind that hit both pokemon. "Don't let that bother you. Lord use feint attack. Earl follow up with another secret power!" Cass commanded as she picked herself up from where she had knelt down and stood behind her two pokemon fully in battle mode now.

Both pokemon did as they were told, launching their attack in tandem and slamming into Pidgey at the same time, effectively fainting the aggressive flying type. "Great job guys!" Cass said cheerfully, stopping herself from scooping them both up in another bear hug.

---

LORD - MALE - LEVEL 008 - PICK UP
Bite  - Screech - Fury Swipes - Feint Attack
EARL - MALE - LEVEL 009 - SERENE GRACE
Sweet Kiss - Follow Me - Secret Power

---

RECAP:
Pidgey used quick attack.
Lord used fury swipes x2.
Earl used secret power/body slam.
Pdigey used gust.
Lord used feint attack.
Earl used secret power/body slam.
Pidgey fainted.
+1 level to both pokemon.

MADE BY NOVA

As if she would never learn, Cass found herself getting smacked in the face by the Togepi for the bear hug. She quickly let them go, not wanting to have Earl scamper off once again in an act of defiance. Standing up Cass would dust off her knees and butt and looked around at the flowers she was supposed to be studying. It was already midday and frankly - she was tired. Her pokemon probably were too, Cass would reason to herself as she looked around the streets nearby in search of a cafe or something similar. The flowers would be there when she returned from lunch and besides... She had booked a few days at the hotel so if she didn't gather samples today she could do it tomorrow.

Just as Cass had convinced herself it was time to leave and enjoy her afternoon she would notice what seemed to be a little yellow flower dancing towards her from the overgrown patch of flowers. Turning on her heels she peered curiously down at the approaching flowers until the pokemon emerged from the undergrowth.

<"Smooochum!"> The little pokemon would declare happily as she danced over towards Earl. 

Earl hmmphed at the pokemon, crossing his arms over his chest.

<"Smoochum!"> The pokemon once again cried, leaning in and planting a noisy kiss over the baby pokemon's face. Earl squealed in disgust, slapping angrily at the Smoochum and back peddling so hard her landed on his shell and used the momentum of the fall to help him roll away from the female.

Again Smoochum cried her happy greeting and skipped after Earl. All Cass could do was aw in delight as Lord snickered on her shoulders. It seemed as if the two were playing until she heard Earl roar and use secret power, slamming into the Smoochum.

Smoochum began to cry as she picked herself up from where the attack had thrown her. The sound was loud and piercing, filling the air. "Aww baby." Cass said, running over and bending down to scoop the pokemon up into her arms. "He's just a big meanie, don't pay him any mind."

As she rocked the Smoochum, trying to calm her Earl toddled over to Cass and crossed his arms over his chest, growling up at her as menacingly as such a small pokemon could. "You know what would really stick it to him?" Cass would coo gently.

<"Smoooch?"> Smoochum said, stopping her sobbing and rubbing the large tears from her eyes.

"If you came with us. That way he has to be nice to you, would you like that?" Cass said, shooting a very pointed look down at her scowling Togepi. Smoochum stopped her crying immediately and practically sprang from Cass' arms, waiting patiently as the woman grabbed the pokeball from her pack and bent down, holding it towards Smoochum so she could choose to enter the ball on her own.

<"Smoooochum!"> She cried happily and leaned in, tapping the middle button as she was engulfed in a flash of red light.

---

LORD - MALE - LEVEL 008 - PICK UP
Bite  - Screech - Fury Swipes - Feint Attack
EARL - MALE - LEVEL 009 - SERENE GRACE
Sweet Kiss - Follow Me - Secret Power

---

RECAP:
Cass is attempting to capture the Smoochum based on befriending her - and as a means to get back at Earl for being a big meanie.
-1 Pokeball

MADE BY NOVA