[ti]private[/ti][S][C/Alicia] Just One Little Flutter

"It was," Shalin admitted, "even if I didn't perform too well." That was, of course, largely because Hearteater was psychically screaming at Nymris the entire race. Had she known that was happening, she would have gone with a different Pokémon. "I've heard that there's a racing league either in the works or already started. Might need to look into it. Sounds fun if you have the right Pokémon!" She was sure Alicia was biased toward it because of how fast future's lightning made her.

"Just about!" she answered, feeling bad for the Combee as it struggled to break free of the thick net Alicia had ensnared her in. She could hear those squeaky, tiny wings running as Dondon made a turn toward a tree. The enhanced draw distance Shalin enjoyed as a BETA TESTER let her spot a Wurmple from a great distance, the bug-type relaxing on the end of a branch. Holding her net out before Alicia may have been able to see what she was pointing at, she called out, "That one!"

As Shalin rode into position to nab the Wurmple on the fly, Alicia beat her to it. "Hey, that was mine!" she complained about the stolen catch, but she would have more than an opportunity to make up for it. Fluttering around Alicia, Shalin, and Dondon were several Beautifly, their wings flapping fast enough to blow harsh waves of AIR CUTTER at the two trainers and their Pokémon. The repeated blades of compressed air sliced into one of the Tropius' wings, forcing Shalin and her Pokémon to make an emergency landing. She knew the wing would heal up over time, but her only flying partner was grounded for the time being, making it difficult for her to make the final catch she needed to.

Until a fanfare played over the battle soundtrack... a fanfare she had been waiting for a long time to hear.

Information> Shalin reaches level 9.
Information> Queen Zing the Beedrill is eligible for ride training.

Immediately hurling the giant insect's Poké Ball toward the largest of the wilds, the bug-type sounded a menacing buzz that would make many squeamish players step back and cower as far away as possible. She extended the frightening-looking barbs, several inches long, from beneath her foreleg stings and rammed the Beautifly down with superior speed and a multi-hit FURY ATTACK. The damage the attack inflicted looked brutal -- enough to render unconscious or at least badly stun the creature. With help from the wasp, she stuffed the wild into the net, looking like it could break at any moment from not being designed to hold insects its size. Rather than freeing itself, the Beautifly simply faded away, despawning.

Excited, Shalin turned toward Alicia, standing next to the buzzing predator that floated by her. "Oh, you have no idea how long I've been waiting for this!" she squealed with the biggest grin her friend had seen from her yet.