~PO-KE-MON!~

[FoxTrott]

The pair made it to Slateport without much difficulty; James ran into someone once on Cycling Road, but got out of the way before they could beat him up. Flaaffy and Pikachu looked like they were playing I Spy, until Pikachu started to pout and ignore Flaaffy. They arrived As luck would have it, there was a boat going from Slateport to Canalave, but when James asked if there were any boats to Cherry Island, nobody had a clue as to what he was talking about.

As James had expected, he spent the night-long trip running from their cabin to the bathroom. They arrived at Cavalave at a quarter to noon. James, glad to be on dry land, rushed off of the boat and spread his arms wide to greet the land--only to be soaked by the pouring rain. Flaaffy and Pikachu clutched James' respective shoulders to avoid being whipped away by the wind. James rushed into the Pokemon Center, to not only escape the torrent, but to avoid Pikachu's tail attracting lightning. Thunder rumbled across the gray skies as he entered the center.

According to chatter from the natives, the storm had started in the middle of the night. It was too risky to go out to sea, they said, and any ships in the harbor would remain there until the storm stopped. They had never seen a storm as strong as this in their entire lives. Meanwhile, the SS Dianne was conspicuously absent from the harbor.

[Dokeshi]

Ryuk stretched and walked out of his room in the Pokemon center, Raven following close behind. When he walked in and was about to go outside he noticed the weather and sighed before quietly mumbling," I guess we won't be leaving today." He patted Raven and turned around to head back and ran into James, literally.

[Raven]

Sabrina was completely in awe at the look of the water from the porthole in the room they were in. While she didn't get terribly sea-sick, she wasn't able to get a bit of rest.

When they docked, she followed James, carrying Eevee and Vulpix in her arms, to the pokemon center. Once inside, she shivered. She hated the rain with a passion. "Why does it have to rain as soon as we get here?" she asked James. She cast a startled glance at Ryuk, then looked at the floor. He was quite a bit taller than her, but from the brief look she'd gotten of his face, about her age.

[FoxTrott]

James was kneeling over his camera bag/backpack, digging through the pockets to find the rest of his Pokemon's Pokeballs, when something ran into him. Pikachu and Flaaffy leaped nimbly off his shoulders; Flaaffy winced as James hit the ground, while Pikachu was sizing up the impressive Honchkrow. In his fall, James had tipped over the backpack so its contents came spilling out. His invitation to the Grand Tournament, camera, and Pokeballs were among the things that fell out. Pachirisu's Pokeball landed on its button, releasing the squirrel.

"Pachi~?" She jabbed James playfully with her paw. The photographer groaned, and sat up, facing his assailant.

"Is it really that hard to watch where you're going?" he asked, sighing.

[Dokeshi]

"I'm sorry about that" Ryuk said and bowed his head slightly before helping pick up the spilled contents of his bag, he examined the invitation for a second and spoke again as he was helping James up," You're going to the tournament too?" He glanced over at Sabrina and finished," Are you both trainers?"

[Raven]

Vulpix and Eevee both leaped out of Sabrina's arms, eying the Honchkrow with uncertainty. Sabrina didn't answer Ryuk, but instead watched her pokemon carefully, a blush threatening to overcome her. It was quite obvious she wasn't a people person.

[Gifted]

Screeeeeeech
Teale skidded her bike to a stop and pulled out her lock to lock it to the bike rack. "Well, Haylee, we're here!" She said, looking out at the city.
"Chiko!" Haylee said happily.
Locking up her bike, she decided to get out of the rain. "Huh, I thought the boat would be here by now,"
She walked into the Pokemon Center to be greeted by the sight of two boys and a girl, one on the ground.

[FoxTrott]

"Thanks," James said, managing to get up with the stranger's help. He grabbed his re-packed bag, and slung it back over his shoulders, but not before returning Pachirisu to her Pokeball and hanging his camera around his neck. The shiny Honchkrow captured his attention, and he looked at it while addressing its trainer.

"She's just starting out," the photographer/trainer replied, "But, yeah, we're both trainers. That's Sabrina, and you can call me James. We were going to the tournament, but this rain doesn't look like it'll let up anytime soon... I get seasick in calm waters, so Arceus knows what'll happen in stormy seas like that..." The entrance of another person turned his attention from the Honchkrow to her. "Good to know I'm not the only one that's soaked," he commented.

[Dokeshi]

He nodded and spoke to them both," My name is Ryuketsu" He turned to the newcomer and Raven hopped over to James and tilted its head at him. Looking at Teale he spoke to her as well," Another participant of the tournament hiding from the rain?"

[Gifted]

"Got that right, Me n Haylee are wet through the skin," Teale cut in. "My names Teale, I was supposed to entter the tournament too,"
"Chiko!" Haylee added.
Teale laughed. "nd thats Haylee," she finished.

[Dokeshi]

"Nice to meet you Teale if you didn't hear me a second ago my name is Ryuketsu and this here is Raven" His Honchcrow turned around and seemed to Bow to her.

[Raven]

Vulpix, who had been creeping along behind Raven, jumped back when she turned around. He bowled Eevee over, then they both scampered back to Sabrina's side. Sabrina walked over to James. "I don't mean to be unsocial, but I really hate socializing," she whispered to him.

[Gifted]

"Nice to meet you too, Ryuketsu," she said. She looked down at Haylee to discover that the Chikorita was shivering violently. "You stubborn Chikorita," she said, half-annoyed, half-amused. "Didn't I tell you to get in your Pokeball when the rain started? Didn't I tell you?" She sighed and Picked her Pokemon up. "Come on, lets get you to Nurse Joy and make sure you don't catch hypothermia or something," she approached the desk.

[FoxTrott]

"Good to meet you, Ryu, Teale--...." James drifted off when the Honchkrow hopped towards him, thoroughly creeped out. Dark types just made him feel uncomfortable, and this was the biggest one he had encountered. He held his breath, and exhaled when it turned around to face Teale. Sparks flew off of Pikachu's cheeks as it glared at Raven. Flaaffy climbed back onto James, and watched Haylee curiously.

"Just talk to one of them," James whispered back, sighing, "Or battle one, that never fails to strike a conversation. The Chikorita doesn't look to powerful. It hasn't even evolved yet..."

[Raven]

"She wouldn't have been invited to the tournament if she weren't a semi-decent trainer and she didn't come with anyone else," Sabrina pointed out. "And I don't know what to talk about." She glanced at the other two, careful to avoid eye contact at all costs.