That's when he spotted it, something... blue? He lifted a curious brow at the metallic blue his eyes caught sight of just before it disappeared behind the village. Was it connected to the pedestals? With an eager smile, he started after the small bit of his shiny blue mystery. He didn't want to get ahead of himself, but it looked like metal. Which meant if it was a Pokemon, blue and shiny, it could be a Beldum, or even a Bronzor! Steel types! It'd be the first steel type he'd seen in the Inset region thus far! How exciting was that?!

Upon rounding the corner he saw something he didn't think possible. The Bronzer had floated around the building with a bit of food hovering in front of him as well. Once the Bronzor reached the other side of the building there were a few Pokemon there. They must have been newly hatched with the small size of their bodies. the Bronzor dropped the food down for them. The mother that came out of hiding to take the food smiled brightly at the Bronzor. "Thank you, Bronzor." She cooed before moving the food for her newly hatched eggs to devour. "But the humans will be livid you've stolen from them again."

Sam could hear a small high pitched noises coming from the Bronzer. It had him wincing, if only because it meant the Pokemon was talking telepathically to the mother Pokemon and he didn't get to hear. He clicked his tongue, watching as the Bronzer started to turn to leave. He quickly scurried away from the edge of the building, only to turn and bump straight into a few locals. A grunt escaped Sam, shifting awkwardly as he arched an eyebrow at the men. "Oh, sorry, my bad." He protested with a laugh.

"Don't worry about it boy." Came the annoyed voice of the local, his small entourage friends seemed to be branching out in the area. "Just here to take care of a pesky Bronzor. He's been taking items 'don't belong to him and leavin' 'em out for the local wildlife to take."

Wouldn't most people find that regal? Admirable even? Sam certainly did. He furrowed his brows in slight confusion and thought it over. "Uh... no, just uh, just me and uh, my Bronzer." He couldn't hold himself back, he had to protect the thing somehow. Also, it was getting on his nerves. "Also, Bronzor's don't have genders..."

His Pokedex entry seemed ignored, that bit about the gender, as the man scoffed. "Damn..." He complained before glancing around. "Can you use yours to sense the other one out? He's been a real problem."

"They've, been a real problem, hm?" Sam corrected. "And sure?" He narrowed his eyes and slowly turned toward the Bronzor as they approached slowly. Seemed they heard everything.

They most certainly did. These humans had been bothering them since they had started their heroic notion to feed not only the starving humans in the area, but the starving Pokemon as well. Seemed their gig was up now, though, and this person was offering their protection- it was supposed to be the other way around. Either way, they wouldn't turn down a helping hand.

A small pitch echoed through the area and the moment it met Sam's ear he could feel the thought entering his mind. Thank you.

Sam smiled the thought before turning toward the villagers. "They said they're looking."

They impatiently waited, moving around the area and grunting as they looked about. They didn't head toward the corner behind Sam, which he was thankful for. After a few moments, Bronzor's eyes opened and another small noise traveled to Sam's ear.

I owe you a great debt, trainer. Allow me to travel with you.

Sam nearly fell over as he quickly twisted around and looked at the Brozor with a grin across his face. "What, really??"

The villagers eagerly moved toward him. "What, he got a fix on the other one?"

"They," Sam corrected with a slow turn toward the villagers. "And yeah." He was making a quick recovery, no stuttering even! "Said they went that way, toward the shrine." Because who could be violent and rummage around a shrine?

Seemed his plan worked, because the villager's shoulders fell. "That's where he hid last time... figures, we should have checked there. Well, thanks anyway kid, and keep a tight leash on that thing will you? Wildlife around here'll give it a bad influence."

The wildlife around here would be a bad influence on it... What a grammar Nazi he was today. "Yeah, sure, I'll get them in their Pokeball soon as possible. Scouts honor." Oh, that was a bit sarcastic.

"Alright son. Thanks for the help." He sounded less thankful than his words implied, but at least he didn't pick up on Sam's sarcasm.

Once they were gone, he slowly turned toward the Bronzer and smiled. "You don't have to come with me, you know. I hate people that can't see the obvious need around them. Selfish bastards... uh-" That was judgmental. He gave a nervous laugh and nodded toward the Shrine. "I don't think it's a good idea to stick around the Shrine, though. Seems they've figured out your patterns."

That is why it is best I leave. My legacy here has slowly branched into the other Pokemon in this area, there is little need for my antics anymore. I shall join you, to keep the Pokemon I did help safe from ridicule. It moved then, floating closer to Sam and up so it was eye level with him. You have an honor about you that is hard to come by, Sam Carter. I would be honored to help you in your journey. It is clear your heart has the right intentions.

Well, he'd never been so proud of himself and slightly flustered in his life. He gave a frantic sort of nod, smiling, then shifting on his feet. "Right, yeah... Thanks, again." Another smile, before smiling at his new partner.

NOTES. OMG YOU SPOIL ME FITZ, YOU SPOIL ME. Attempted capture.

The smile given to them was repaid... in thought, mostly. How could they repay otherwise? They didn't have a mouth, after all. So instead the gratitude was expressed in thought.

Which if Sam was being honest was probably the strangest thing in the world. It was an expression through thought alone. What one feels when smiling, but from somebody else, right to his brain. All Pokemon were fascinating creatures and this one was no different. This Bronzor... it was brilliant, fantastic even. And doing something like that! Well, Sam was beyond impressed, curious, and overall excited. He paused his movements for the Pokeball in his bag, looking the Bronzor over a few moments before frowning. "Hey..." his tone was light as he moved in to brush his fingers over a few areas on the Bronzor. "You're rusted in a few places... I didn't know you could rust." Mentally noted.

The Bronzor gave a small nod but was sure to express he was in no way upset by the rust. Without proper care for ourselves or from a trainer this is what happens to most steel types, as with any metal object, we rust.

The information made complete sense but for whatever reason Sam was baffled by it. "So, if you don't mind my prying, why did you rust?" He curiously raised an eyebrow. "I mean, did you just forget to take care of it or-"

His words were interrupted by their thought. Sam, with what would I wash? And how would I see myself to wash?

The humor that was portrayed in that thought felt a bit like a laugh and Sam couldn't help but laugh right along with them. "Right! Arceus, that makes sense... I don't know why I didn't think of it. You know, you're pretty relaxed for a Bronzor."

I have found that it is the joy of life that causes us to prosper, more than the sorrow in life. Sorrow does not drive us, but joy will break the strongest of walls down. A small twist and turn later, and Bronzor was twirling in a circle. They stopped, eyes closing to show their happiness just as it was expressed with a thought as well.

Sam laughed, maybe a bit too much, smiling happily. "Well, alright then... Man, make a paranoid pessimist like myself rethink life why don't you..."

Your thoughts are your own, Sam. It twisted and turned again before simply floating beside Sam. I have much to be joyous over. I have found a trainer who is not a lost cause of the humans. One decently pure of heart. I have been fortunate enough to bless others. I have known not but this shrine, yet will now travel without binding myself to a trainer I can tolerate. I will not find a reason to have sorrow for a very long time, I imagine.

Honestly, he wished he could be so happy about life... he was happy, in fact, he loved what was happing with his life thus far. Perhaps what he meant, and what was honestly his heart, was he wished he had more faith in the world. Bronzor seemed to think that there was good in the world to be had, along with bad. Probably thought there was a peace to be had with such thoughts as well. So in other words, the good and the bad was needed and there was no use worrying over which may or may not come his way.

NOTES. Attempt at capture! let's try this again, haaa

There was a new sort of bounce in Sam's step, a new beep to his bop as he made his way back into the village. He was sure to avoid the direction those men had come from, the ones that were looking for Solace just a bit ago- yes, Solace. It felt like a perfect name for them. They were joyous, calm, collected, and they made Sam sort of feel that way too. It was one of the names he was more proud of, if only because it matched so beautifully- in his opinion, anyway. Mostly, he had thought it up himself and it wasn't just a shorter version of the name they already had. Like Cutie. And Peach already came with hers... oh, and poor, poor, Bagon. He couldn't seem to get the hang of Bagon enough to give him a name. Maybe it would be more apparent as the Bagon grew? Maybe he needed to spend more time with the Bagon?

In an effort to figure that out, and a sudden impulse to finally name his starter, he tossed out his Pokeball and smiled as Bagon emerged. His first instinct was to glare around him. This was not the cliff, this was not the mountain, this was-- ah, this was Sam. At first, he'd smelled the trainer and relaxed before turning to walk over and nuzzle against him. The only way he could express he was happy to see him.

"Most people find dragon types intimidating... and you're just adorable." Sam laughed, watching as Bagon snorted as his feet.

"What? I'm not offending you! It's a compliment."

Another snort. Then Bagon turned away from Sam and glanced around. He was suddenly distracted and moving toward some of the bushes closer by. Just because he could.

Sam shook his head at the inquisitive and ever learning Bagon. "I wonder if you'll be this curious as a Salamence..." His thought was interrupted by the way Bagon seemed to shove his nose into the bush until his little skull was fully in it to peek inside.

Once satisfied nothing was there, he pulled his head out and gave a small cough. Out popped a leaf, which he watched float to the ground, before glancing over at Sam and starting to head the direction he thought the trainer might have been going when he was first called.

Sam on the other hand laughed and pointed with his thumb. "I'm headed this way, buddy."

As if to say, 'I knew that' Bagon gave a low rumble of a growl and turned on his feet to start toward where Sam had gestured, ignoring how Sam smiled and laughed like it was okay. It was not okay, he needed to pay more attention.

Paying more attention was very little of what Bagon had done. He sniffed and snorted his way around the area close by. A sniff, a snort, a sniff, a snort, a growl, a snort. Bagon was having far too much fun exploring for Sam to really care one way or the other about him wandering around. He was sure to keep up with the dragon, watching as the inquisitive Bagon moved this way and that as he explored.

However, his curiosity led him to a rather unfortunate incident. He stuck his nose into a place where it didn't belong, a resting place. Bagon had found a few crates and stuck his nose behind them, snorting and sniffing. One final sniff and suddenly something had gone into the Bagon's nose and tickled it the wrong way. A brilliant sneeze later and Bagon felt a light tink on the hard surface of his brilliant skull.

Sam had witnessed the whole thing. Bagon stuck his nose in a Galmeow's resting place, sniffed too much fur and dust, and sneezed right on the resting Glameow. The Glameow's response was to immediately retaliate. She reeled up with a scratch, hissing at the Bagon as she did so. Her bad luck served her only hitting the top of his head with the scratch which did little to no damage to Bagon because of his thick head.

Closing the distance between himself and the two Pokemon that had entered the battle, he took in a deep breath. "Bagon, use ember. Get rid of her cover and burn the boxes."

Him simply saying the command was enough for the Glameow to start her scurrying out of the boxes and Bagon breathed fire out of his mouth and onto the boxes.

'How could you?!' called the Glameow. 'Those were my house! I lived in those boxes!' A low growl came from her and her hair bristled. 'Alright, you stupid little Bagon.' He couldn't even talk! 'Let's get on with it.' She turned her butt toward him and wiggled it. 'Catch me if you can.'

Sam laughed as the Glameow taunted Bagon. She was unashamed of her love for her home, material as those boxes were, they obviously meant something to her. And she could smack talk too! Sam shook his head and clenched his fists. Not too hard, but hard enough to acknowledge he was being serious. Bagon was getting his head out of the boxes, snorting at the fire that followed him, before turning toward the Glameow. He huffed at her. Oh yeah, she was really mature.

"Catch her off guard with a leer, then use rage, and brace for her impact."

Sam's words registered well enough with Bagon and he did just as he was asked. A leer was used against he Glameow, who scoffed and pretended it didn't even affect her. She closed the distance between them just as Bagon did. His roaring rage was met with her claws.

"Nicely done! Keep your rage building Bagon. You're doing great!" Sam couldn't help the pride that bubbled in him at watching the Glameow and his Bagon square off. He hadn't really battled with Bagon yet. Not on this sort of level. The Patrat, but that hardly counted. He needed to get Peach up in levels too, now that he was thinking about it. She was definitely more of a lover than a fighter, much like himself, but she wanted to be able to protect the team as well.

Bagon did as he was told, feeling the rage build in him as the Glameow attacked him. He unleashed the rage on her, flailing and ramming his thick skull against her. The battle was over quickly. Bagon was feeling fatigued but the Glameow was whimpering and moving back into a corner. But once she saw that Bagon had thought himself the victor, she moved toward him and scratched a softer part of him. 'You're so gullible! As if you could beat me with a sorry little-- ack!'

Before her patronizing speech could be finished, Bagon lett out a roar before spitting an ember at her. Seemed to catch her off guard, and the Glameow was on the ground and unconscious before she could even think twice about being otherwise.

Quickly, Sam reached into his bag and tossed out a pokeball to catch the feline. He bent down and smiled at Bagon, moving to look over the wounds he had sustained. "You're alright." The small snort Bagon gave said the same. He was a bit roughed up, but he was fine. Near panting though. "You did wonderful, Bagon. Great job." He congratulated Bagon as he looked over at the pokeball.

NOTES. Attempt at capture.
EXP GAINED. 402 + 1 lvl! 
7 » 8 64+402/250
8 » 9 216/275

Once Sam could see that the Pokeball was no longer wobbling around on the ground, he happily moved over to pick it up. He returned Bagon to his Pokeball as well, confident that he'd done enough fighting for one day. He knew that perhaps these guys would be a bit much for Peach, but he could use items and possibly a few clever bird tricks to get her some decent experience. He tossed her ball out, watching as she looked around for a place to perch before hopping on his shoulder and picking at her feathers.

'Good morning Sam.' She chirped, before looking around and tilting her head this way and that as she did look about. 'Strange place to see... are we in a town?'

"One with a shrine." Sam prompted before moving his hand to hold her talons as a warning that he was going to start walking. Once he did, he removed his fingers, feeling she had a good grip on his shoulder at this point.

'Oh! A shrine, really?' She flapped her wings with excitement, ruffling her feathers. 'How exciting. You know, I think I've heard rumors of this shrine.'

Sam simply smiled as he listened to Peach go on, and on, and on, about the shrine and the different rumors she'd heard. There was no stopping her once she had done, so he just let her chirp away happily in his ear.