Meeting Roxanne and Setting Off

A few very normal and not at all mind-blowingly intense minutes later, Summer was properly ready to go and meet Roxanne, for real this time. She just hoped her lateness hadn't caused the gym leader to change her mind; it hadn't really been her fault, after all... for the most part, anyway. Hurrying down the dorm room hallway, Summer was this time able to make it to the exit doors uninterrupted; fortunately it was still early enough that none of her other hallmates were out of bed yet.

Roxanne stood near the statue of the school's founder, as arranged. "What time do you call this?" she asked as Summer approached, but stopped the girl before she tried to explain. "It's fine," the teacher added. "I wasn't really expecting a teenager to wake up promptly; I'm not a fool. You had quite the day yesterday, as well; oversleeping is quite understandable."

"I-I didn't oversleep," Summer protested. She wanted Roxanne to see her as the dependable Pokémon Ranger she aspired to be, not some ordinary schoolgirl. "I just... got caught up in something." The gym leader raised an eyebrow that indicated she was curious about what the 'something' was and wasn't going to let the subject go. "Georgia... challenged me again," explained Summer.

"In the hallway?" Roxanne frowned. "I will have to have a word with her about that. Thank you for letting me know. I assume, given the considerable delay, that the result of the battle was... different from last time?"

Summer sighed, blushing slightly. "I would have had her if it hadn't been sprung on me like that, and in such an enclosed space..." Eager to gain some respect back in Roxanne's eyes, Summer quickly added "I did really well, though. At the..." her cheeks grew redder still. "At the other part."

A smile played on Roxanne's lips. "Oh? That's good. I'm proud of you, Summer."

Summer glowed with an odd sense of achievement. "I'll need my Marill healed up though," she said, not wanting to waste anymore time before caring for her pokémon's wellbeing. "If... if that's ok."

"Of course," Roxanne nodded. "Sending you off on this errand with a pokémon that can't fight isn't going to do me any favours. Come; we'll return to my office."

Roxanne led the way at a brisk pace, and soon they were back in the teacher's oak-furnished room, Marill's pokéball placed on the healing machine. Roxanne wrote something down on a piece of paper and handed it to Summer. "My Pokégear number," she explained, and Summer hurried to add it to her device. "So that we can stay in touch. Let me know when you find Flannery." Summer nodded earnestly; she was going to treat this mission with the seriousness it deserved. It was obvious how much Roxanne cared for her fellow gym leader, and the fact that she was trusting Summer to find out her situation was a responsibility she did not take lightly. "I have something else to give you, as well," the teacher added, and Summer leaned forward in her chair, intrigued. What more could Roxanne possibly give her; she'd provided her with so much already.

(How Much - How valuable is Roxanne's gift? - Extraordinary)

Summer's eyes widened and her heart started racing as Roxanne handed her a pokéball. "Wh-what?" Summer stammered. "Y-you're giving me... a pokémon? A second one?!"

"You need to be as prepared as possible for what is out there," Roxanne nodded. "I'd give you one of my stronger pokémon if I could, but they wouldn't obey a novice trainer. Still, I believe this one I have given you will prove quite dependable. Take a look." She pressed the ball into Summer's hand.

Unable to believe the generosity of her teacher, Summer popped open the red-and-white capsule to let out the pokémon inside. An Aron emerged from the ball, and regarded Summer cautiously, looking at Roxanne for advice. At the gym leader's approval, Aron approached Summer and sniffed her cautiously before letting out a satisfied sound, evidently considering her worthy of trust.

Summer's Second Pokémon - Aron

(Art, if it stays up, by kinakomocheeni on zerochan).

Type: Rock/Steel

Toughness: 4

Masteries: 0

Sex: Male

Special Ability: Rock Head - Protects the pokémon from recoil damage

Moves:

Rock Tomb - 1d4 - Boulders are hurled at the target. This also lowers the target's Speed stat by preventing its movement.

Take Down - 1d4 - A reckless, full-body charge attack for slamming into the target. This also damages the user a little.

Metal Claw - 1d6 - The target is raked with steel claws. This may also raise the user's Attack stat.

Harden - 1d4 - The user stiffens all the muscles in its body to raise its Defense stat.

Just like Marill, Aron was so cute that Summer almost felt like crying. She stood up from her chair and bent down to scoop Aron up in her arms, before realising its heavy iron body meant that wasn't really going to be feasible. Laughing at her own mistake, she resigned herself to petting the pokémon's head instead. The metal was cool to the touch, but not unpleasant, and Aron seemed to enjoy the sensation. Standing hesitantly, Summer retrieved the pokémon - her pokémon - to its ball. Roxanne stood up from her own seat and retrieved the capsule containing the now-healed Marill, and returned that to Summer as well, allowing her to clip both pokéballs to her belt. She couldn't believe this was happening to her; it was like something out of a dream. "Thank you," she said to her teacher, nearly breathless with gratitude.

"No," Roxanne shook her head. "Thank you." She moved unexpectedly, and pulled Summer into a tight hug. Summer flushed at the contact as she returned the embrace, remembering what had happened the last time the two of them were in this position. Nothing like that happened here, though, and that was fine; just the warmth of Roxanne's body was enough to make her feel safe, reassured. "I believe in you," said Roxanne, her breath catching a little. "Find her for me."

Summer's resolve solidified. "I will," she said, and she meant it.

Roxanne broke the hug and the two regarded each other for a few moments, before the teacher spoke up. "It's time you were off," she said. "Take Route 116 to the Rusturf Tunnel, then head through there to Verdanturf Town; that should be a good first stop."

Summer nodded; that had been the way she'd planned to go, as it was by far the most direct way to Lavaridge as far as she could tell. "Thank you again," she said. "You'll hear from me soon."

"Be careful," Roxanne said.

Summer shared one final nod with her teacher before heading out of the office and heading for the school gates, ready to finally begin her adventure in earnest.