ToT Chapter 1-2: Outfoxed
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Literature Text
Another sunny, cloudless day and in Taberia, which was the third one for Nox who was just heading out of his home today with a little bit of uneasiness. Of course had he the worn-out blue scarf with him as well as the small black leather pouch. His grey, short haired fur was completely visible to others this time, since he did donated the black cloak yesterday to the Keepers. It didn't took long that the Pokémon were kind of surprised and curious about his looks, which made him mumble quietly underneath his breath "Please don't look at me like this..." before he rushed off with a Quick Attack, clearly disliking to gain attention and being in focus of strangers.
Today’s plan was to visit the Trackers guild, and it just took a bit of traveling to arrive at the destination. Shortly after his arrival was the Eevee noticed by a young female Machoke, who had her hands wrapped around her hips. "So you're that Nox guy Boss talked about today. I was awaiting you!" He was quite irritated to be called out by his name from someone he never had met before and chosen his words wisely "And who am I talking to if I may ask?" "I'm Marbel, Veteran 'n' Trainer of the Tracker Guild!" was the duelist responding to that with a proud bump onto her chest "A veteran in your age?!?" was Nox responding quite surprised to that.
"Damn straight! I dedicated my life to the Trackers since I was little and now I'm here!" was she telling to him with a noticeable undertone of proudness in her words. "I see, and since you know my name already do I assume that you also know the reason I'm here." Marble nods shortly towards the Eevee "Look, I don't know what the Boss's thinking with you but we Trackers don't accept just anybody!" "I'd figured that you'll say that, so what do I have to do to prove you that I'm worthy for this guild?" was he asking her with confidence. "Hustle over to my training ground south of the town, it's clearing on the outskirts, can't miss it."
"Understood. Anything else I need to know?" was the Eevee asking as the Machoke responded to that with "Actually, it's in the woods, so you probably will. Consider it your first Trackers lesson! I'll meet ya there in 15 minutes." with a nod and the short "I'll meet you there." did Nox dashed away from the guild to the south, right when a Hitmonlee was getting out of the building to see the grey furred Eevee disappearing "Was that Nox?" "Yup, that was him. Gonna test his skills today and will report you his performance later this day." "You do remember that we're pretty stretched thin and need Pokémon that are capable to do our tasks, right Marble?"
After a calm sigh did the duelist responded "Yes Vader, but we both don't wanna see lifes fade away quickly in the rather dangerous brawls, that's why I'm doing what I have to do as the Trainer." Vader nods in acknowledge to that "I'm glad you think the same way I'm thinking. Just make sure that he won't hurt himself in the proving exam of yours." "Ya can count on me Boss." After a brief moment of talking was the Machoke heading out to the same direction Nox headed off first. The Eevee didn't had any troubles to find the training grounds and was currently taking mental notes about his surroundings and what he can do with it, even noticing the open sparring area.
Some moments later was Marble arriving at the training grounds, only to be pleasantly surprised to see Nox already being there. His ears twitched as she approached him right when he stretched his white colored paws "Ah Marble, just finished warming myself up and am ready for your task." She nodded to acknowledge it "That's good; the last thing we want is getting someone harmed badly during the training." "So... uhh... what's the task that I have to do?" was he asking the Machoke as she points towards the top of a tree "See the top of the tree there?" which he nods to "I've hidden three targets there from a last exam, but the Pokémon failed to get them."
"So you want me to get up there and take them out?" was Nox asking pretty calm about that, even if he knew that he had no ranged attacks "Exactly, and to make things a challenge for you..." before Nox knew was Marble placing five weight bands in front of him. Each were 0,55 pounds heavy, which made him blink a moment "I have to wear them?!" "Yep, and don't ya dare to cheat! Now show me what you'll do with that kind of restriction!" Nox grumbled very quietly as he slowly fitted the bands onto his ankles, and the fifth one onto his tail before mumbling for himself "Focus. Control. Conviction. Resolve. Show her what the son of a Jolteon can do..."
Marbel was keeping an eye on the grey furred Eevee who first started to move to get a feeling for the weight he haves onto him *It's a bit heavy... but that won't stop me...* As soon as Nox had a feeling how the weight will impact his performance was he starting to dash towards the two trees with Quick Attack. The young Machoke had no problems to keep an eye onto him as he started to jump onto one side of the tree, then bounced from that tree to the other tree while keeping the speed up and keeps going on to gain altitude that way. *Not bad... but will he be able to find and take all the targets down? was she thinking for herself as the Eevee kept that up.
He used his whole strength in the last bounce to get himself airborne, giving him enough time to locate the three targets that were well hidden on the tree branches. *I can instantly take two down but the third one is out of my reach...* was Nox quickly analyzing as he started to lose the speed as gravity kicks in. *Unless...!* his determination was fully awake as the Eevee started to turn his body around, going to do a front flip as his tail was starting to get covered by a metallic grey glow. Marble saw what he's going to do and started to smirk from that *Using gravity to boost your own strength huh? That's clever!*
As soon as his iron tail connects with the first target did a noticeable cracking sound ringed through the forest, but at the same time did he grabbed the second target with his fangs. The duelist crossed her arms as she sees what's going on, but to her surprise was the Eevee not done yet. After time the first target was destroyed by the Iron Tail was Nox throwing the second target underneath his paws to use a last effort Quick Attack to get altitude towards the third target again. The Eevee quickly twisted his body around as he feels how the wristband on his tail was sliding off into the air, which she noticed *What is he doing?!*
A smirk formed on Nox's face as he said a clear "Gotcha!" right when his tail was glowing metallic grey again. He barrel rolls in the air to strike the wristband with his tail right when it was falling down. The sound of metal clashing onto each other was ringing through the trees when it got battered, as its velocity striked the third target from the tree towards the ground. Marbles eyes widened in surprise as she witnessed the improvisation of the Eevee as three loud thuds brought her back into the real world. The Eevee lands with his white paws the ground as the last one after taking speed out somehow. Taking out three targets with weighted bands on his body, that was his task.
He took down all three targets as his black eyes looked straight towards Marble. Her eyes were looking towards the targets, the first one was completely destroyed, the second one had bite marks and splintered from the impact onto the ground, while the third one still had the weighted band inside it. Nox was panting softly and needed a moment to catch his breath as Marble spoke up "I must say, ya got me surprised. I thought ya would've only gotten two of three targets." "So... did I pass?" was the Eevee asking as he finally took the weights off his ankles "Yep, but you've still got room for improvement, though."
Even though he didn't really agree to what the Machoke just said to him, since his speed was restricted with the weights, was Nox nodding before asking "All right... can we return to the guild please?" "Yes we can, gotta tell Boss how ya performed after all." and with that did they both headed back to the Trackers guild where the Leader was already awaiting them. It took exactly 15 minutes until Marble and Nox appeared at the entrance of the guild, only to be greeted by a Hitmonchan that had clearly visible scars onto his body. "Yo Boss, we're back." was the Machoke greeting him as the Eevee nods in agreement "Welcome back Marble and howdy Nox. Name's Vader, Boss of the Trackers."
The Eevee wanted to respond formal but his respond got cut off by Vader himself "And don't call me Lord Vader or Sir, you don't have to be formal around us." It caught Nox quite off guard as he heard that "Err... okay... it'll be a bit tough for me but I think I can do that." Vader chuckled a bit to hear that before looking to his former student "So how did Nox perform?" The Eevee was quite surprised that they were going to talk about him right when he's present as Marble responds to that with "He got speed and is a technical brawler with no ranged attack, but he still isn't at his peak despite the ranged attack improvisation."
The Hitmonlee thought for a moment, then spoke up "Then it's settled, he'll be an Initiate of the Trackers from today on." The Eevee started to smile from that "Thank you, I won't disappoint you Vader." Marbel nods to hear that "All right, from this day on are going to have to train with the other Initiates under my supervising." "Roger that." was Nox responding to that before the Trackers Trainer headed into the guild. The Hitmonlee focused on Nox once she was gone "Let’s cut to the chase, alright?" Nox ears perked up in respond to that as he was listening closely to what the Boss haves to say "Got word of a pest blocking the road to Mosswood, a Braixen named Xavier to be exact."
"Let me guess, that Fancy-fox is a bandit that uses Magic to swipe items away from his victims?" Vader nods while his fist clenched a bit "Exactly. This guy likes to challenge travelers to a... errr... so called 'Duel d'Honor'. Ha! Some Honor!" The Eevee knows what honor means, his father was very honorable after all, but asked "And that's where I'll step in and knock that bandit out?" Vaders respond was straight forward to that "I’d love to smash some snot-nosed brat’s face in, but we Trackers are stretched pretty thin with all the problems that are going on." "Understood. Is there anything I need to keep in mind?" was Nox asking before going to deal with the bandit.
"Don’t kill that guy, okay? Dealing with the paperwork’s the last thing I wanna do. Besides that he's annoying will Xavier back off when you defeat him." was the Boss responding to the question. "Roger that Boss, gonna be heading out to knock out that Braxian. I'll see you later." and with that did the Eevee departed to do his first actual task for the Trackers. *Magic huh? Not the first time I've to deal with it... but it'll be troublesome* was Nox thinking as he was heading towards the road to Mosswood. It didn't took long until the Pokemon of interest was appearing infront of the Eevee with his wooden wand pointed towards him. "'‘Ello odd looking shiny"
"Are you Xavier?" was Nox asking the Braxien with a calm expression as the latter tips his Fedora "Oui, that's me. Whatever your business is, you shall not pass!" A smirk hushed over the Eevee's face as the Bandit said that "My name is Nox, and I challenge you to a 'Duel d'Honor'. If I win will you never bother this road again." Xavier smirked directly towards Nox as he took an offensive stance "And if I win will I get your black leather pouch with everything inside it!" The Eevee did thought about it and was ready to fight by taking a defensive stance "Bring it on!" The Braixen chuckled confidently as he casted his Magic Room at the area they are, trapping both him and the Eevee with that.
*Magic Room... luckily do I not use any items so it's useless for him. But the Fire Pledge will be a problem...* was Nox analyzing the situation quickly as Xavier shouted out a sassy "En garde!" As soon as the tip of the wand started to get lit on fire was the grey furred Eevee charging directly with Quick Attack towards the Braixen, who only commented to that with "Predictable!" as he dodged the attack before it made contact. *I missed?!* was Nox thinking before he realized why *That darn Magic Room!* as he slides on the ground to be able to stop sideways to the opponent. A low growl escapes the Eevee to shout "You dirty cheating Bandit!" while thinking *I definitely will take him out!*
Xaviers got an unpleasant expression from that "I'm NOT a Bandit!" as he released a Fire Pledge from his wand towards the ground. The flames spreads out quite fast towards the Eevee, who just decided that two can play that game as he quickly dashed towards one of the trees with Quick Attack. "You won't escape me!" was the Braixen yelling to that as he released an electric attack this time towards Nox, who just bounced from the tree to get airborne. The Eevee gritted his fangs as he felt the Shock Wave impacting onto his body, but kept on doing what he planned as he picked up more and more speed by bouncing from tree to tree while keeping an eye onto his opponent.
The Bandit was still able to trace his movements, but started to have trouble to keep up with the Eevee's movements as he decided to cover himself into fire with Flame Charge while releasing another Shock Wave from his wand. Nox saw that attack incoming this time while bursting with a Quick Attack towards Xavier, growling in pain as the electricity jumps through his body before using his fangs to Bite right into the tail of his opponent who yelped and flinched from that sudden attack "Aiiee! Not my tail!" Xavier tried his best to shake the Eevee off who kept holding on despite taking damage from the flames that surrounded the Braixens body.
"You little...!" as soon as the Bandit was flicking his tail upwards to get a clear shot with his wand was Nox letting go of his tail to get airborne again. His little body started to do multiple rolls forward as the tail started to glow metallic grey, at the same time was Xavier to slow to react to get a very painful Iron Tail right onto his head, which caused the Bandit to get a laceration as Nox didn't stopped. As soon as his white paws were touching the ground did the Eevee spoke a sassy "Crotch-shot!" as his tail striked directly into the most painful region that a male can get hit upon... the crown jewels that is. The correspondent to that was a clear one too.
Xavier winched in pain as he dropped his wand and fell onto his knees, his hands going right where it hurts the most as he could hear a "That's for using Magic Room to get an unfair advantage. And since I've won will you never bother this road again, do you understand?!" A pained and high pitched "Y-yes..." was what all the Braixen could get out from him as the grey furred Eevee sighted from the victory, but his fur was completely messed up because of the two Shock Waves he got striked with. "Good... if I find you here next time will you properly lose your manliness." and with that did Nox started to head back to the Trackers guild to give a sitrep about the fight that happened.
Take a crash course in Trackers training under Marble's supervision and receive 1 Trackers Rep. & 1 Favor
Get into a duel with the Bandit Xavier and defeat him rewarded Nox with 2 Trackers Rep. & 2 Favor
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I finally finished the second half of chapter one for Team Exulibus
Yes, Nox is a technical brawler with speed, but can be quite dirty if he haves no other choices left. Don't worry Xavier, you still are the fans favorite you little frenchsome Fox.
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Pokémon (c) Nintendo
Story (c) Tales of Tabira
Other Characters (c) Repsective Owners
Dante "Nox" Volpes (c) Me