Bug Elemental Master Missions STAGE 1

The Ways of a Bug

So, you’ve decided to take on the way of the Bug, eh? It will not be an easy path, and will probably filled with more creepy and crawly things then you can imagine at the moment. But in any case, like working with any Element, this is going to take some dedication. This mission should allow you to… familiarize yourself with your element.

There is an old man who lives in Ilex Forest who claims to be a bug himself. He lives, eats, sleeps, drinks, and does everything with his Bug Pokemon, in his hut in the deepest part of the forest. What you are to do is go and learn everything you can from him. This guy has advanced techniques for taking care of a bug Pokemon that can be found no where else. He even claims to have developed a Hive Mind with one of his Bug Pokemon. A sense so intuitive, that they can know what the other is thinking. His ways are… peculiar though. He literally dresses and acts like a bug at times, and no doubt so will you have to gain this skill. A Hive Mind is difficult to develop with a Bug Pokemon, so I don’t expect you to see the first time or even the second. No doubt, it’s a burden as well. This Pokemon is to know your every thought and idea at the same time you do. Be sure it’s what you want.

Objective
---Meet the Hermit and learn his Hive Mind technique.

Opposition
---None

Pokemon
---You might get a Pokemon Egg if the story is GOOD.

Rewards
---Undisclosed for now.

(((Location: Snagem HQ)))
Viex: *finishes reading through the mission brief* Hmm... This sounds... Interesting... o_O *shakes his head and walks outside* Alrighty then! Mr. Creepy-Bug-Guy, here I come! *sends out Heracross and hops on*
Heracross: *extends wings, pushes of the ground, and sets out towards the Ilex Forest*

(((Location: Above the Ilex Forest)))
Heracross: *hovers above the dense trees*
Viex: Hmm... Well, take me to the edge of the forest and I guess I’ll have to walk in from there...
Heracross: *nods and flies towards the boundary of the wood, landing just outside of it in a small cloud of dust*
Viex: Thanks Heracross. ^^ *calls back Heracross and begins the trek into the woods*

(((Location: Ilex Forest)))
Viex: *walks down the well-traveled path, looking around cautiously* Where could this man be...? *looks to the left, but continues walking, a few steps later running into something and falling down* Ouf... xx’ *looks up and sees a small shrine* Huh... That’s weird... o_o *gets up and brushes himself off* I wonder what it is for... *bends over, looking for some kind of plate to describe its purpose*
???: Ee-he-he! *a rustling sound coming from the trees*
Viex: Huh? *barely begins to stand up before, the next thing he knew, was face planting into the shrine*
???: Eu-who-who-who! *a strange, nasal belly laugh*
Viex: >< Of all the nerve... *stands up and wheels around to retaliate against his attacker, only to stop his fist before it hit a short, squat old man* ...Huh? o.o *blink blink*
???: Hello there. *extends a hand all too quickly* Nice to meet you. *a big smile that dominated his small face*
Viex: Uhh... o.o *blink blink* I’m... *relaxes out of his caught-off-guard position, clears throat* Excuse me, my name is Viex, you wouldn’t happen to be the hermit that is said to reside in these woods, would you? You know, that one that is said to have some kind of mastery over Bu-- *breaks to see that the old man seems to be entertained more be the Weedle crawling on the branch over his head than what he has to say* o_o
???: *seemingly amazed by the small caterpillar Pokemon* Hehe, why do you go looking for such a man, boy?
Viex: Umm... I’m from Team Snagem and...
???: *still staring upwards* Ah, so you’re a crook that wishes to learn his powers for wrong doing, then? Many have come for this reason... Usually they disguise it better, though! *breaks out again into his strange, high pitched laughter*
Viex: No! I’m training to try and become a master of Bug Pokemon! I really must see this man! Are you or are you not the one I need to see?
Hermit: *finally looks down at Viex* Yes, yes. I am indeed the one you seek. You say you want to master Bug Pokemon? You look a little squeamish for that kind of a task... *picks up a stick and starts poking Viex with it* Yes, very interesting... *walks around Viex making noises of disapproval* Well, you have a long way to go... *stops back in front of Viex* But you have to start somewhere, am I right? *laughs obnoxiously*
Viex: *mildly wierded out and skeptical about the old man, but decides to go along with it anyway* Alright. Let’s do it!... What are we doing.
Hermit: Follow me. *the old man jump onto a tree, clinging to it with his hands and feet* But you may walk if you wish. *laughs his horrible laugh before climbing the tree very quickly and beginning to jump from branch to branch with ease*
Viex: Wha?! o_o *begins running after him, struggling very much to keep up with the old man’s agility* I knew I should’ve gotten on the treadmill more... xx’

(((Location: A Hut in the Ilex Forest)))
Viex: *falls through the door of a small wooden hut, sweating profusely and extremely out of breath* x_x He-hello? *looks around for the hermit, leaves falling out of his hair*
Hermit: Hello there boy! *walks into the room, having arrived quite some time before Viex; enough time to have changed into a ridiculous costume in tribute to bugs: a mask of a fly made of cardboard, some wings made out of a cellophane-like substance, and a shirt and pants that appeared to be woven out of String Shot from a Caterpie* Well, don’t just lie there! We’ve got a lot of work to do! *walks into another room*
Viex: Right... *fixed on the crazy old man’s outfit, forgetting that he was even tired, gets up and stumbles after him*
Hermit: *sits down on a small mat on the floor* Sit.
Viex: *quickly obeys, seeing that there was a mat set out for him, too*
Hermit: Now. *takes out a Pokeball* Bring out your closest Bug Pokemon.
Viex: *nods and takes out Venomoth’s Pokeball* Alright, here it is. *opens the Pokeball, Venomoth flies out and lands on his back near his left shoulder*
Hermit: Ah, a Venomoth! *smiles his large smile* Always one of my favorites. *opens his Pokeball, revealing a Masqurain* This is my greatest ally. He was my first Pokemon, and he will be my last. We share a bond that you will not be able to comprehend for many, many years, young boy, but now I will teach you the gateway to the bond with your Bug Pokemon. If you are not ready, and if your heart does not truly love them, then you will fail. Are you sure you will be able to do this?
Viex: *nods several times, affirming it to himself as much as to the hermit*
Hermit: *laughs a little more normally than what Viex had come to hear of him, taking off his fly mask* Very good! Let us begin!
Viex: *smiles and nods*
Hermit: *changes moods in less than a second to become completely solemn and serious* Some call this ability the Hive Mind. Some call the few who posses it crazy. Those that have it know this is false, though. It is built up from the deepest bond to your Pokemon and a complete concentration and calm. Observe. *the old man closes his eyes*
Masqurain: *perks up and looks around the room, then flies over to the opposite wall and begins to write something on it using its Water Gun attack... ‘Hello’ it said*
Viex: *straes for a moment* Okay...? Hello there.
Masqurain: *begins to write again... ‘Viex’*
Viex: ...Yes, that’s my name. Thank you Masqurain. *mildly confused as to how Masqurain acquired such knowledge* How... How did you know that?
Masqurain: *flies back over to the old man, landing on his shoulder just as his eyes slowly start to open*
Hermit: I share a bond with Bug Pokemon. What I know, they know, and what they know, I. *smiles* We share our thoughts. We become one entity.
Viex: *nods* That’s amazing... *tries to resist asking the obvious question but can’t* How do you do it?
Hermit: In good time, son. *rises, Masqurain hovering just behind him* Stand.
Viex: *stands up, Venomoth still close to him*
Hermit: Now. Venomoth. *looks at Venomoth and smiles*
Venomoth: *smiles back and flies over to the Hermit next to Masqurain*
Hermit: Do you understand, Venomoth?
Venomoth: *smiles and nods*
Viex: What? *looks around*
Venomoth: *eyes begin to glow, unleashes a powerful Psychic attack across Viex’s chest*
Viex: Ah! *falls to his knees* Venomoth! Why did you do that?!
Hermit: *returns to his former annoying little laugh* I find that pain is a great motivator.
Venomoth: *unleashes another Psychic attack on Viex*
Viex: Ah!! *goes on all fours, looks up at Venomoth* Venomoth, stop this!
Venomoth: *looks indecisively back and forth between the Hermit and Viex, then uses another Psychic attack on Viex’s left hand this time*
Viex: Son of a...! *falls on the ground, holding his hand* Venomoth, please...
Hermit: Hold on... *puts a hand in front of Venomoth and walks over to Viex, leaning over to talk to him* Boy, all you have to do is tell Venomoth to stop.
Viex: *almost crying now* I did tell him to stop!
Hermit: No, no, no. You have to tell Venomoth to stop.
Viex: *looks at the Hermit in confusion*
Hermit: I’ll let you two sort this out on your own... *stands back up, nods to Venomoth, and walks out of the room*
Venomoth: *hit Viex with another Psychic attack in his head*
Viex: *flies backwards, hitting his head on the ground* Uhh... *throbbing in pain all over his body now, Viex looks up at Venomoth* Please... Stop...
Venomoth: *looks away, pauses, then hits Viex with another Psychic*
Viex: No... Please... *on the brink of losing consciousness* Venomoth... *looks Venomoth straight in its eyes*
Venomoth: *starts tearing up, shakes its head, and uses an especially powerful Psychic on Viex* Moth!
Viex: *thrown up against the wall, then slumps down it all at once, now visibly bleeding on the side of his mouth and cut in several other places, struggles to look up at his closest Bug Pokemon* Venomoth...
Venomoth: *a shiny tear onto the wooden floor* Veno... *Venomoth’s wings begin to shine as it prepares for a finishing Bug Buzz attack*
Viex: *realizes what is coming* No... Stop!
Venomoth: *pulls back its wings to launch the attack*
Viex: Please... *begins to tear up, anticipating the attack*
Venomoth: Veno!! *tries not to think about what its about to do as it launches the final blow*
Viex: *closes his eye, prepared to not open them for a good long while* Venomoth... *a tear falls to the ground* Stop. *the room suddenly loses its color for Viex and Venomoth save for each other*
Venomoth: *freezes as a feeling resonates throughout the room*
Viex: *looks almost entranced and devoid of his pain* Don’t hurt me... I love you...
Venomoth: Viex... *falls out of the air onto the floor*
Viex: *succumbs to the black that was coming in on him and passes out*

(((Location: Azalea Town)))
Viex: *wakes up in an unfamiliar bed* Huh?! What?!
Hermit: *walks in with some tea on a trey* Well look who’s awake just in time for tea!
Viex: ...What? *rubs his throbbing head*
Hermit: You did it. You broke through with your Venomoth. That was the hard part. *laughs his all too well known laugh* It should come easily to you know with your Bug Pokemon.
???: *from somewhere else in the house* Hey, is he awake now?
Hermit: *yells back* Yup! He’s all better now!
Viex: *holds his head* Easy on the yelling please... x.o
Hermit: Haha, I’m sorry about that...
Bugsy: *walks into the room* Well look what we have here! You said he actually pulled it off? I’m impressed!
Viex: *smiles* Hey, I know you! You’re a Gym Leader here in Jhoto, right?
Bugsy: In the flesh! *smiles back* You know, when I did this, I didn’t have such an easy time either, but at least I wasn’t out for that long. I mean, that’s what... *looks at a clock* 32 hours! Some people might call that a small coma. *chuckles*
Viex: Wow, that long? *rubs his head again, then look meaningfully at Bugsy* Is it worth it?
Bugsy: *smiles a more serious smile than before* More than you can imagine.
Viex: *takes out Venomoth’s Pokeball, looksat it deeply for a second, then tosses it out*
Venomoth: *pops out of the Pokeball looking happy* Hello Viex.
Viex: *laughs loudly, smiling huge* Hello Venomoth. *looks over at Bugsy and the Hermit and smiles grandly*
Hermit: *pets Viex* You’re gonna be a good trainer, son. *laughs his obnoxious laugh one last time, which suddenly didn’t seem to bother Viex all that much*
Bugsy: We’ve got Nurse Joy and her Blissy on their way over her to fix you all up and send you back home.
Viex: *smiles and nods, then takes a good long look at the Hermit and Bugsy so that he would never forget them*

(((Location: The Outskirts of Azalea Town the next day)))
Viex: *shakes hands with Bugsy and the Hermit* Thank you for all you have done for me. You are truly an amazing individual.
Hermit: *smiles* As are you Viex. As are you...
Viex: *smiles and turns around slowly, but then takes a running start so he wouldn’t look back to see the Hermit and Bugsy waving and hear them screaming kind words. Heracross could be seen in a few moments flying into the distance* Let’s go home... *Viex lays down on Heracross’ back as he speeds off back to HQ...*

~!~MISSION COMPLETE~!~
Pokemon Caught: None
Pokemon Used: Hercaross, Venomoth
Items Gained: None
Ability Gained: Hive Mind Technique- A spiritual bond with Bug Pokemon