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[leadinglady]

[ backdated to before the elves, just when the snow is really heavily piling up! SOMEBODY has just been dumped out beyond the village after her de-hiatus kidnapping, and gave up wading through the packed snow after like five minutes. so she's trying a different tactic.

wherever you are, there's suddenly a girl on an armored penguin calling out for you to WATCH OUT!! as she sleds down the slope, swerving to avoid hitting you....... and then crashing into a tree. awkward. the only way that could be even more awkward is if you'd been unlucky and stepped out from behind a tree, out-of-sight, so that you didn't even get a warning before the girl and her penguin crash straight into you instead. whooops. ]

Comments

[weaponry]

Okay! Uhhh, Little Metal Penguin Dude! [ Never learned his name, so, we'll just give him one of those cool long names instead. ] I need you to, like, lay down so we can get started.

[ Surf: It's just so complex! ]

[acuity]

Ah, she's actually a her. And you can call her empoleon.

[ DELAYED PENGUINTRODUCTION, but empoleon just chirrups cheerfully enough and plops down on her belly, glancing up curiously. ready for anything! ]

[weaponry]

Ah, a kunoichi, eh? How special! [ She has a new favorite pokemon tbh. ] Okay, Emploeon! Let's go! [ Tenten offers her hand to help Platina step onto Empoleon as she makes sure to connect her feet to the steel. ]

[acuity]

Yes, a... what exactly did you call her?

[ ?? NEW VOCAB. she happily accepts Tenten's hand to get aboard penguin express, while glancing curiously around to see what kind of technique she's using to bind herself on. ]

[weaponry]

A kunoichi! It means female ninja! [ Platina might be able to feel a little warmth at her feet, otherwise, there will be no difference. Tenten seems to be on the penguin express without any chance of falling off, fortunately. ]

[acuity]

I see! I wonder if pokemon can ever be considered ninja, like some of their trainers are~

[ momentarily distracted by inner mind theatre of empoleon with ninja gear. penguinbuddy chirps a little, but doesn't seem to mind as she starts sliding towards the river. ]

[weaponry]

I guess they could! They'd have to train and learn the ninja mindset! [ She brightens up with a fantastic idea. Tenten remains surprisingly firm and planted on the Empoleon as it enters the river. ] How about, sometime in the near future, I can see if your pokémon have any talent as a ninja?

[acuity]

R-really? Of course, I'd like that! If any pokemon have the potential, I'm sure that mine do!

[ I HAVE FAITH!! penguin starts to follow the current downstream, a lot more smoothly than sledding. water is her element!... for once, awkwardness is not a problem 8|b ]

[weaponry]

I'm actually a little on the fence. I think he has the offensive potential and the defensive potential but speed and stealth are key! Maybe he's like a water ninja or something!

[ Tenten feels the smoothness and the ease Empoleon has in the water. She's glad they aren't falling off into sandbars. ]

[acuity]

I'm sure! If there are different types of ninja like there are types of pokemon... empoleon's strengths lie in water, anyway.

[ as seen by the smooth sailing so far! oh but there seem to be ice floes up ahead, TIME FOR DODGING :V ]

[weaponry]

There kinda are. Some specialize in weaponry, others may use fire ninjutsu, some specialize in genjutsu and stuff. I'm sure she might make the perfect water pokémon.

[ Tenten increases the chakra concentration so she'll stay iron tight connected to Empoleon. ]

[acuity]

I'm sure of it, too. And hold on--let's prove her skills!

[ empoleon immediately starts to navigate through the chunks of ice, weaving through like a maze. so far no bumps, even...! ]

[weaponry]

Wow! How impressive! [ Tenten's right foot slips backwards, just a little bit, but it quickly regains suction and sticks, once more, to Empoleon's twisting steel body. ] Evasion is a key skill for a ninja. [ Three and a half stars so far tbh. ]

[acuity]

Is that right!

[ empoleon chirps a little, totally caught up in praise, and even starts to speed up with confidence, but continues dodging ice like a champ. but there is a larger floe up ahead :V ]

[weaponry]

Ye.... [ Tenten doesn't even complete that thought. She just kinda goes pale and her knees weaken at the sight of that larger ice floe and the speed they're going. This is a new experience for her but maybe this wasn't the best idea. The chakra distribution weakens, but she's still attached. ]

Just hold on, okay? [ She has to balance this carefully. Too much chakra and they'll go exploding off Empoleon into ice freezing waters. Too little chakra and they'll slip off. ]

[acuity]

Huh? What do you me...

[ and then catching sight of the floe up ahead. THE ICEBERG TO OUR TITANIC. empoleon seems remarkably unconcerned, however, and after a moment Platina seems to catch on. ]

I've got an idea, so don't worry. Empoleon--ice beam, when the time is right!

[weaponry]

[ Suddenly, the sound of Celine Dion's big belt can be heard in the distance. It seemingly roars through the forest where birds flock out of the trees, clearly riled. Tenten hangs on for dear life as she continues to just glance at giant floe ahead of her. ]

Ice beam? What's that?! [ That doesn't sound helpful. ]

[acuity]

Don't worry, just hang on--!

[ aaand a few last seconds before they could crash, empoleon abruptly fires ice from her beak and creates a goddamn ice ramp to rocket from with full speed.

BLASTING OFF AGAAAAIN /o/ ]

[weaponry]

[ A chirp by Mariah Carey or the classic Team Rocket ding! could be audible with the speed and height Tenten is launched into the air.

Tenten's fascinated at the sudden appearance of more ice and it's innovative use to avoid certain crashing. She's not really minding the sudden elevation, as she launches herself into the air with a similar speed thanks to Guy-sensei's training, but, she's worried that the penguin might not land properly. She focuses her chakra to tighten her feet onto the surface of Empoleon. She doesn't want to fly off. ]

Whoa! I wasn't expecting her to be able to launch ice out of her beak. Does she have anymore surprises?

[acuity]

But of course. Empoleon--aqua jet!

[ and then water-boosting herself while airborne, FLIIIGHT... for a few seconds before clearing the last patch of woods between here and the village. on a steep dive towards the fountain, too WHOOPS HERE GOES. ]

HA FINALLY A REASON TO USE THIS ICON....

[weaponry]

[ Is there anything Tenten can do besides screaming bloody murder? N o p e. Very rarely will the kunoichi show such strong emotional outbursts but flying through the air, over the trees and now they're about to crash into the town fountain. ]

Looks like I'm coming to join you, Asuma-sensei! [ Still, she does adjust her chakra levels to stay firmly on Empoleon and she definitely makes sure to hold onto Platina in case they just go flying off. ]

\o/

[acuity]

Who--? Whoa--empoleon, surf!

[ and then penguinbuddy somehow safely crashes into a rad as hell wave in the fountain, which eventually washes them all safely into a snowbank. THAT SURE HAPPENED. ]

[weaponry]

[ Tenten just starts to scream as the wave hits the fountain. After that, she's too busy having water flood her mouth to even say anything else, until she spits it all out as she hits the snowbank.

She's soaking wet. ]

She passes the ninja test. Just, please. [ She starts to clutch her chest and pant. ] Forgive me for making that suggestion. [ She's just ... going to start chattering now as her twinbuns produce icicles. ]

[acuity]

[ KEYWORDS, kinda... again. Platina just wriggles a little weakly from where she's also half-buried in the snow, equally wet but at least it was a soft landing. just freezing. ]

I... I'm glad. That she passed. T-thank you?!

[weaponry]

Your welcome! I will try to find time to arrange with you and Empoleon for her ninja training. [ what has her life become? ]

But for now, I think I should really [ Great. Now her teeth are starting to chatter. ] get back to my home before I freeze to death.