The Legendary Pokédex Completion: Let's Play Pokémon Storm Silver!

[ChaosStar]

All right, I'll wait until you get to that point before placing my vote then.

[Deme]

^^^
You're welcome to voice your thoughts or talk about them, but I won't count it for anything. Also, when voting's open for various things, you can vote in mons that would suit your goals.

Also, fun fact: I have lost significant amounts of progress on this update twice. BRB, screaming. Could have sworn I saved, but noooo.

So, uh, update will be delayed until some sort of post-frustrated snapping time.

[Qwertystop]

Ugh, that's never pleasant.

[ChaosStar]

Well, for the fight against Red I think it would be good to use Belle, Professor, Cleopatra, Bowser, Pi, and Terra. You actually have a good team in those six and their personalities really mesh well together. Other pokemon might be better suited to the fight type-wise, but I feel that these six are really the most interesting of the pokemon you have.

[Gadora]

Well, for the fight against Red I think it would be good to use Belle, Professor, Cleopatra, Bowser, Pi, and Terra. You actually have a good team in those six and their personalities really mesh well together. Other pokemon might be better suited to the fight type-wise, but I feel that these six are really the most interesting of the pokemon you have.

There will be a lot more characters available by then, I'm sure. (I'm looking forward to seeing what she does with Bubble.)

[Deme]

Chapter 20

Spoiler: Well That's...Normal

Show

There's a little more to do here, but I don't want to take forever to do it. I mean, there is a gym in Goldenrod and I guess I need to deal with that. But first...I also can prepare some.

Like, for example, move upgrades.
"Ooh, that'll be nice. Hitting 'em with a bolt from the blue."

Speaking of bolts, beams, and rays...

This one's so nice, I'll need to get another.


"GWAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Who knows what I have just unleashed.

Now we can clear this area of the last of its treasures...


Like so; could be useful, nothing extra special...


Bowser managed to test out his new stuff before I headed back to town to give Twitch an Ice Beam of his own.


He needs that sort of special power.

Alrighty, now, let's check out this gym!

...This is a less than promising start.
The sound/ of whimpers rises through the air. The gaps between my body -- itself only a slivered shadow -- fill with tears. Not my tears.
"What is this? 'Tis like the world's torn asunder..."
"I think we already told you, right? Only she'd know."
How cute. They believe, fearing otherwise, that I know. That I know anything.
"Honestly, it feels... a little familiar, maybe."
"S-sorry."

Surveying the gym from above, fragmented form gliding over bright, checkered ground... It seems like everyone in it is changed. Like the world's forgotten our real faces. Then again, when I'm like this... I feel like maybe I've forgotten my own, real face. Not just now. Always.
That's silly, right? But I wonder...what expression I'd be wearing, if I had expression, listening to the tears of these shades. These girls.
Sorry. Maybe if I...just step outside...


Outside the building, though, everything's...normal. Like it never happened. I alone am frightened by the calm of it.

"Let's try that again."



Well, that's...normal. Like it never happened. I alone am frightened by the colorful walls.

Nope. Not gonna.


"N-no I'm not!"
"Why are you blushing?"
Who said I was blushing. Who.



\

Bowser puts his new move to good use.


And so does Twitch, when he gets the chance.



Yeah, it was quick.

...I...T-thank you.


I see the truth. I see just echoes, just shadows formed from things which were once true. Once true, now false. I see the way we repeat actions, not just since we were taught, but since we know them in our bones. Like the world is grooved, and we flow through those ridges. I see so much.
I see...a Clefairy. It's a kind of cute design.


This is a useless dead end. Why is this even here?


Just barely managed to not freaking finish.

Oh, well, right as rain.


Man, this fella hits hard.

And if not hard, frequently.
"Lookit all the pretty colors..."
"He can only do the one at a time!"
Fwumph.
Well, she's out. Sorry.
That was unexpectedly rough.


"Feel the heat of my vengence!"

He is surprisingly bulky.
"It's all the leftovers."

Nothing some tri-attacks don't help.


You did? I totally did not see that.

I make a quick run to the pokemon center, but then it's into the fray again!


What, do I look tough -- tougher than you, I mean? I deliberately picked my poofy hat and cute short-alls for a non-threatening impression.




"It looks like I just...beat you to the punch."
"Fine work, as expected."
"Heeheehee, thanks."











"And now it's time for a coup de gra-"

"You think that'll stop me, did you? DID YOU?!"
Oh, dear.

"NOTHING STOPS ME."
Words can't even convey the sheer agressive force I just witnessed.
"So, for all his educated speech, his nature hath all the chaos of the rest of us."
"I...don't think he thinks of it that way."
Actually, I don't know how he thinks of it.


"Oh, so I am nonthreatening in my apparel? I want to look, you know...Normal? Friendly?"
"BLOOD AND FIRE!"
"Not like that. Calm down, you."
A quick trip to the pokemon center will cool his jets.



"But I have strong and cute pokemon!"
"I'm cute!"
"Of course you are, dear."
"I'm strong!"
"Yes, yes."



That was not strong. And only generically cute.



"Check out how strong I am! (The cuteness is, of course, self-evident.)"
"Yyyyeaah. Just...Watch this."
She's swinging that hair thing back and forth like a watch!

"I-I'm strong enough...It don't matter if you both gang up on me!"
"Belle. There's just one of her."
"Oh. Oh, well... It doesn't matter how many there are!"


"Now that is strong."


Twitch breaks through her Clefairy's attempts to evade pretty handily.

"Oh, yes, yes. Yes. Maybe?"


With that, I guess all there's left to do is face the gym leader.

The Whitney fight ended up being long enough to probably be its own chapter. I need to stop over-doing chapter length while playing; it just makes a headache for me.

[Deme]

Going on another small trip (Gosh, I just want some time at home, is that too much to ask?), but... I got the update done!

Chapter 21

Spoiler: A Maiden is the One Who Feels the Precious Joy of a First Love

Show

Alright, let's get to that --
brring.
Excuse me, that's my phone. Apparently no one will let me have drama.

"June! How are you? Where are you right now?" It's mom's voice.
"I'm OK. Just fine. I've made it to Goldenrod, and I want to take on the gym while I'm here."
"I thought you would. Are you OK, honey? I know you get nervous in cities."
Mom... "Yeah. I'm fine. I -- everything's fine. Totally normal. I...I haven't been keeping as quiet as maybe I should, but..."
She cuts me off.
"Don't worry about that. Look, I'm sure those gym leaders are starting to get tough -- you've got two whole badges under your belt, after all! So, I was out and about the other day, and thinking of you..."
Mooom. I know where this is going.

"...Mom."
"Okay, honey, use it well and good luck!"
Click.


I go pick it up, of course. My mother's encouragement...I might just need it.

But Now, if nothing else is going to interrupt me...
We're ready.
It's time to deal with...the gym leader herself.
"Ready, Pi? Normal-on-Normal time?"

"We can do it!"


...Hey, it's that girl from the radio station. Normally, I get a feeling about fate and suchnot. Huh.
"...You! I saw you at the radio tower just now."
"Glad to know I was fully visible."
"Ahaha?"


How is this person a gym leader? Well, I guess she might have gotten, like, super into it.
"You want to battle?"
"Sure."
"I'm warning you -- I'm good!"


"I'm warning you -- I am unknown and vast."




"Pi, this is a bad time."
"But she's so pretty, with her... her tongue?"
This is kind of dubious attraction magic here.


"Ow!"


Pi can barely get a hit in edge-wise, with the air so full of...sappy hearts. And now she's going to make it worse?


"Oh, two can play at that... Pi, get your head in the game!"
"But...but love means not hurting someone important, right?"
"How would I know?!"



And now he's showering her in useless, useless kisses.

"Besides... Is it really worth holding back for, if she's just going to use your feelings hurt you? Don't you deserve not to be hurt by someone important?"
"Me? What do I deserve..."

...It connects. Like a bolt from the heavens.
"No one deserves to be hurt by someone they love; no one deserves to have their feelings used! In the name of innocent maidens everywhere --"
"Aren't I the maiden here?"
"What would you know? A maiden's the one who feels the precious joy of a first love, and you... don't know a thing about that! In the name of that rush of joy... I will punish you!"
When did this become a magical pokemon show?

Ooh, burn. I mean, metaphorically.



"*sigh* I'll never forget my first love...But I guess serving you, and serving justice, will have to come first."
He has an expression like a lonely cowboy, riding off alone into the sunset.
"I know it's hard, baby." An unrequited love, huh...? Poor thing.



I am starting to get annoyed.

"MWAHAHA! LOVE IS FOR THE WEAK!"

"...What happened to that?"
"But...She's such a precious little princess...M-maybe I could just steal her away somewhere..." He gets a goofy grin on his face, lost in his own fantasies.

OK, new plan. I'll switch in --
"Hey, you!"


"You wished upon a star, well, here she is!"
It's hard to pun under pressure, isn't it?


"W-What's wrong, little girl? Are you mad because I messed with your man?"
"Not everything is about gooshy feelings, you know."

"No one is worth the aggravation and the sappy mwah-mwah, and all that junk... I just don't want my friend getting his heart kicked out of him by someone like you!"

[b]"HAhahah, you're just a child! What do you know about things like love?"[/color]
And then, with a long, sweeping slash of a claw...

"I know that all's fair. But that's sort of true about everything, right?" She grinned and stuck out her tongue.




"Ah, you're trying to work on improving your speed, as opposed to senselessly relying on that emotional manipulation known as 'love.'"

"I had such hopes for someone as lovely as you...But...No matter how beautiful..."

"Nothing is immune to FORCE. I tried to optimize it so you didn't feel that too much."



Ooooh. I am not happy about this gym.
"But soft, what light through younder window breaks?"


A frustratingly durable one... Actually, I was expecting something a bit more... 13th century courtly romance. I am surprised.


"Still, my tendril! What harm might I do to such beauty, tho' it harmeth me?"
"Look, I think we clearly need to let someone else handle this."
Time to change plans. Again.



"None of that works on me, honey! But how about I put you to a stop, too?"


"Very nice."

Curses. Foiled again -- but it's just a little further now.


"Ah, it's like being caught in a whirlpool... 's all bubbles..."
Not good, not good!

"Hang in there, Belle!"


"I'll hang as best I can!"

"Awww, yeah....But, uh, you've got some healing ready, right?"


"Don't worry."


I am extremely worried.


OK. I have a plan.


"This really hurts..."
"Belle, use reflect!"
"What? Now's where we have to just blast 'em! Hey, who's the brains --"
"Just trust me."
She looks at me for a while.

"Thanks, Belle."

...And thanks, Mom.



"See the difference? Beautiful."

"Ok, you...have a point."

From there, it's just the matter of trading blows.


Until...

"Yes!"

"Noooo."

Double-no.

But then the Miltank comes slamming in with all the power she can muster, knocking Belle to the ground. At first, I thought I'd ruined it, but...

Just barely, Belle held on.
"Ow...Ow... I bet you've got...A good plan, right?"
"Yeah. Just blast 'em."
That's her best down for the count!




"Don't worry, dear lady. I'll make this quick."


"Tch. I hesitated."
...Professor is a little scary sometimes.


Oh, come on! You're my age! I didn't even bend time and space, not even a little!

"...I'm sorry."

"I'msorryI'msorryI'msorrySorrySorrySorry"
"June, it's OK. She's just immature."
"Let's just go!"


"I'M SORRY!"
"It's OK. She'll stop soon. She always cries when she loses."
...Oh, wait. I forgot my badge.



"Yes'm."


I feel like that was a bother for her somehow.

"Outside of battle. Oh, you can have this, too!" Now she's all smiles.



How annoying.
"That's right!"

"Is now open right next to the National Park."



...These are going to be some long calls, aren't they?
Oh, well. It's been a long day of love and war, but I have crushed it all beneath my pokemon's assorted heels and not-heels!

"Let's all relax together! Where in this city can you find some good take-out?"
"Whaaat? We spent so long, and we didn't even find that?"
"Frankly, it's astonishing how well they hide it from us."
"Like a conspiracy, but..."
"I. WILL. HAVE. FOOOD!"
"Not if I take it first!"
"I thought we were pals! I was gonna thank you!"
"Friends steal food. If it's funny."

"We simply must endure until chaos aligns for us."
"Don't worry! Momma's sure to find us food!"
"That's right, minions! The king will ensure his minions are provided for!"
We will prevail.

Oh, voting is now open for pokemon changes to be made re: the next area, the National Park. The bug-catching constest is as standard, so...
New Pokemon Available for the National Park
Combee, Scyther, Pinsir, Heracross, Burmy
Standard voting rules apply.

[Qwertystop]

Nice timing on the Full Restore gift. And the Sweet Kiss.

[Javan]

I somehow missed commenting on a chapter. . .
Anyways, Scyther, we need a Scyther named Gigan.

[Hawkflight]

I somehow missed commenting on a chapter. . .
Anyways, Scyther, we need a Scyther named Gigan.

Agreed.asdfghjkl;'

[Trobby]

Oh snap! I have been bad and did not pay attention when this thread updated!

I really enjoyed the Whitney fight, especially the timing of the Full Restore, and the Sailor Soldier of Maidenly Love bit.

Now then, Pokemon Names!

Combee - BuzzBee if a boy, Q-Bee if a girl.

Scyther - I think I'll have to agree that Gigan is the best possible name, boy or girl

Pinsir - Stag if a boy, Doe (opposite of Stag) if a girl

Heracross - Hercules if a boy, Hera if a girl

Burmy - Casey (Bagworms are sometimes known as Case Moths)

[Javan]

Oh snap! I have been bad and did not pay attention when this thread updated!

I really enjoyed the Whitney fight, especially the timing of the Full Restore, and the Sailor Soldier of Maidenly Love bit.

Now then, Pokemon Names!

Combee - BuzzBee if a boy, Q-Bee if a girl.

Scyther - I think I'll have to agree that Gigan is the best possible name, boy or girl

Pinsir - Stag if a boy, Doe (opposite of Stag) if a girl

Heracross - Hercules if a boy, Hera if a girl

Burmy - Casey (Bagworms are sometimes known as Case Moths)

Might I make a suggestion that instead of Hercules it is spelled in the traditional Greek form as Herakles, just so we have more of a match (letterwise)?

[aturtledoesbite]

the traditional Greek form

I don't think the game has characters for ρακλῆς.

(I'm sorry, I know that's not what you meant, I'm just being a pedant. But, also, most people spell that Heracles anyway, and none of these names here are more or less correct than the others (but more correct than, say, "Bob").)

[Javan]

I don't think the game has characters for ρακλῆς.

(I'm sorry, I know that's not what you meant, I'm just being a pedant. But, also, most people spell that Heracles anyway, and none of these names here are more or less correct than the others (but more correct than, say, "Bob").)

Don't you mean Ἡρακλῆς?
You have basically what would translate to Arkles.

[dakota529]

Great Chapter!
For the names I agree with the names Gigan for scyther and Hercules/Heracles/Hera for heracross. For a female combee I suggest Abeille. It's French for bee and I thought that it sounds so cute!

[aturtledoesbite]

Don't you mean Ἡρακλῆς?
You have basically what would translate to Arkles.

I blame Wikipedia.

[Trobby]

Don't you mean Ἡρακλῆς?
You have basically what would translate to Arkles.

To be fair, "Arkles" sounds like a good name too. ;p

I vote we name it Arkles.

[Qwertystop]

I also vote Arkles.

[sadeyes111]

I've been reading for a while and I decided to post to say thank you. I have really enjoyed the story of June and her Pokémon. You are a great writer and I hope you continue.
Ps. Can anyone tell me how to safely get an emulator and storm silver. This let's play made me want to try it, but I have never done such a thing before. Thank you.

[Javan]

To be fair, "Arkles" sounds like a good name too. ;p

I vote we name it Arkles.

I am almost to ashamed to admit this (hence why I hadn't till now). . .
What's really down is Rakles. . . not Arkles. . .
I made a mistake correcting someone else. . .

[Deme]

I've been reading for a while and I decided to post to say thank you. I have really enjoyed the story of June and her Pokémon. You are a great writer and I hope you continue.
Ps. Can anyone tell me how to safely get an emulator and storm silver. This let's play made me want to try it, but I have never done such a thing before. Thank you.

Aww, thank you very much! The current plan is that I'd like to take some time before getting June back on the road to do a little side-story about a pokemon whose evolution was not contained in that big mass-evolution mabobber, and then back on the wagon again.

Anyway, it's a bit... Well, dicey to talk about this sort of thing, but google is your friend. Specifically, you're looking for a DS emulator (Desmume's my preferred, but there are others), a rom of Pokemon Soul Silver/Heart Gold version, WinRar or other file extraction doohickey, and the Storm Silver/ Sacred Gold files, which should include documentation, a patcher, and the patch itself. None of these should be terribly hard to find with some searching, and in terms of safety, it's really just a matter of standard web safety applies.

I am almost to ashamed to admit this (hence why I hadn't till now). . .
What's really down is Rakles. . . not Arkles. . .
I made a mistake correcting someone else. . .

For shame.

[sadeyes111]

OK thank you for the advice. After a little looking I figured it out.

[aturtledoesbite]

I am almost to ashamed to admit this (hence why I hadn't till now). . .
What's really down is Rakles. . . not Arkles. . .
I made a mistake correcting someone else. . .

It's okay, Arkles is a better name anyway.

[Deme]

Agreed.
By the way, I'm working on a sort of intermission, but it's taking a bit; it's sort of a slog, especially during allergy season. Sorry about that.

[Deme]

Ok, got it done!

This takes place... Sometime during the next chapter, probably. Time is weird.

Intermission #2

Spoiler: Hopeless

Show

It's hopeles. Just another sort of trouble. Why expect anything else? Only people born lucky will get anything but trouble.

What's "it"? This June girl, I mean. I didn't mind being in the box. It's quiet there. I try not to mind anything; certainly, no one cares, so it's easier just to not fight it.
But today, she came to pick me up.

"It's been a while, right? I'm sorry."
"It's just what I should expect... I'm not good for much."
She seems like she's been working hard, because I think she understood all of that.

"I know what you mean. I-I think I might just be trouble..."
She looked down at her shoes. The expression on her face was... Almost frightening. She was smiling -- she's always smiling, like there's something to smile about... But her eyes were wide, the way a frightened creature's eyes are wide.


"Everything's trouble. Don't sweat it." Like I'm someone to give advice.

"I-I'm fine. Anyway, I felt like taking a little break from travelling... So how about I take it with you? There's a lot of stuff in the city."

"This is a big city, isn't it? Full of fashionable people..." I sigh. "You wouldn't want to be around me."
Appearances are something people always use against each other. For some people, they can use how they look against everyone else... But I'm always going to be used against me.
And, maybe I'm just too soft, but I don't want them used against random people who thought, despite everything, that I'm worth something.

Besides which, I'm flopping on the tile floor, with all the dignity of... Well, there's really nothing less dignified than a fish on the ground, right? Pulling myself along with splash and my fins...



"I think I've come to the conclusion that this approved selection of colors and patterns dubbed 'fashion' are beyond my comprehension. Horrors beyond the stars? Good. Fashion? Bad."
She shrugs. That might have been....


The weirdest thing I have heard in a long time.


"But if it's looking good you're worried about, I think I've heard of just the thing... Well, provided that the underground is not an empty and meaningles void like before."

Riiiight.

Either way, she took me downstairs -- it was mostly empty, except for a few people who gave her the side-eye. I expected not to be noticed... But seeing her noticed negatively bothered me. Maybe she's too strong a trainer?
Still, it's hard to imagine being even attached to something that makes people jealous.




"I'm the older and better of the two Haircut Brothers."
"...This might have been the wrong choice."

We look around, in case there is someone else here who can do something other than cut hair.

...What, you don't see the issue? Daniel's just complaining?
...
...
He's a hairdresser. Running a hair salon. For hair.
Haaaiiir.
It's hopeless.

The man waves off our concern, once we see there's no one at any other table.




"And more beautiful. Would you like me to do that?"
"...And what good would that do me?"
"You're the one who was worried about fashionability. Pay the price of your concerns."



She looked at me and shrugged. As she lifted me up onto the counter, I struggled to imagine what was about to happen.
It couldn't be good, right? I mean, he had scissors.

***



"...I have seen many things. But that..."
The girl shook her head, her eyes hollow and numb. I can't blame her; I feel the same. The things I've witnessed... The things that just happened...

Actually felt really nice. Like getting a massage, but pointier. Also, grosser.


"I guess it wasn't awful... But you have to admit, it's just lipstick on a pig."

"Hmmm... You think? I'm not sure. I mean, you are pretty cute when you're sulking... But if you want to go back, we can go back."
"Yes, please."

I've had enough of being made fun of.

***

Despite that, she comes for me again...
And again...
And again.
We usually go to the hairdresser's, and a take-out place she found "With the team."

It's not bad, but...It won't change anything.

"What's even the point of this?"
"Well, I'm sort of taking a break; there's a lot to do around here, and there's a park and there's that pokeathalon thing and...
I just want to feel settled for a little bit. Maybe I can't afford it."
She laughed, nervously.

"Probably not. It'll all catch up, sooner or later."


"You might be right... But what's catching up to you?"
"It's not like it's uncommon...But it's still a shame. Don't worry about it; it's not yours."
The grimy linoleum underfin caught the reflection of her delicate, worried face, with its manic little smile. Well, it isn't her business, so she should be relieved. I'd like it not to be mine. I started pulling myself along, towards the take-out place, anyway, when she said...

"Say, why don't we do something different today?"

"...Different?"
This can't be good.

She walks along to the back of this little underground area, to a desk with a couple of men.

He sounds so...rehearsed. Great. Just as expected.

Ok, now he's just laughing at me, like everyone else. What else would I expect.

"Then I will even hang a picture of one in the other room! You will do this, won't you?"
"Yeah. That sounds fun, doesn't it?"
June eyes me expectantly. I just let myself lean onto the cold, forgiving floor. You're the only one who understands me, little tiles.
I miss water.



Who does he think he's fooling? If he's a Kalosian style magnate, then I'm a Gyrados.


...I wish he'd quit laughing. But what can you do? That's how everyone is.

June sighed, looking into her accessory box.

"My options are tragically limited. Well, why don't we try whatever isn't fluff?"

"Fluff?"

"Like, lint."
"...What does it matter?"
Still, she's so excited, or I'd just relax on my side. After a while, she starts fiddling with my fin...And sticks something on my forehead...



"...It's a little silly."

Of course it is. It's me.


"Oh, I know! Let's try this!"
My vision blurs as she tries to balance something on the middle of my face.

"*Snrk*"

"Don't." Seriously. I just want a little respect.

"I won't. I won't. They don't fit, anyway....Hmmm, ooh! I do have one other thing..."


"It's perfect!"
"It tickles."
"Such gravitas. Such majesty. You are the fish that swims across the span of the cosmos, a fish of wisdom. You will swim the sky like a sea, and bestow knowledge to the young and the old. That is a mustache that has seen things."
...What.

"Anyway, I'll pick a background...I think we can ditch the jewel maybe..."
Well, that's something...


"No, that's not it..."


After a while, she nods, and repositions me.
"What background...?"

"That is a profound mystery. But hopefully, a pleasant one."
She was grinning.

"OK, we're done!"


"Where everyone can see it!"
"Everyone...?"
Everyone?
"You can let no one see it."

I jumped up so I was, briefly, level with her eyes, just to glare into them.
"No one."


"Oh, but it needs a title!"
"Wait, can't we just...Not display it? But, like, I can have a print-out? He's really very shy."
"Don't be silly, my dear! It will be good to display things."


And then she laughed, as the man started framing that picture. First a nervous chuckle, and then sincerely.

"I am so sorry, dude. That's what it is."




...What. No. Absolutely not. He heads into the side room with it, while she simultaneously shakes her heads and laughs.

"What a mess."

She looks at me.
"Well -- ha ha -- let's go see it, I guess. You'll be stunned; it's so great. I'm so sorry."


When we get up to it, she's giggling behind her hand in anticipation. How dare she? I -- I don't trust people. I don't. Because it's not like things would ever change.
I don't trust people, but...

But maybe I might have lost track. For a second. Fools will always be foolish.

So I turn and I just flop on out of there, fast as a hard bounce on a hard ground can carry me.

That's enough.

She followed after me, nervously at first, but she caught up before not too long. Of course -- legs, right?
Out onto a route by the water, where the grass was green and a fresh rain had left clean, cool puddles.

"When I was little, you always hear stories, right? The ugly Ducklett. The beautiful, contest-winning Miltoic that came from the ugliest things. But you know what?
Being pink and pretty is only a defense if you're a pink and pretty type -- if you're a girl, if you're 'stylish,' if you're confident.

My dad was a gyrados. He never had to put up with this. But I'm never going to be him -- I'm never going to escape, and nothing's going to fix my problems. It's hopeless. I'll just have to live with being laughed at!

...And I'm not taking that from you."


"I'm sorry."

I think she said that -- I got carried away. I was just so angry...
No.
I was never really angry. I was just...
I don't know.

I guess I tuned out for a minute.

But for a minute...

For a minute, I felt a blackness in me -- or around me. A vision of a darkened world. Even the air -- I felt like I was choking... I guess you could call that choking on my own black heart. I thought I smelled the bottom of the sea.

And I was alone. That week with June just felt like a fleeting dream; like it was gone, gone forever, except...

Except that I felt a warm pair of arms around me.
I was brought back to reality by a voice, repeating,

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

How dumb, right? It was just a dream... But June really was apologizing, for what somehow felt like a long time.

Maybe I just really understood how screwed-up about this I'd gotten.

And she was still apologizing, with that same smile. She looked like that all the time, didn't she?

She's not a very happy person, is she? She's working hard, but...
But she and I are alike like that.

Still.
She was trying. She was trying really hard to make me happy.

It's hopeless.
"Let's go look at that picture."


"Oh, um. OK."


"...You are the worst stylist."
"I said I was sorry!"

"Yeah, well...I should laugh, you're so bad."
"...Well? Go ahead. I...I think I like being laughed at. (More than other things.) Besides... Maybe I just wanted you to laugh.
Fate may be inexorable, so you must throw yourself into the infinite abyss sometimes, you know?... I mean...E-even if you're trapped...
Things might be... OK?"


She sounded like she wasn't talking about me.


So I try laughing for a while. It feels good.

I guess there's nothing for it, really. Besides, I guess I should be thankful -- that's a trap not everyone gets to fall into. Being taken care of... Even if you look like a sissy for it.


I laugh deep from my gut, jack-kniving in the air like I'm coming out the water.


I feel it bubbling through me...


Coursing through me like a river, smashing me open like a current...


And leaving me different from before. The world is so small -- she's so small. In a way I feel... Above things, maybe? Like maybe I could fight someone or something. Ha. How silly.


"Hmph. I'll prepare for the pink jokes."
"Well. I like it. And, you know... It's...It's not like you have to deal with whatever anyone says alone. If anyone bugs you, just send 'em to me!"


"And what'll you do?"

"I'll beat 'em up!"
She mimed punching the air with an innocent grin. Humans grow up so slowly...


"You? Beat up a pokemon?...It's hopeless."

"You assume I could even beat up a human."


"Then what would you do, really?"

"I-I'd write a strongly-worded letter!"


"..."

"Sorry. I'm sorry. But... I don't know what I could do. I don't even know what to do for myself. It's just... No one has to be alone."

"Ha. ha. hahahahaha." What a dumb kid...


...But I have to admit. It might just be hopeless...
Because I do look pretty amazing.

[Trobby]

Okay I KNOW I read this, and yet somehow I completely forgot to comment on it.

I am glad this was done though. Genuinely glad that Daniel's journey has come to fruition.

[Selpharia]

Yay, Daniel!

That was a really wonderful intermission. I'd like to see him join the team for a bit, but we'll see!

[Deme]

Glad to hear it!
This chapter was a bit weird to do, but I'm glad it's done.

Chapter 21

Spoiler: You Don't Want to Know What I Know

Show

With victory fresh in my heart, the wind in my sails, it's time to do the most important thing!
Check the lottery for today.

"Matches your Loto Ticket number!"
I won? I won!
"Wooh! I'm a winner!"

"A fourth place winner."
"So 'tis some manner of celebration of the ever-turning wheel of fortune? Zounds."

Free ball!



Let's see... I think there was a flower shop here I wanted to visit before we leave, too.


...You know, a tree that dances is probably not a tree. It's probably a pokemon of some sort, or controlled by a pokemon, or caused by a pokemon.
Really, we live in a universe that is a hammer, and thus always finds nails.

"It is!"

"To worry about, is there?"
"There is always something to worry about."

"Keep it!"
"Thanks."
Ha, now I have a water-gun attack.


"Look, it's me! This is the best; they heard we were coming and prepared tribute!"
"You're a warturtle."
"I guess it takes them a while to make these things."
"Look, no one's given you tribute! No one's certainly ever given me tribute."
"That's because I'm the king!"

"I accept your tribute!"
...


Anyway... let's just move on.

"From all over the region."
"So you'll be competing?"

"Well, no, you'd be catching them, not taking them."
"...She's missed the point, hasn't she?"
"She did entirely."


"Wow, this is really very pretty."
"Oh, man! It smells so nice! Oh, hey, come look at these!"
She comes dashing up to a flower bed, hooking her leaf around my arm to drag me after.

"They've got some fantastic tulip varieties here, don't you think?"
"I guess... I don't know much about flowers. I didn't think you did, either."
"Hahaha, well, you know, I am a grass type. So of course I know about that."
"Really?"
"...Of course! It's in my blood! You started out as a normal pokemon, so you wouldn't understand!"
She turned her head.
"So I guess one day, you'll want me to grow you a flower bed, right?" I hope we'll be together for that...
"I don't plan on settling down just looking at the flowers!"
"Right on!"
"That's...That's way too lonely." Belle mutters. She shakes her head. "Come on, June, stop standing around and let's go!"


"Yes'm!"

"And you need to work on your spine. Good thing you've got us."
"You must be a pokemon trainer."




"It sounds like Twitch might like it."
"Doesn't it seem unreliable? If you want him to be faster, it'd be better to raise him to be faster."
"That's true, but I don't think it's that easy to raise pokemon for specific things when on the road."


"I mind it not; if I move more quickly, then all is well; if not, then I am meant to be slow. Tis a gift that speaks well to my faith."
He smiles and clutches it close with a little tendril.

"This manner of totem... How wondrous and strange, to see it carried so far foreward, flung to such times as I."
He looks a little sad when he says it... I guess it's a little nostalgic, just a claw as an item like that.



Then it sounds like the place for us, because everyone fights us everywhere, all the time.


"My darling makes me."



Nice and easy.


I think we're good for now.

"Tha-"
"Thank you!"

Might as well.



"The cutest pokemon ever, really!"
I don't want to tell her that what she has is a Granbull. Maybe it's a Granbull named Snubbull?


It is true that I don't expect him.

This does seem like a perfect photo-op!


"I should be in the front!"
"Will this device not stealeth my soul?"
"...Does this superstition exist with anything else?"
"Smile, everyone!"
...
"Cleo, stop trying to do bunny ears. You have paws."
"Awww."


I'll check it out later.

There's a little gap in the fence that allows me to explore a little part of the back areas of the park, which is good; this was a bit crowded, anyway.

"Huh. Well...Bowser, you want this?"
"I want everything."
"I mean, specifically." I hold it out to him. "After all, you're 'King of the Shells,' right? So here, have a sign of your power, my liege."

He stares at it for a minute, before a big grin spreads on his face, full of chompy teeth.
"I accept your pledge of fealty, MINION! GWAHAHAHAH!"

I follow after him as he runs around jingling the bell, with a big goofy grin on my face.


I think I have this, but oh well, free stuff.


"That's true. There is vastness still beyond; chill and thunder, out somewhere deeper than the sky. And in that blackness, in storms that scour galaxies, something swims."
He stares for a moment and tries to get his composure.
"I-I know more than you do!"
"...Then I pity you."


Screw it, Ice Beam.



It's a lovely day in the park.


Just beautiful.


"You don't want to know what I know."

"I guess."



"Oh, that's just my normal expression. I make it at everything. Sometimes I get in fights."
"Oh, a battle?"
I didn't exactly...
"Look, she's going to fight you, so you might as well just go for it!"


[colo=red]"Some say the world will end in fire/ some say in ice."

"From what I’ve tasted of desire/ I hold with those who favor fire."[/color]

...What, he's not going to finish?

Well, I think anyone is cooler than me! That counts, right?

"If it will make you feel better!"


"That's what being a pokefan is all about."
"What have you done to make your pokemon dislike you?"
"Is this man an enemy of pokemon everywhere?"


Distinctly possible.


"Things that seem true and are false... Pardon me, if I might be moved to concern of this world."
"Eh, it's just a funny little...tree fella. Sort of."
Ooh, there's a chill that certainly indicates I will be thinking about this again.

"You take that back!"

"Everything in this world is hard."


"Anyway, there's a contest...But it's tomorrow, so I'm clearly just going to have to wait around town for a bit.
You, however, will not. I mean, I'll probably actually do something -- maybe hang with a pokemon or two -- to pass the time, but I'm also going to just pull the time forward, until I am it and it is me."
"Hey, I thought you explicitly said you couldn't do that stuff?"
"Well, technically, I can't. But I can wait until it happens anyway."
"What a splendid understanding of chaos!"
"Uhh... This doesn't sound like a very just use of...Um. This stuff. Maybe we should look into it? Maybe? A little?"
"If there was something to look into about it, I would."
Pi looked really uneasy there. Which is sort of weird; he kind of likes crazy stuff (Sorry about that.)

Anyway, let's just hurry along!

***


Voila!
It only took a little time getting some fish some haircuts, and a minimal screaming tear in the world.

Sounds fun.
"The rules are simple. Using one of your pokemon, catch a bug-type pokemon to be judged."

Let's do this!
Do I get to pick, or am I bringing Pi?


Eh, let's do it!
"For justice! (...Uh, didn't I have something on my mind?)"


Don't try and do anything to the, uh, half the team. They bite.



Oh, boy! Pokeballs for free!




Yadda, yadda.



"Let's catch bugs!"
"Okay!"



Good luck! Man, Scyther'd be cool.


Isn't that true for all of them?








You all sound like you're very invested. It's a touch unsettling.

While I'm walking... I see something sticking out of the 'hard ground.'


It's a plate, a sort of grey-green color, made of... It feels like glass and looks like a jewel.
When I touch it, it's warm, and my mind fills suddenly with the brassy clatter of ninjask taking flight, the gloss on the back of a heracross, the low whine that fills the summer air and the gentle murmur of kriketots in fall. It somehow fills the air -- I feel the it stretching into forever.

The plate falls from my hands with a clatter.
"That's...That's a thing."

Pi is staring at me.
"Pi?"
A bright smile's on his face, his eyes wide.
[color=darksalmon]"I think... I think I know something! I know I thought something!"
"About the plate?"
"You're the same. You're not the same. Maybe I'm the same? Oh, it had me, but it's gone..."
I'm not exactly sure what to do, but he seems almost feverish, so I sit down at wait for him, the tall grass swallowing me.
"But, I mean... I need to guide you to important things. Things like this."
He tapped it with one not-quite-paw.
"What?"
"I have no idea! But it's important, and I almost forgot..."
"I'm sorry. That's... probably my bad."

"Don't be. Because... Because you're my momma. I'm meant to find someone, and I think it's always been you."
I don't believe that.
Being important, or even that he was meant to find me -- well, for anything worth smiling like that about.
But I'll never have the nerve to say it.
"...OK." I stand up and brush the grass off my legs.
"Purpose can wait for bugs."


Well, we have to keep going.

Now, that's a bug!

"Hold on just a second more, Pi!"
I think he was pulling his punches there...

There we go!




Just in time.

He examined out catches carefully.


"Nincada!"



"Wriggling Nincada!"
Boy, I'm glad to be seperate from the pack here.




Oh, come on! My Scyther doesn't beat a Nincada?



*Sigh*
Oh, well. Maybe next time. Maybe next time.





Oh, was that my problem?

"I wonder if it's true."
Could be.

Solidarity, bro.



Apparently.

I'd be stunned! Oh, well.


We'll see. We'll see.

[Trobby]

OOooh, I really liked this update. :3

Bowser's reaction to the SquirtGun was utterly precious.

I love the group photo.

And the entire segment with Pi during the bug-catching tournament was...remarkably well-written and deep.

Really, there's a bit of everything good here.

Though I wish Gigan had won. Oh well.

[dakota529]

Great chapter! I absolutely love what you did with the plate! I hope you do something similar with all the plates