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

[Brance_a_Lot]

Yup that's what I meant, so that's Cerberus vote for Houndour.

[Javan]

Fixed.

Last Updated: Hawk's Updated Vote

Spoiler

Show

Rival Name

Julian 5

Henschel 1

Pokemon to Catch

Barboach 1

Whisky 1

Natu 2

Gawain 1

Horus 1

Feebas 4

Daniel (Male) 1

Danielle (Female) 1

Vyers (Male) 1

Cecelia (Female) 1

Bess 1

Neptune (Male) 1

Siren (Female) 1

Seedot 1

Seed 1

Poochyena 2

Cerberus 2

Shinx 4

Pharoah (Male) 1

Cleopatra (Female) 2

Balinor (Male) 1

Diana (Female) 1

Leo (Male) 1

Kimba 1

Slowpoke 2

Morpheus (Male) 2

Siren (Female) 2

Sandshrew 3

Spike (Male) 2

Katherine (Female) 2

Sonar (Male) 1

Sona (Female) 1

Swablu 1

Cotton 1

Big Bird 1 (Bird for short)

Houndour 4

Cerberus 3

Cerberus (Male) 1

Persephone (Female) 1

Satan 1

Larvitar 5

Terra 1

Rammus 1

Terra (Female) 3

Chomper (Male) 1

Petrine (Female) 1

Havel (Male) 1

Slade (Male) 2

Mothra 1

Magikarp 1

Queequeg 1

Koi 1

Spinarak 1

Pete (Male) 1

Gwen (Female) 1

Chinchou 1

Watt 1

Ralts 2

Ringo (Male) 1

Sabrina (Female) 2

Quixote (Male) 1

Clefairy 1

Oberon (Male) 1

Titania (Female) 1

See Trobby's extensive name list for potential options

Spoiler

Show

The Great Naming Challenge: Episode 1

Magikarp - Koi regardless of gender
Shellder - Sheldon if a boy, Shelly if a girl (so original)
Chinchou - Watt regardless of gender
Sentret - Sandy if a girl, Mario if a boy
Pidgey - Bill if a boy, Jill if a girl
Starly - Atticus if a boy, Claudia if a girl (Lady Bird Johnson's first name)
Ratatta - Mouser if a boy, Ms. Mows if a girl
Zigzagoon - Ziggy regardless of gender
Bidoof - Dagget if a boy, Treeflower if a girl
Hoppip - Saera if a girl, Puffin if a boy
Wurmple - Wormy regardless of gender
HootHoot - Owl regardless of gender (I think this might be the worst name yet)
Geodude - Rockbiter if a boy, Gem if a girl
Spearow - Ash if a boy, Misty if a girl (Why? Wynaut. ;p )
Spoink - Piglett regardless of gender
Swablu - Big Bird regardless of gender (Bird for short)
Numel - Llama regardless of gender
Jigglypuff - Donna if a girl, Don if a boy
Phanpy - Ganesh if a boy, Shiva if a girl
Clefairy - Oberon if a boy, Titania if a girl
Houndour - Satan regardless of gender
Krabby - Poseidon if a boy, Amphitrite if a girl
Corphish - Rocky if a boy, Adrian if a girl
Ledyba - Robin regardless of gender
Taillow - John if a boy, Birdy if a girl
Lotad - Lilly if a girl, Senor if a boy
Sedot - Seed regardless of gender
Caterpie - Wiggler regardless of gender
Weedle - Frosty regardless of gender
Surskit - Glider regardless of gender
Kricketot - Wolfe if a boy, Midna if a girl
Ralts - Ringo if a boy, Sabrina if a girl
Spinerak - Skulltula if a boy, Vriska if a girl
Poliwag - Kero if a boy, Natsumi if a girl
Goldeen - Yue regardless of gender
Psyduck - Alpha 5 if a boy, Webbigail if a girl
Bellsprout - Audrey II regardless of gender
Buizel - Miles if a boy, Tails if a girl
Abra - Houdini if a boy, Agitha if a girl
Natu - Horus regardless of gender
Exeggcute - Fromage regardless of gender
Budew - Ivy if a girl, Bushroot if a boy
Tentacool - Cthulhu regardless of gender
Feebas - Bess regardless of gender
Zubat - Terezi if a girl, Bruce if a boy
Bronzor - Perseus
Makuhita - Jackie if a girl, Honda if a boy
Teddiursa - Banjo if a boy, Mama if a girl
Slugma - Turbo regardless of gender
Larvitar - Mothra regardless of gender
Dunsparse - Tsuchi regardless of gender
Chingling - Graham regardless of gender
Barboach - Whisky regardless of gender (can you tell I'm running out of names? ;p ))
Whooper - Roxy if a girl, Yippy if a boy

My Vote

Rival: Julian

Magikarp

Queequeg

Sandshrew

Spike (Male)

Katherine (Female)

Natu

Gawain

[Hawkflight]

I'll also vote for a Shinx named Kimba.

[Qwertystop]

Miscount on Barboach: There were at least two votes. I voted for it without putting a nickname, and at least one person apparently voted with a nickname, by your list.

[Javan]

I just double-checked, but no miscount.
Trobby voted on a name for every Pokemon, I added those names to the vote list.

[Qwertystop]

I just double-checked, but no miscount.
Trobby voted on a name for every Pokemon, I added those names to the vote list.

Ah. Okay then.

[Deme]

Alright, calling it. Our team's picking up a Feebas (who we won't be able to evolve for forever. Why did you guys vote that in?), a Houndour, a Shinx, and a Larvitar. We'll also be picking up whatever else I can catch with all the pokeballs I can afford after building a basic first aid kit.

[Selpharia]

Alright, calling it. Our team's picking up a Feebas (who we won't be able to evolve for forever. Why did you guys vote that in?), a Houndour, a Shinx, and a Larvitar. We'll also be picking up whatever else I can catch with all the pokeballs I can afford after building a basic first aid kit.

At least for me, there were a number of reasons:

1) Milotic is my favorite pokemon ever, and a pretty great water tank, completing your access to the Fire-Water-Grass triad

2) Goldenrod city isn't that far, and you can evolve Feebas with haircuts then.

3) I though the story and personality of an ugly duckling pokemon like Feebas would make an interesting mix with the rest of the team.

[Deme]

Fair enough ...I'm just not sure what I'll do with it for the next...Um... 2 towns and associated areas. I'll do my best, though!
Well, assuming it doesn't get voted out. If it does, no big deal: you can just vote it back in when we can (or do) evolve it. Because we are catching and evolving all the things.

[Qwertystop]

You said Magicarp learned actual moves now. Feebas doesn't?

[Deme]

You said Magicarp learned actual moves now. Feebas doesn't?

It gets Water Pulse at 20, and Hypnosis at 25. Its other moves, IE, Tackle at 15 and just Splash to start, is as normal.
Magikarp starts off with Bubble, Reversal, and Tackle, and gets Flail at 15. Why does Magikarp get early attacking options, and Feebas doesn't? I'd guess because Magikarp needs to be leveled to evolve, and Feebas doesn't in the same way. Or the hack's just arbitrary in places.

[Javan]

Alright, calling it. Our team's picking up a Feebas (who we won't be able to evolve for forever. Why did you guys vote that in?), a Houndour, a Shinx, and a Larvitar. We'll also be picking up whatever else I can catch with all the pokeballs I can afford after building a basic first aid kit.

I too would like to know why Feebas was the fish of choice over Magikarp...
Read this and be amazed
And Deme even told us Magikarp would be even better!

[Deme]

Chapter 3

Spoiler: You are not a man. You are a fuzzy thing. (1/2)

Show

"Yeah, that was it."


"My next assignment is to search for this red-haired individual."


Phew! I'm glad he's gone. I mean, what if there was an...accident? They'd have to invent new charges.


"you are innocent.
See you later!"

...I hope he remembers why he came in here within a few hours.


"I know...I hope that Cyndaquil will be Ok." I will find justice!
"Oh, yes, what was Mr. Pokemon's big discovery?"

"Well, it's this..."


The egg takes him aback. Or maybe he's just instinctively nervous about anything I hand him; it's not my fault those barometers exploded.

[b]"This Egg may be something I've never seen...still it's just an Egg."[/color]
He shakes his head and his face grows a rueful smile.
"Mr. Pokemon is always fascinated by Eggs."

"I'll keep it for a while to find out about the Egg...How was the trip, June? You don't leave town often."

"It was...good? Well, a lot of things happened..." I can't tell him about that incident on the way... "I had fun with Belle, and a woman from Sinnoh gave me an eevee...And I contemplated the great and unknown expanse, like the blackness of space but living close to our planet's skin, that is the ocean... And Professor Oak, you know, the one with the radio show, gave me a pokedex."
"...What was that middle one?"
"Look, she's...strange."

"What?!"
...Oh, I screwed up again, didn't I?

"June, is that true? Th-that's incredible!"
"I know! He said I could help him with it!"
"He is superb at seeing the potential of people as trainers."


"A little?!" How exciting! I've never been a little different!
He coughs.
"...Well, anyway...I knew you were different, but...Things are going to be fun!"
"Things are always different, but from a cosmic perspective, they are always the same."


"take the Pokemon Gym challenge?"
That sounds...like it might be hard. And The Rules say...

"If you manage to defeat all the Gym Leaders, you'll eventually challenge the Pokemon League Champion!"
"Yesyesyesyesyes! We can do it! Be the champ!"
Belle really thinks so? She'd be doing the fighting, So...Maybe it'd work OK?

"...Or not! Haha!"
"Ha, good one..." For a minute, though...Maybe that sounded...exciting. But me, being so good at something? Nah, don't even think of it.

Still, he adjusts his glasses and adopts an expansive stance.
"Becoming the Champion is not at all easy, but you can certainly challenge Violet City's Gym."

I-It is close, and I'd be able
"We're going all the way, June! Don't worry!"
"That's a little ahead of ourselves...Still, a test of my strength would be appreciated. An endless mound of foes to fight!"


"Will be a long journey. Before you leave, make sure that you talk to your mom."


In a way, this is...scary. My setting out to do this -- to do this challenge, like Belle wants... My helping Professor Oak with his pokedex...
They'd be things I could never imagine my mom accepting. Keep your head down. Don't spend too much time with Pokemon. Don't let anyone know. Try not to upset people.
If you can just sound like a normal person...Then you won't have to be alone.


"M-Mom. I...met Professor Oak, and he asked me to help him with his pokedex and people keep saying I'd be a goodtrainerandProfessorElmsaysIshouldtrythegymchal lengeandIthinkit'dbeworthatry...so please, can I go?"[/color]

"Is that alright?"
She smiles softly, like she did when I was a child at bedtime.
"I think it'll have to be. There's a place for you, somewhere... But I'm sure now, it's far from here..."
There were small beads of tears in her eyes. But she wiped them away with her hand and smiled brightly.


"I know! Every time you recieve prize money, I'll save some of it for you.
On a long journey, money's important, and you're...A little scatterbrained.
Do you want me to save money for you?"

"Sounds good."
That way, even if I spend it all, I'll have an emergency reserve back home.


"Be careful. Be safe. June's Pokemon...Watch out for her. She's not the most balanced person, but she's a good girl."

My mother's figure seemed blurred and indistinct -- this is all happening so fast, it's all a blur... No, that's not the speed of events, time ripping though me, but tears in my eyes...
N-not that I'm crying. I'm very nearly an adult, after all...

"When you work as a team, I'm sure you can accomplish anything! Now, go on!"


Aw, it's morning. I skipped over night somehow...I was hoping to sleep before I went.
You know how often I get to sleep? Oh, well.

Well, let's get going!


...Ethan, where did you think I would be? I just left the lab and went home, and now I'm here. I admit, there's some uncertainty about travelling with me, but...Seriously.

"June! You can catch wild Pokemon with Poke Balls."
Yes, that is rather how it works. That is, in fact, the sole function of pokeballs. Catching pokemon.
"Follow me!"


We make a chain of pokemon and people out in the tall grass. It's rather adorable.

Yeah, pretty much. Weaken, throw balls. Status ailments are good.


"Oh, thank you!"
I am not sure if this is a day, or just a series of contious events, one after another. Defining time is purposeless and empty, when compared to the sheer experience of time like a dragsail behind you.

Anyway, lots of gifts since the last time I slept. That's what I meant.

"See you later, Ethan."
Wherever he's going, anyway.


15 Pokeballs. Not bad!

I'm not quite sure what to use them on, yet. I mean, I'm using them on everything, eventually.


Time to stock up on more healing! I will be like a girlscout, but of pokemon!
I actually joined the girlscouts. They didn't like my campfire stories... I thought the point was to be scary, though...

Somehow, a vividly-told reminder of all the numerous possibilities, the regrets and the dangers looming before us at all times, culminating in our inevitable deaths, where our innards will become an acidic soup and our outtards only food for worms and maggots -- if we don't just dissolve like a puddle in a casket, of course...Wasn't scary enough? They were so dissapointing they cried.

And that was how I stopped being a girlscout. The end.

After that, I leave town and travel onwards!


Where I encounter that youngster who was fighting with his rattata earlier.
"OOh, sorry that didn't go well for you?" I offer.

Hey, wait, I look what?

Why do people keep saying that?

"She is rather wibbly."
"She'll do great, because I'll make her do great! Just follow my instructions!"
"...Training the trainer? Well, I'd rather see her orders myself."



Somehow, this feels...significant. Like an inescapable bond of fate. Regrettably.

He's pretty strong on the offense.
I'm not sure the Professor can handle this...

"I believe we'll manage."
Oh?
"I refuse to surrender!"
"Well, OK, then, tackle!"



Ha! What a terrible plan!


And we're done here!

With a level (and some money) for our troubles.



Gosh, a phone number not from some sort of benevolent authority figure? Wowsers.

I hope I'll not regret this somehow.
"I'll ring you whenever I get the urge to battle!"

I headed back to Cherrygrove, healed up, and went on our --

Oh, wait. Woops.
"...It is not in the nature of a strong man to scream like a little girl, it is not the nature of a man of knowledge to scream like a little girl..." He starts chanting, in a low tone.
"You're not a man. You're a fuzzy thing."

And so he screamed for a while, and I just sighed. I don't know if this is one day or two or what, but this was rather frequent. I'm just glad for lack of crowds.
...Still, I can't help but feel bad about it. I don't mean to frighten my pokemon and destroy the laws of biology and, since I appear to be hovering at least 2 feet off the ground, gravity.


I don't mean to leave gibbering townsfolk in my wake, clutching their knees and crying as if they'd seen some unknowable font of madness moonwalk (or whatever I seem to do to move in this state) on by.

Really, I don't.
At least it's just me this time.

"...I'll explain it later, in case you don't remember."
"I'll take just not remembering, thanks."


And then all was black. The lines between myself and the cosmos, dictated only by my own illusion of self-awareness and the general groupings of specific atoms in specific, roughly human patterns had dissolved.
It was night. It was day. It was up. It was down. I was inside of Belle's flimsy self-promotion and Professor's serious-minded pursuit of violence. I was inside the townsfolk, whose world was slowly collapsing in on itself.
And I was in you, dear readers I am only sometimes aware of. I was a voice inside your head, assigned by you and planted by the force of this great blackness, reading out these words in tones you yourself chose.
Yes, I was there.

And I could see great black wings like spider legs -- that were spider legs, that understood the difference between wings and the legs of spiders was a game, swimming through the darkness.



Then Cherrygrove, with the sweet scent of flowers, and people picking themselves up, crying and shaking and not understanding why.
"...I j...I just had...Um, excuse me." Professor pawed at his face and until his tail stopped thrashing about. "...I just had the...most apocolyptic feeling. Positively chilling..."

"S, so you don't remember, huh? Hahahaha.... Ha." Her laugh had an edge of hysteria. "I was hoping it was just a pokemon thing..."
"Apparently not. I'm sorry, Professor. I'm so sorry! It's ok if you want to leave!"

I bowed in apology.

"Remember what?...Did something happen?"

"I'm sorry! Sometimes I just...destroy everything. Or everything is destroyed around me. Or something. It is terrifying for mortals to behold and incomprehensible and I'm sorry! But hey, look, fixed now! Won't happen again...Um, for a while! Probably!"
"...I'd say you're insane, but...You remember this, Belle?"
"I-I do. Unfortunately. But she really is sorry. Um, hey! You screamed like a little girl!"
She laughed more sincerely, chasing her nerves away.

"...I surely did not! ...Anyway, if I'm to assume this happened...Then..."
"...I...I really won't be mad." Just sad, but...I'm used to it! There's no use being sad!

"Don't be silly. I can't possibly leave with such an interesting mystery before me. No, I think...I must use notes, to document the experience more fully. This needs study, and you've clearly never done any."
He nods resolutely.

"...R-really?"
For all my saying that I was used to it, it still felt like something released me, just then, like a sigh leaving my chest.

"Besides... I'm no coward. I can't abide weakness."

"Wow, that sounds really cool when you say it! Alright, I am all for this note-taking plan!"

"Let's get a move on, then."

I'm heading along, when...

"Hey, that's my job! Hmm...But your version has more fighting..."
This sounds like a difficult dillema for Belle. Fighting, or flower power displays?




Two tackles is all it takes.


"Nah, let's stay in."


There's not much that Professor can't destroy.
...By the way, what sort of Flower Power was that?



Woo-hoo! Of course we're getting bite!

He's the main physical attacker, so...Really, helping hand doesn't help.


Biting things!


That's more like it.
Well, not flower power. Leaf power. That's a thing, right?



Yeah, that's not going to do much.

Night-night.


Ok, better. Though that's still not a flower, at least it's a cherry.
With a creepy vestigal face-cherry.


So, tackle-off. Professor wins.

He wins all the tackle contests.

And now our levels are even.
"Ah, I am bedazzled!"


"Yeah, yeah! So let me lead, now that he's not trailing!"
Sounds good to me, I suppose.

Someone's excited!

Moving on...

Oh. I was sort of expecting a fight there, honestly...
"But if you look one in the eyes prepare to battle."
I've noticed. I don't like it.
(I'm not, um, very big on eye contact...)


Belle got a level on our way up that ledge.



That could be really catchy if you tightened the meter... You know, in a sort of pop way.


What's an idol doing out here, anyway? Singing to the trees?
"Hey, singing to greenery is important!"


A poisonpowder and a pound later,


And they've exchanged about the same amount of damage, somehow.
Well, before the barrage of razor-sharp leaves like a cutting remark.


Well, so much for an even match.

"Ha! I don't have ears! You can't touch this!"




Let's switch out. Spread the love around.

To fight a clefairy!



Tackle-woo!

Her final pokemon's a Skitty.

"Alright, Professor!"
...
"Wait, why are you staring like that?"

"...I...I've never felt like this before...What is this feeling...?"
Why are you asking me that?
"She's just trying to lure you into a false sense of security! Keep going!"
"...But...but..."

Um, uh, what would convince him to attack?
"Quick, impress her with your strength!"

"Yes, of course! Force is the way to all things!"
...I pity his first girlfriend.



"'Goodnight, goodnight! Parting is such sweet sorrow,
That I shall say goodnight till it be morrow.'"


Well, it was just maybe.

Yeah, you might be alright, in an obnoxious sort of way.


Ha ha, I can conveniently bypass the tall grass. HAIL TO JUNE, CONQUERER OF NATURE!

But I do some fighting, and Belle gains another level.


"If a pokemon could light it up, I'd explore it."

I'll explore it anyway!

And get a free thing!

Now, into the cave.

Aw, dunsparce!
And inky blackness, but of an ordinary sort, only likely to hold terrifying monsters, and not unknowable terrors.



"And damp cave walls."
"Yeah, it's a little nippy... But we can't turn back! Let's push through, and see everything!"
"Uh, we can't see, you know...anything."


Cute bear!

Levels!

Bats! (they're...kind of cute?)

Boulders!...Actually, kind of sweet. Look how grumpy!


Hey, a dunsparce! They're pretty hard to find, if I recall, so...I should probably catch one while I have the chance.

Oh, no! That'll make weakening it hard...

As will that.

I better just try and catch it.



Alright, let's fling our first pokeball!

Aaaand, caught!
Wow, lucky me, right?



Aw, it's got semi-functional wings <3



There, my pokedex quest has begun with but a single step! Well, a third step, because I have the other two.


I don't exactly understand Tsuchi yet, but I can at least let her ride in my hat to keep warm. It's got to be hard for little ground-snake-things.

I wander the darkness of the cave for what feels like ages. There was an entrance, I'm sure...But maybe there is no longer. Maybe the light at the tunnel has gone out, long, long ago, leaving us with only its echoes light-years away.


I also found Chingling, sounding for all the world like the bells of a midnight carriage pulling along our fated demise, ringing softly in the night.

I like that. It speaks to me. Uh, not literally -- Chingling's just a little outside of my grasp, ringing melodies with meaning, but not words.

And, after a ball or two, I catch it.

I'll name her after the instrument that's an arrangement of bells, aka, Carillon!

After a few hours, I feel a small tug on my shorts, and look down.


"Oh, hey! Is there something you want?"
It points in a direction, at first gently, then insistantly.
"Uh...Uh, Professor? Translate for me?" He's at the head of the party, so he gets to translate first.

"Hmm...Let me see... She'd like to show us out of the cave... But only if she can battle us to the point where she'll submit, first."
"Submit?"

Professor asks about this, and gets a long, drawn out reply.
"She says 'sorry, honey. But there's a way this has got to go before I can help you, so let's get 'er done!' Hm...So it's really not as automatic with other pokemon as with Belle and myself..."
"I tried to hold it back."
He shakes his head, and I think I hear even Belle being annoyed about it.

"Anyway, I'm guessing you mean...you want me to catch you, and you'll show me out?"
She nods enthusiastically, and mimes rolling up imaginary sleeves.
"Well, OK! We won't hold back! I mean, except for the amount that allows for battling to be a positive experience, and the amount needed to gain your cooperation. But other than that!"


Boy, that sounds like a lot of work.



We are but earth.

After that, we head back to the pokemon center to heal, and hopefully not tear up reality for a third time to...day?


Whew! Happy times!
That said, it's actually night now... Maybe I'll get some sleep...
It's not far from my house, either.

"Let's go home for the night."
Because how often do I get to sleep at night? Very rarely, really.

On the way back, we pass a gate. And Terra, who's been leading the way back, suddenly starts jumping and getting excited and tugging at my clothes.

"What's up? Something over there?"
She nods, happy that we've gotten this far.
"...Well, we can make a little detour."


"Oh, I've never been here before."
Terra nods certainly, like 'I knew you'd be better off this way.'

"...Pity it's a dead end."
Terra stamps her feet and shakes her head and growls slightly, with a frustration so palpable it borders into understandable sentiment.
"Well alrighty! We'll just have to... Go..." She scrambles around the ledges, trying to find traction in the slick stretches of land. "Over the...Darn... Ledges..."
She collapses back down, panting.
"It's OK, really, it is. We'll just...see what sort of Pokemon I can catch here, alright? It'll be fun!"
She looks at the ledges ruefully, shakes her head once, and sighs. I guess she's accepted that...

Or so I'd have said if she didn't spend all her time I wasn't calling her into pokemon fights trying to climb that ledge.

Sometime in the quiet of night, a loud, harrying yipping fills the air: I turn, and see a figure standing triumphantly on the ledge, then scrambling down on the attack.

"Terra, defense!"
The Houndour pauses and considers me, sniffing the air. A smug smile spreads on her face, and she sits, looking somehow satisfied. She barks, once, as if to make a point.

Which lets Terra get a truly monstrous attack off.
Which jolts her up and makes her whine kind of pathetically...
"Oh, stop complaining, you. If you wanted to be caught, you should have just said so!"
"Oh, is that what's that about? Well, I'd be happy to take you with me, little Houndour!"
She growls slightly at the 'little.'

Yay, a new pokemon.



I get the vibe "somewhat," is an understatement.


Oh, hey, a phone call! This is my first phone call from a friend!
Or whatever Joey is. A person.

"Good evening."

"Yeah, I was. What's up? I hope it is the sky, and not the ground, or the sleeping ones underneath the surface of the earth."
"...Riiiight."

"But then I failed!"
"...Uh, OK?"

"Catching pokemon...Well, bye!"


It was everything I hoped it would be!
...I didn't have high hopes.

"Well, let's go home and get some sleep."
And we all pile on to my bed, and I'm not sure, but I'm pretty sure no unending tunnels of existential trauma opened up beneath us.

The next morning, I said goodbye to Mom and headed back to Cherrygrove.


Where I select my more battle-ready friends for, well, battling. For moving onward.

"Well then, girl. Let's go!"

Since she's weakest, she'll be leading for a little while, until she can catch up. She struts with her head held so high she doesn't even see what's in front of her.

But at least the bugs in this area are mowed down easily with a blast of ember.

Other things...Less so.


But we get a level heading back towards the cave.

When we finally hit new ground, I run across a guy sort of lounging on the side of the path.

"I walked too far today looking for pokemon."

...The gate's, like... 15 feet from here.
"If I were a wild pokemon, I'd be easy to catch..."

THE GATE'S JUST OVER THERE!



Whatever, I'm grabbing apricorns.


And I guess getting into a pokemon battle!



"You ready for our first real match, Cerby?"
Cerberus turns and looks at me with an exasperated question. She just can't believe what this human has deigned to call her.



"Oh, that face isn't that scary. I've seen way scarier!"
"She's probably not kidding, so you know. In case you want to get out while the getting's good. I wouldn't, of course, but...You know, if you felt like it...I wouldn't complain." She finished, dryly.
"Oh shut up already! Who said you got to have an opinion about me and my trainer?" She snapped, the glare on her face rendering the rest immediately understandable.
"I was here first, so of course I get a say! I'm the one in charge, and got her through her first fights, and she understands me, so nnyyyeeeh!"
Cerberus looks at me for a minute, shakes her head, and gets back to the battle.




We counter with a not-as-useful-as-you'd-like Ember.
The basic pattern repeats for a round or two, and then...


That didn't do as much as I'd thought, but Cerberus wimpers for a while about it.



But there, the level's worth it, isn't it?


But I may want to switch before she faints...



That's a nice, easy battle.

He's got an impressive variety of bug-types, really.

I think Terra almost felt that one...But she just looked back and smiled and made a little claw-thing gesture that may have been an attempt at a thumb's up.
"Well then, let's finish it up!"


Sorry, sir.

[b]"When I'm in the tall grass, I find all kinds of Berries."[/color]

Heck yeah, more phone numbers! I am on my way to having a social calender!



Phone calls for presents: what's not to like?


Speaking of stuff... I'm keeping it.

[Deme]

Chapter 3

Spoiler: What good's assembling a crack team of pokemon if they're not superlatively strong? (2/2)

Show

Anyway, let's get to Violet --
Before I can say anything else, something grabs onto my back with needle-prick claws.

"Ah, ah, help me, Terra!"
Terra sort of sighs and jumps up, trying to detach the...I turn my head and check, and find myself staring into the big, gleeful eyes of a Shinx.
She bats at my hair.
"Alright, enough of that. Down we go."
"Awww..." She whines so clearly it'd be impossible to mistake.
You audience sort of gets how this works by now, right?
Terra grabs her by the scruff and places her down.

She pouts and grumbles something that, being more complicated, I can't quite reach at.
"Well, look, I can take you with me, if that's what you...want?"
Eager nodding.


Well, that was easy.



Aw, who's a good kitty?



She rolls over, batting bits of grass and exposing her little bicolor belly.
Too precious <3! Must...pet...kitty...belly...

The moment my hand makes contact, a little shock of static electricity jolts through it.
"Ow!"
Cleopatra giggles and turns back over.

"Alrighty, Cleo, let's level you up!"
The best way to train up Cleopatra is probably via fishing, so let's see how we do.

Fishing is nice. So quiet. So many bubbles acting as transitions between phases of action and awareness.


With mostly slowpokes in the water, she does well.

Including getting levels going!


Oh, dear. This could be tricky...
"Cleo, hold on and focus! You can do this!"
She laughs, dizzily but almost dryly, with an accompanying mumble that the circumstances make clear:
"Heeheehee...Look at all the pretty stars...I think...I think I wanna..."

Hooray! She's not biting her own tail thinking it's a cartoon star!

But once he starts poison stinging, it's just a matter of unfortunate time...


My kitty!


"Belle, need a little help here!"

"Aaand done! I see if the rest of this team's going to be a fighting force, I'll need to help shelter them and whip them into shape!"
"...They don't really need to be a fighting force, do they?"
"Of course! What good's assembling a crack team of pokemon if they're not superlatively strong? We need a strong silent type, and an innocent-but-strong type, and a dude -- I guess you'll do, Professor -- and a wise type and an energetic type, and..."
"Wouldn't that be more than 6 pokemon?...And where are you in this?"

She pauses and gives it some thought.
"Details, details! We've got to be the best!"
"...Why?"
I mean, I think you picked the wrong person for that.
"Well, that's...Because I...Don't you want to be a part of something special?"
"Look, can we just get Cleopatra to the pokemon center?"
"...Oh, right. Oops."

As I ran through the gate, hurrying as fast as I could, someone called out behind me.


"Hi, Ethan, this isn't really the time."
"How did you get past me? Here is something neat for surprising me, June!"
"...For...surprising you?"
I hope it was a good surprise, and not a terrifying nightmare surprise, like that time with the tentacled thing.
That's never a good surprise.



"That's nice now I really have to get to a pokemon center, kthanxbye!"


As do I, as do I.


"Ethan...I don't really care about that."



"Hey, just so you know, Marill... I, I can totally, absolutely, definitely handle any sort of terrible oddness she can! She's something special, alright!"
She boasts, her voice wavering a little.

Awww...Wait, I need to get going, too!

Hi Violet City, Bye Violet City!


Hi Pokemon Center, Bye Pokemon Center!

Whew...I still want to do more fishing...But that can wait a minute, can't it?

Feebas will be caught next time. Oh, by the way, Luxio and Luxray are apparently dual electric/dark types this hack, so that's a thing. Cleo will pick up an electric attack before we face Falkner, I should note.

For next time, Vote for 1 of Charmander, Squirtle, Bulbasaur to be received here.

Pokemon Available In Violet City and Sprout Tower:
Staryu, Gastly, 1 Kanto Starter, Meditite, Spinda, Chatot, Drifloon, Stunky.

How Does Team Assembly Work From Here?
Basically, you can vote for any pokemon we may be encountering to be added to the team, but you also have to vote for which pokemon it will be replacing (Feebas is counted as "on the team" without being caught yet, since it was voted in). In order to have a clear sense of the thread's wishes, you can also specifically vote against replacing specific pokemon (for example, "I vote we keep Cerberus in the party.") or for not changing anything at all. In order for a party change to occur, I'll need to see a majority for both aspects (that is, even if I were "Bring in Squirtle" with a majority, there won't be a Squirtle being added if "Change Nothing," "Squirtle Replaces Terra" and "Squirtle Replaces Cleopatra" are all tied, let's say.) You can, of course, abstain, but you don't have to be told how to do that. For the moment, we'll be keeping Professor and Belle in the party.
You can even vote pokemon in from the box, especially because we'll be collecting and raising up spare pokemon for pokedex data and side-stories as the game goes on, and some pokemon do improve over time, or due to availability of certain items or HMs or the like, so we can't just write pokemon off forever at first glance.

Also, last call for votes for Professor's fate....Probably. I don't know if I'll be able to do Sprout Tower in a single sweep to evolve him.

[Illven]

You have missed placed picture in part 1, when naming Terra, the picture afterwards shows Cerberus in the party.

[Trobby]

Well, if it's a last call for professor's fate...

I'd like to change my vote to Espeon, because I feel like Professor is an Espeon in spirit.

As for the party, assuming it is the following:

Belle
Professor
Terra
Cerberus
Cleopatra
(Unnamed Feebas)

I vote we replace (Unnamed Feebas) with (Unnamed Squirtle), because HELL YEAH SQUIRTLE.

...In case you can't tell, I want Squirtle and I want him to be named Bowser. Boomer if a girl.

And for the other two, in case they win the vote.

Charmander: Salamander, Regardless of Gender Nicknalled Sal or Sally if a boy/girl.
Bulbasaur: Olimar if a Boy, Brittany if a girl

[Gadora]

You have missed placed picture in part 1, when naming Terra, the picture afterwards shows Cerberus in the party.

I saw that and just kind of figured that it was June's fault.

[Qwertystop]

I vote we keep Feebas. Also I vote that Feebas' name (if female) is Fanielle. Not sure why, other than "fan".

Wait, does the mod provide ways to evolve Feebas that aren't of the proper nature to max Beauty? If not, and if you can't get a Feebas of a Dry-liking nature, never mind.

[Deme]

Evolving Feebas is exactly the same here as it is in standard Pokemon Soul Silver, and thus cannot be done at all until we reach Goldenrod. I have no idea why flavor is relevant to this, because you can't make pokeblocks or poffins in Soul Silver anyway. You can't even grow berries until after Goldenrod, where we can go on haircutting sprees.

[Trobby]

In other words, Milotic isn't even going to be a thing until Goldenrod, so there's no point in keeping a Feebas on our team.

...<.< I actually don't care for either of them. Hence wanting Squirtle to replace Feebas as our water type.

You could say I'd like Feebas...withdrawn.

[Seerow]

I'll vote for removing feebas in favor of some other water type. Squirtle doesn't seem like a bad pick for now.

[Qwertystop]

Evolving Feebas is exactly the same here as it is in standard Pokemon Soul Silver, and thus cannot be done at all until we reach Goldenrod. I have no idea why flavor is relevant to this, because you can't make pokeblocks or poffins in Soul Silver anyway. You can't even grow berries until after Goldenrod, where we can go on haircutting sprees.

Derp - somehow thought this was Platinum while I was writing that. Never mind that vote.

[Javan]

Current Team / Pick Vote / Change Vote / Other Votes
Last Updated: Hawkflight's Vote

Spoiler

Show

Current Team:
Belle (Chikorita)
Professor (Eevee)
Terra (Larvitar)
Cerberus (Houndour)
Cleopatra (Shinx)
[Unnamed] (Feebas)

Pick Vote:
Charmander 0

Salamander 1 (Sal/Sally)

Squirtle 5

Bowser (Male) 1

Boomer (Female) 1

Squirt 1

Bulbasaur 0

Olimar (Male) 1

Brittany (Female) 1

Change Vote:
Swap Feebas for Squirtle 4


Additional Votes:
Feebas Female Name -> Fanielle (All the Feebas names have only one vote at the moment)

Replace Cerberus with a flying type after the gym 2

Switch from Flareon to Espeon, vote totals follow for eeveelution

Flareon 6

Espeon 4

Umbreon 3

Glaceon 2

My Vote
Swap Feebas for Squirtle, no current name preference
Replace Cerberus with a flying type after the gym (edit added)

[Forum Explorer]

Replace Feebas with Squirtle because Squirtle is objectively the best.

Also Professor should still become a Flareon. I do say we replace Cerberus with a flying type, preferably after the gym.

[Hawkflight]

Squirtle. Squirtle. SquirtleSquirtleSquirtleSquirtleSquirtleSquirtleSq uirtle!

*ahem* Yes. I vote Squirtle. Possibly named Squirt.

As for Professor, my primary vote is still Flareon, but if it looks like it won't be Flareon, then I will vote Umbreon, because a stargazing Professor sounds adorable.

[Deme]

I'm going on vacation, so there'll likely be a missed update. Which means it's time for a really long update! It's almost assuredly not fitting in one post, so here, have the first part!

Chapter 4

Spoiler: How carefully Can You Watch Blades of Grass? (1/2)

Show

Oh, hey, it's a phone call!
Also, it's been, like, a week. That's disquieting.
"It's Joey. How are you?"
"Pokemon training's intense. I'm worried about how I'm doing."
"Oh yeah, I took down a Weedle in the wild the other day. It was a cakewalk. Well, I guess it can't be helped, us being so tough."
"...Joey.
It's a weedle.
Don't get ahead of yourself."


...Isn't having friendly acquaintences amazing~?

"You feeling better, Cleo?"
She nods eagerly, and so with some comfort in my soul, I head back to training!


And by training, I mean fishing.







Getting pokemon levels from fighting with wild tentacool!


Even Belle gets a level while we're fishing.


"Ooh, now we're playing with (solar) power!
...
Sorry, I always wanted to say that."


Dubious references aside, it's healing!

"So, boss lady...What exactly are we waiting for? I'm bored. Aren't you bored, Cleo?"
Before I can answer that, something sort of...flops out of the water.

I think it may have been kicked out of the pond. He has a sort of gloomy, unassuming stare; he expects nothing.
"OOh, a new toy! Just gonna bat you around~!"
Cleo giggles, which throws which she said into sharp relief.

And now, at last, I see some response: terror.
"Now, now. No playing with him...I bet he's had a hard enough time. I bet it's rough, being a Feebas."
He nods, feeb(as)ly.
"You're...different from others. Useless; that's what everyone says. If they're not just wimpering on the ground from terror and telling you to get out."
He looks dubious, but nods slowly. We sit by the water, sitting with our sorrows.


"Well, thing's'll get better. They have to get better. Theoretically. Certainly, they have to change, due to general flux. Maybe you'll even be a beautiful milotic one day!"
This does not seem to improve his mood any. Maybe he figures it's impossible on his own.
"Well, come on! I'll take you with me to the big city, and we'll see what they can't do for you!"
He flops, and for some reason -- and this is worrying, because I can usually tell -- I cannot tell if it is happy or despairingly desperate, like I had it exactly right up until the last minute, where I missed the whole thing.
Well, whatever his problem, he won't fix it by the pond.





...He splashes. That's about it.

Alright! I think I'm good to go for now, don't you, Daniel?
...

I will assume that sort of melancholy stare, followed by despondant flop means 'yes.'



"Are painted a bit somberly to blend in."
Is respecting ancient buildings really the same as respecting somber color schemes? These are new materials, new purposes; the mechanized gleam of the pokemon center is ill-disguised by maroon paint. Heck, is the maroon "older" than orange?

Oh, well.

I've encountered a native!

He speaks a simple yet beautiful language.
"If ya bring me some Shards, I will give ya three Berries, yah."
"I will recall this, strange twirling man!"


"Who you gonna call?
No, really. When the boundaries between the living and the dead collapse like wet tissue paper and you realize in the pit of your stomach that they outnumber us, they have always outnumbered us, with their dead weapons and their dead diseases and their dead religions -- their dead political movements and dead fashions, the dead dreams crawling around your skull...
Who are you going to call?"

"I'll remember that!"

"...Dead dreams, huh?"
"...Wait, what was that?"
I stop and look at the fish behind me, keeping pace by the inexplicable mechanisms of pokemon physics.
"...Wait, what was that?" I'm really good at understanding confusion!
"She speaks pokemon. A little."
He seems to accept this in a numb, placid sort of way, then says something I don't quite follow.

"What was that, Belle?"
"You're wrong! You're wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong!" Belle kicked up cobblepebbles with swipes of her leaf.
"What?! What'd he say?"
"'If you don't want a dead dream, it's better to stop right away. Just let dreams always be dreams. Or maybe stop even before that.'"
"Ugh! Stupid, ugly fish! What's something like you got to dream about?!"
He laughs, and I snatch him up.
"You can't just sit there and dream about your dreams!"
"B-belle, that's enough..."
...Let's just get going...




Nope, not at the moment!


Apparently!

Like, TV? That'd be great! I'd be able to wave at people who I'd never know if they saw me or not. It'd be like now.
And you are allowed to swear on prime-time TV these days, aren't you? At least mild swears.


...Welp, I'm boned.

So he's old-pokemon-training, huh? Probably thinks it's easy for everyone, even though most of us don't get a pokemon until we're 10!...Or in our teens, in my case.


Bonjour! You are from Kalos?

"Uh, not yet."

"Follow me!"


He runs, twirling, down the streets.

I've been to the school, though -- at least to visit.
"It was boring, so I kind of decided that entire section of space-time didn't happen, saving everyone several minutes of their own lives."
"...Uh, she's joking, right? Ha-ha?" I hear Terra ask. Concerned skepticism is something I also understand intuitively.
"If you ever have to ask if she's joking, the answer's probably 'no.'"


But-but-but-- Professor Elm's research! They need to walk with me always!

I've been with my pokemon in all but that last one before, though?
"But all you have to do is put it in a pokeball!"


For a nickname theme?

Oops, sorry. Didn't mean to be prescient. Won't happen again.


I am not organized enough for themes!


Let's head on back to the pokemon center!

"I guess..."
"Head up! Shoulders back! You are a trainer!"
"*bark*!"
"Regardless of whether you're a rookie or not, please, take this!"

Woo! Sharing EXP!


I bet he's cool. Or a nerd. Those are not mutually exclusive, though, but they might not be had together in him.


"Hi, can I see what's behind you?"

"...I guess?"
Is it about what's behind you? I think it's a map.
"Excellent! Let's get started! Question One!"


I close my eyes and unfocus, feeling the tug of the not-universe, pulling our frail little ball of existence in its empty current like a hollow autumn leaf in a flooded river.
"...Sir, speaking of such things is *cheating*. Also, yes. If I answer, it counts, right? Right? OK, good."


"I believe so?"
"Correct! The semifinal question!"

Sir, these questions feel extremely dangerous. I think we might invite an angry mob by speaking too loudly of them.
"I hope you are writing down that I am correct on your largely impossible questions, but no."
"Correct! Final question!"

This is a surreal experience, even by my standards.
"No, I don't think so," I say after consulting the cosmos. I see that, nearby, several of the people in the pokecenter have nosebleeds they cannot explain, or are leaking blood from their ears. I don't enjoy causing this sort of trouble.



"Oh, really?! Wow! How about a squirtle?"

Oops, guess I need to deposit something for a bit.


"Sorry, Daniel."
I'm not really sure what I'd do with him right now, anyway. The sort of care a Feebas needs to do his best isn't care I can provide. It's funny, though...I think he looks...relieved?

Anyway.

You better not mean you love me.

Yaaay!




He laughs a big, booming laugh like...
"Gwahahaha!"


Ooh, ooh, history lesson!
"Was involved in wrongdoing. They were abusing Pokemon."
That's terrible! I mean, I wasn't paying attention to world affairs then. Things were really bad at the time -- I was going to school regularly, and kids were always either picking on me or violently clawing their own eyes out as if they'd seen something they could not comprehend standing just behind me, always there, then moving to the corners of their eyes.
But that just made the bullying worse. I had a lot of trouble...so...

That's right. Nothing lasts. We will all drift into eternity not as whole entities, but as minimal particles, slipping by due to only the most fundemental conservations of matter and energy.

I envy him. Someone like that...Being admired and respected must be wonderful. Heck, just making a difference. Not being a screw-up. Belonging.



*shrugs* Your guess is as good as mine.
"'The Show Me Show!' I am Primo, the big brother!"
Nope.

Well, gosh, I should say something...It's what a normal person would do. And I have an elaborate fiction in which I am normal.

Why don't I just say something random? Um, um....

I just say something absolutely worthless and random that I hope no one will mind much. It probably will not summon an elder god.
...This time. But just to be safe, I will hide my words. They would not work for you.



"way I am so exciting and fun?"





I have a long, nonsensical conversation with him... But I end up walking away with a trove of treasures!



And he even gives me a slugma egg! Wow, how cool! I don't have time to hatch it right now, but I can feel how warm it is from inside the egg.



Some of our take-aways:









...That last one's an ominous one, isn't it?


"Oh, getting bored, huh?"
He nods enthusiastically, and then mimes stomping on something. Possibly, everything.
I pretend not to acknowledge this.

Well, moving on! Let's go see outside the city, shall we?


Trees are always blocking the way; this is their way of asserting their dominion over man and pokemon.
"It's preventing me from shopping."

Because your shopping is so important.


Yo!

...Not really, actually.

Ooh, an HM!

I get a rather inconvenient but useful item!


"Gym Badge!"
I will do my best!

[b]"Hard for your pokemon to forget once they've learned them. You should think carefully which pokemon should learn it."[/color]


An interesting move to consider, anyway.



They probably do when you are not looking. How carefully can you watch blades of grass, or the leaves of trees? The little trees that were usually on the way from New Bark to Cherrygrove have not been there lately.
Perhaps they have gone on a journey, too.

[Deme]

Chapter 4

Spoiler: Sorry! Mindworms?

Show

My journey will take me to Sprout Tower.

I see you, ratatta in the rafters. I see you.


Aw, man, that can't be stable! I'm too young and perfect to die!"
She whines.


That's pretty tall!

Is this building 100 feet tall? I'm not good at a sense of scale.


Cerberus does!
"*whimper*"
"People are training upstairs."


I'd say this is ineffective use of resources...But who am I kidding? What else would the bones of a giant be used for?

Is it really wonderful? Reeeeaaaaalllly?


Looks like I'm fighting men of the cloth! I had a feeling they'd be my enemy. Because, you know, exorcism would be the logical answer to me.

I'd hope so. I mean, we're talking relatively weak pokemon.

This is going to be easy.

Eeyup. Well, it was just a cute little sunkern.



Our first bellsprout! The tower lives up to its heritage.



Its heritage means little in the face of fire.


Level!


This bellsprout was actually kind of less effective than the first one.

Huh. This is unexpected, actually; I was thinking there'd be more plants. I think I'll have to switch out for something that bites.

"That's not to say you bite, I mean, like, in a 'this really bites, sense, but..."
"...What *are* you talking about?"

"See? Your bites don't bite!"
"...I...I think she was trying for a joke?"
"...Unfortunately, I believe so as well."


"It's OK. I've faced down really stern priests before, and then they started quoting Nietchze when we were done."

Huh. I guess that'd avoid breakage.


This'll come in handy!


You're not doing a great job of stopping me, then.

Oh, you mean, like, spiritual guard!...Yeah, you're not doing a great job of stopping me and you desperately need to.




...Well, that was so brief I don't even get to make a comment about it.


This really bites. In a non-figurative way.
...I'll stop.


Oh, that's a surprise! I think it's time for Belle! (I'd use Cleo, but she doesn't know any electric attacks).


"This is not time for a nap, Belle!"


Except it was, for about 3 rounds. She looked sad and lonely in her sleep, though I suppose no one could have really known that. So I don't know that... But her dreams were troubled, all the same.

"Zzzz...Zz...Zuh? Oh, right! a-a fight, huh? I'm good to go, honest, so!"

"Nice and refreshed!"


Poor little backsie. See? It's made broken. We understand each other, backsie and I.


"Ahahahahaha! That's hardly good enough!"
Yeah, I'm inclined to agree. It doesn't even manage to last through the next strike.

Thank you, ma'am! May I have another, ma'am? You're monks, not military!


Could be useful.

Cerby got a level off of wild pokemon!...That I was trying to capture.
...Cerby still does not like me calling her Cerby. Arm nips hurt.

But before I could go back and heal from that match...

That's nice, we should all have hobbies; can I please heal my pokemon?

Yeah, switching. Terra, go!

This'll make the going harder, but not impossible.

The mareep flinches from Terra's mighty biting.
Terra nods, with a sort of satisfaction -- not exactly pride, like, grandstanding, and not pleasure...But quiet and understated, like the satisfaction of a job well done.




"...N...'Mpasse..."
I'm impressed I understood that through gritted teeth.
"Ok, what do you think?"
Her eyes flick back at me.
"If you can land this hit, this fight'll be over and we'll have all the time in the world for healing. If you don't think you can, we'll heal."
She glares.

She begins saying something, low and quiet at first, but with a determination. I understand it first from her eyes, and then outwards.
"I...don't need..."
I let go of my bag.

"Anything...To do... MY JOB!"

"Good girl."




Eep.
"Oooow!" She whines.

"Keep going!"

Whew. Just barely.


Let's make this Bowser's first outing!

He laughs and laughs, but really...

It wasn't a lot.



They go back and forth, but don't really accomplish much, until...

And then, he's fuming. He's furious. He stomps his feet and lets loose a noise best described as a tiny, tiny roar. Like Cleo, if Cleo tried to be angry (she has not, yet.)
"You're gonna pay for putting the hurt on me!"
"Wait a second! I need to heal you first."
Before you go charging around like a fool, basically.

He mutters resentfully at the use of a potion, but...The hoothoot would outspeed. So it's the only reasonable move.

And that's all she wrote!




"That's what you get for messing with King of Shells!"
"...Who appointed you that?"
"Uh, well, uh, no one! Hey! Can't a man's private life be priva -- You talk?!"
"Uh, no. Not officially. I'm not supposed to. But the rules are slowly collapsing into something meaningless, so maybe?"
That seems to not be a good answer.
"...She's not great at it, but isn't it so cool~!"
"I don't know 'bout that. I think I have a harder time understanding her than she's got with us."

"...Kings aren't appointed, anyway, you know."
"But he has to be king over something, and his position maintained with the consent of his people, whose consent lies entirely in whether or not they've begun actively working to overthrow him, and withdraw the support that allows and upper tier of society to function."
"Auuughhh!" He clutched his head like I was hurting him.

"Sorry! Mind worms?"

I went to heal; on the way back (before another heal trip)...


I caught a musical note pokemon! I'm calling her Judy.

And apparently a "Meditate pokemon," who I'm calling Nirvana.

But eventually, we reached the top of the tower again.

I found a pokemon and named her enlightenment. Good enough?


...That was really short.


"Excuse me?"


That's...not that special.


Switch time! Cerby out, Cleo in!

Yeah, that's going to be super useful.
Actually, he probably will have a bellsprout later.

That's a lot of water gun.

That's not a lot of tackle.


But she. pulls. through!


I was close.

That is pretty weakened. Curse you, water sport!

For what difference it makes (not a lot).

And our final match for this fight!


Ow, she really actually felt that!
Terra shakes her head frantically.

Ok, by comparison, I suppose not.


...Monks say the darnedest things.


I heal everyone up.


And catch this ball of spiky hair! I will call her Ziggy.


"T-the Professor and Belle have said...They've said that they're staying, so...
So..."
I can't put it into words.


That hardly seemed fair. Or even relating to trust that much. I sort of just let her do it while I stood there, fumbling about.




Those aircutters don't do much...

Cleo's bite is much better, and she jumps around the Hoothoot, giving it little nips that sometimes turn into big crunches.


But so do the Hoothoot's "little nips," sometimes.

Perhaps too late.
"Well, really, we are always too late.


We are too late to stop our own deaths, even though they've yet to occur; they've already been decided, by the simple fact that we were born.


We're too late to have better genes, better parents, better circumstances for our formative years.

By the time we realize our choices are bad, we're too late to them...



And we're too late to be a different person, one who could have made her choices differently, or been happier.
Of course, time is circular, so maybe it's better to say we're simply too earl-"


"Hey! POISONED OVER HERE! Quit creepy chanting and help me out!"
"Oops, sorry! Right! So sorry. I am, really, I mean. Sorry. Sorry sorry sorry sorrysorrysorrysorry--"
Belle's voice cuts through.
"Uh, boss? Apologize less, potion more."
Oops. I was almost in some sort of penitence-based fugue state right then.



There, fixed. Sorry. All my fault. Well...

Not that it lasts. But it does buy us some time.

Time to win!

And get a level!


Hmmmm...
"Try a bite?"


That's not good.
"Now a tackle."
"Ah, the scientific method of hitting things. Wonderful!"

Hmm...Definitely less. But that could be reflect.


Well dang.

Woop, woop, all aboard the flinch train!

...Everyone off the flinch train.

Ohhh....This is going badly. Change of plans!




AT LAST!


"Wait, hold that weep of despair, it's my mom."

"Hi, Mom."
"Oh, hi, June! How are you?"
"Alright. Um...I've had a bit of trouble, but...Nothing serious, and not for a while... It's been going really well!"
"I'm glad to hear that."

Mom, how is that being fiscally responsible?!

"Poke Mart of Department Store and pick it up! I know it'll be useful!"

I hope so...That was pokeball money...
and potion money: I use all of mine before fighting their elder.


*Gasp*
It's...Julian! That means it must be time for a cliffhanger!

Next time, we'll fight the Elder, evolve Professor, train up for the gym, and then face Falkner! Also, catch more pokemon.

[Trobby]

I love the knocks on the fourth wall that you can do with June. It's so...appropriate.

[Qwertystop]

Huh. No comment on how as soon as you get into a battle the wooden tower is suddenly a rocky cave?

[Javan]

I love the knocks on the fourth wall that you can do with June. It's so...appropriate.

I agree with Trobby.