001 ▲ Video

[fony]

[Hello Pokéworld, this is one of those new arrivals that isn't all that good with technology and doesn't have much of a clue what he's doing. He's figured out after much trial, error, and near-drops how to record a video. Or at least where the record button is and vaguely what it does.

The video comes on to show his face and what looks like tree branches behind him--he's holding the Gear at nearly arm's length--as well as some pink fluff that is the top of the Igglybuff in his lap's head.]

Hey, this is turned on, right? If anyone's getting this, tell me so I don't have to talk to the local wildlife all evening.

I also wanna know if there's a shortcut to the next town...Cherry-something?...three days is a pain to walk, and it's stupid cold out here.

[He's sitting inside the sleeping bag and also wearing a jacket that was in his backpack, but even combined they're not really good for the weather.]

...And I'm not sure exactly what I'm supposed to be doing with these...monsters. I read that I'm supposed to battle with them, but I took out the bird with a rock myself and the balloon doesn't do anything but sing and try to nest in my hair. So...they're pretty useless, and I hope I don't die out here because all I have is a balloon and a bird to protect me.

[There's a noise off-screen and he jerks slightly before looking around for the source.]

...The hell was that?

Comments

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[corporal]

At least the wildlife will be monumentally less aggravating to talk to. Counting blessings and whatnot.

[ He does frown at the noise though, oh god. ]

Most of these creatures seem more fascinated by people than, well, intent on killing them, so you've got that going for you.

[ hnf i ugly laughed at the balloon and bird comment tho :( poor luke ]

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[fony]

[A person! Never leave, unknown person! Whatever made the sound (which is a nearby Hoothoot) has gone quiet, so he turns back to the Gear.]

At least humans talk.

[Well, monsters can talk with some help, but Luke has yet to find a Pokémon that speaks human language.]

Oh...they're not all dangerous? That's good.

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[corporal]

Apparently some of these can talk—or so I'm told, I haven't seen that shit for myself.

[ then; ]

That's a personal conclusion of mine, so I still wouldn't recommend going up and trying to make friends with the suspicious ones.

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[fony]

[They're all sort of suspicious to Luke.]

Hrm. I haven't seen any talking ones yet, just ones that make animal noises.

I wasn't going to try to make friends with any of them...or most of them, anyway. I'm not planning to...

[video]

[paladinlost]

I'm sorry to say that with such small Pokémon you'll not find any shortcuts, unless we receive enough snow to bury the ledges again.

[He makes that option sound very much like a Bad End.]

Does your Igglybuff know Pound yet? If not, you might have to catch a still conscious Pokémon. Possibly the one that's approaching you.

[video]

[fony]

Where can I find bigger ones?

[So demanding.]

My what know what? Oh, the balloon. I...don't think she knows how to do that. [Glancing down at the Igglybuff.] Can you do that?

...I think that was a no.

[He starts to say that he doesn't see any Pokémon approaching him, when a Hoothoot (which had made the original offscreen noise) swoops by right above his head. Brb swearing and fumbling the Gear.]

[video]

[paladinlost]

On distant routes, or by buying or receiving eggs from other trainers. You'd reach Cherrygrove long before any egg can hatch, even if you receive that egg immediately, but it's the fastest option.

[It's the only one fast enough to help before Violet, at any rate.

And wow, that sure is a rude Hoothoot.]

...I'd suggest assuming that any noise you hear at any time is a possible Pokémon. They are absolutely everywhere in this world, including the cities.

[video] 1/?

[fony]

[It takes him a minute to recover from being buzzed by the owl, and his hair is slightly messed up when he reappears onscreen.]

Stupid thing nearly knocked me out of the tree!

[video] 2/2

[fony]

Wha?

...I can buy baby monsters? But...I don't know how to take care of eggs.

[Congratulations Cecil, you've become the tutorial. He's not entirely sure he could raise a baby animal anyway; he didn't have pets when he was younger, and the team mascot didn't count.]

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[ossifragant]

This is really obnoxious for people arriving in the winter isn't it?

[He doesn't quite react to the noise except to raise a brow.]

The wildlife here is usually pretty friendly. You won't meet anything on the routes that'll try and hurt you. Might surprise you, but that's about it. Thankfully.

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[fony]

I don't like winter when I have no choice but to be out in it. I'm just glad it isn't snowing, like someone said might happen.

[Excuse his grumpy. Also, he gets to this reply a bit after the Hoothoot 'attack', so the owl is gone now.]

Won't kill me, but they'll give me a heart attack.

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[ossifragant]

That sounds unpleasant, yeah. Unfortunately there's no shortcut unless you end up with something you can ride on.

[And while cute, the Igglybuff isn't going to cut it.]

The first few days are rough, but you get used to the wildlife. Can't say the same for the weather, though.

[Sorry, dude. He'd airmail you a coat if he could.]

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[fony]

[Sigh.

Also the 'buff is about a foot tall, so she's about six times smaller than he is, and riding is completely out of the question.]

I'll just buy a coat or something when I can. Thanks for the tips, at least.

[VIDEO]

[diamondo]

Well, you probably won't have to worry about dying. You should have enough food to last you three days. It's gonna be cold, but you should be fine.

[Mondo is seated on a bench outside, seemingly unbothered by the cold since he's wearing the same outfit as usual. His hair is also in that ridiculous style.]

If that puffball of yours doesn't know any attacking moves, try using the bird for a little while? Once you hit Cherrygrove you'll be able to find a better place to sleep and the Pokémon Center can handle healing your Pokémon.

[VIDEO]

[fony]

That doesn't really make me feel much better, but...thanks, I guess.

[Can he borrow your apparent cold resistance for a while, Mondo? That'd be super helpful.]

Yeah, it's stronger than the balloon...almost beat her, until I threw a rock at it and knocked it out.

sorry for the delay!

[diamondo]

Well, that's one way to handle it. I can't believe you'd start out with something that isn't suited for battle. Sorry about that. Maybe you can catch some others to help you get to Cherrygrove? Once you get there, you'll be fine for a little while and you can leave for Violet whenever the weather isn't a complete shitshow. Violet's not the biggest city, but a lot of people tend to be there, so it's not that bad.

You're okay!

[fony]

I don't know, maybe. I'm not really interested in catching a bunch of animals if I don't have to.

[He's not very good at this Pokémon trainer thing so far is he?]

How far's Violet from Cherrygrove?

[Luke just check your map, don't be lazy.]

[video]

[walkersystem]

You threw a rock at a bird?

_{[She sounds torn between judgmental and impressed, but leaning on the former. She feels you though, Luke - she too is kind of huddled up, probably not that far away honestly, hugging a Natu close to her chest and shivering slightly.]}

... did you just wake up in that place too?

[video]

[fony]

Uhh...yeah?

[Don't judge him, he needed to protect the Igglybuff, and beaning the other Pokémon was the first thing that popped into his head.

And if they're near one another, they should probably find each other so they can share warmth.]

Yeah, I woke up in...some woman's house. She tried to tell me she was my mother.

[video]

[walkersystem]

<sub>[That might be a good idea. And it'd help with the alone-in-a-strange-place-thing.]

[Not that Molly's thinking about that at the moment, she's busy with a double-take and hugging her bird closer.]</sub>

She told you that too?

Someone told me they think she's been brainwashed.

_{[She's not exactly sure what that means but it sounds bad.]}

[video]

[fony]

You had to deal with her too? She probably was messed with, then. I dunno why someone would want her to think a couple of kidnapped people were her kids.

[She didn't even say anything about where they were or why they were there in the first place. Such a rude mom.

He's noticed her behavior and peers closer at the Gear's screen.]

...You okay?

[video]

[codeforhope]

[A balloon and a bird?]

You...defeated the Pokemon with a rock...and then were able to catch it?

[That's a little...unconventional but it sounds like it still worked, somehow?

...but yes, more pressing matters.]

But, um...Your starter will grow stronger, in time. Then it will be able to do more than just sing.

[video]

[fony]

I did.

[In reality, he threw the rock just before the Igglybuff put the bird (a Starly) to sleep, so he assumed the rock knocked it out. Then he did throw a ball at it to catch it.

To be fair, it was level 3.]

Oh. That's great...not that the singing is bad...it's actually kind of nice to listen to.

[video]

[codeforhope]

[Well that makes a bit more sense, at least. Then again, he has seen people try to fight Pokemon with their bare hands before...]

Well, you have two Pokemon now...so that's a good thing. You'll be able to get to the next town easily, that way.

[Chihiro smiles a little, looking at the Igglybuff in his lap.]

Your starter is very cute...have you given them a name?

[video]

[fony]

Huh? [Starter? Oh, the balloon.]

I...not really, yet...I think it's a girl, so I've been calling it 'Tear', after a friend...

[More like annoying babysitter, but it sings and so does Tear, so...

He tilts the top of the Gear down so the camera's pointed at the Igglybuff instead; she reaches up to pat the screen.]

She's okay.