islandshore | 44 - video/action for groupmates;

[The feed clicks on inside a bedroom of some kind. There's a shiny Charmander wriggling around in the background, trying to hide under a pillow. Pay her no mind for now. Riku, in the mean time, faces the camera with a slightly deadpan look.]

Okay, since the data version of me came back, I figured it's time to do a little PSA. Basically, if you see two guys who look like younger versions of me, don't freak out. They aren't me. They're just based on me. One of them goes by Evan, and the other's got a black coat and took up the name Rin, I guess.

Also, since this is a newbie wave, I went ahead and updated my Training Guide, including a new section on Pokémon care. It also covers the basic questions most newbies toss around and some Pokémon recs. Like Toxicroak. I'm seriously surprised at how scarce they are.

[He shrugs.]

And don't forget to check out the Pokémon Rental Service if you need a quick trip to the next town. Newbies get a reduced price, since you guys are short on funds as it is.

[Okay, advertising's done. Now he can toss something up for the old crowd...]

And to wrap things up, I've got two questions for you. First, how do you decide to nickname your Pokémon? Or if you don't... why the heck don't you? I never got the point in referring to them by species when they're all individuals.

As for the other question... Do you think it's necessary to be friends with all your Pokémon? Even if said Pokémon is vicious, bloodthirsty, and only cares about fighting?

[And with that, he'll click off the feed. Well, after throwing up two private messages and slapping on the following attachments...]

ATTACHMENTS:

Training for Dummies.txt.

PGC Filter:

So, how many of you guys are here yet? And Lightning, do you think there'd be time to swing by Celadon a few times just to check in on my business? I'm fine with camping out here for as long as it takes. If anything, it'd just be day trips.

By the way, I'm willing to volunteer some Pokémon for the raid when it happens. A friend of mine also offered his Koffing and Crobat for added smoke support.

Private to Ven;

Hey. You busy right now?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I tend to name my Pokémon after loved ones. It's my way of telling them I care.

[It's also his baby-naming pattern. There might be a link there.]

I'd love even the most bloodthirsty creature if it was mine. I could hardly play favorites, after all. Does your team have its share of bloodthirsty members?

It has its share of crazies, anyway, but I can't say I have any attachment to Terror. Not when she's only good at attacking things.

[She's good for battles and... not much else. And even then, it's not like she fights humanely.]

Every family has its black sheep. Can you feel pride in the way you<ve trained her, at least?

I don't know about you, but I find it impossible to be proud of something that'd rather try and tear everyone to shreds than cooperate.

Even Quake's better than that, and he's one of the most violent Pokémon on my team.

[Sigh.]

The only thing I can say is that keeping her cooped up and on a chain makes her slightly more bearable when I do take her out.

...A very, very dark black sheep, then. I suppose knowing that she became strong under your guidance would only make that worse. How can locking her up help? A chain should be enough to make any Pokémon unhappy.

It's a conditioning thing. I only take her outside when she behaves herself. Good behavior means less time cooped up against her will.

Might not be the most peaceful method, but I've found that the only way to get through to her is with force, and lots of it.

[It's probably spawned some resentment on her part, but he's not about to become dino-chow.]

I see; she does sound like a tricky case. And do those outings improve her mood, or is she just as violent the moment she's had what she wants?

She usually springs into the sky the moment she's free. Sometimes she'll sink her teeth into some of the wild Pokémon, but I keep some of my tougher monsters on hand so she doesn't try rampaging in the city.

[Surf against a part-Rock type is no picnic, either.]

...There was a cave, one with Pokémon so strong they'd hardly need training. If it could be found again it would be a good place to let her out without risking heavy damage to either Pokémon or buildings. It'd also the rest of your team to explore without needing to keep an eye on her.

A place with high-leveled Pokémon would help. Can't say I've found many locations where she wouldn't trash the place. Even Cinnabar's volcano tops off at about level forty.

Not that I'm against her hunting for food, but there's such thing as overkill.

The problem would be remembering which one it was. I only remember it faintly, beyond its Pokémon and its darkness. ...I can tell you it was not the Ice Path, at least.

Hmm. Do you remember anything else about it? Like, what was outside, maybe.

...There was something extremely powerful there. It could be felt even from multiple rooms away. A Pokémon, I believe, but I cannot recall more of it. I could also hear water nearby.

Huh... I wonder if it was some kind of legendary Pokémon.

[He brings a hand to his chin.]

Guess I'll have to scope it out for myself. Training my guys off of each other keeps them in top form, but I bet they'd kill to face some tougher wildlife.

It'd be change in routine, at least. And it'd help them gain levels faster than Celadon's local critters, too.

Well, there's a reason why they just fight each other and it's because the local wildlife's so underwhelming.

But shaking things up never hurts. Besides, it's just another new place to explore.

Since it'd be difficult to find, it'd definitely be worth it. Well-hidden locations tend to hide better treasure and secrets.

Hey, what if there's some undiscovered Pokémon lurking inside? Wouldn't it be great to discover something like that?

It'd be wonderful. I wonder if the locals would credit us for the discovery?

44 - video/action for groupmates;

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