52 - video/action for travelmates;

[islandshore]

[Here we have Riku. Or more specifically, we have Riku and a book. When he looks at the camera, it's with a soft chuckle. Then he starts reading off the page.]

A young man, callow and foolish in innocence came to own a sword. With it, he smote Pokémon, which gave sustenance, with carefree abandon. Those not taken as food, he discarded with no afterthought. The following year, no Pokémon appeared. Larders grew bare.

Just let that sink in for a second. A sword. Killing and eating Pokémon. Still with me?

[Then he'll continue.]

The young man, seeking the missing Pokémon, journeyed afar. Long did he search, and far and wide, too, until one did he find.

Asked he, "Why do you hide?" To which the Pokémon replied...

"If you bear your sword to bring harm upon us, with claws and fangs, we will exact a toll. From your kind, we will take our toll, for it must be done. Done it must be, and for it, I apologize."

To the skies, the young man shouted his dismay. "In having found the sword I have lost so much. Gorged with power, I grew blind to Pokémon being alive. I will never fall savage again. This sword I denounce and forsake. I plead for forgiveness, for I was but a fool."

So saying, the young man hurled the sword to the ground, snapping it. Seeing this, the Pokémon disappeared to a place beyond seeing.

[Riku snaps the book shut, placing it down. Afterwards, he shifts into a more comfortable position, arms folded over his chest.]

So, ignoring the obvious anti weapons message here, this story's pretty interesting. It's an old legend from the Sinnoh region, and if it holds any truth, it means that the people in this world used to use real weapons and actually hunted Pokémon. Plus, when you look at stuff like Skarmory's Pokédex entry, you see bits about forging swords from their feathers. You gotta wonder why they stopped and why they're so paranoid about people defending themselves.

You think it's because people abused that power?

[Either way, he's glad he swung by the library. Sometimes they actually do have interesting reads.]

Comments

[heartdive]

Why would you need them, though? If you have one, you're not really working with your Pokémon and that's sort of the theme to this world, right?

[islandshore]

Well, maybe I'm tired of the theme. Why stand around like a sitting duck while they get to have all the fun? It's just not practical, and people can and will take advantage of it.

[It's happened before. Never again.]

[heartdive]

[ groans. ]

Tired of the theme... Doesn't that sound familiar.

[islandshore]

Hey, don't knock it 'til you try it.

[Or he'll come over there and shove you, bro.]

I've already got one of the toughest teams around, but that doesn't make me strong. That's why I have to focus on my own skills.

[heartdive]

[ Sora's going to reach over... pinch Riku's cheeks... ]

Your skills are just fine. That's not what's made you strong anyway!

[islandshore]

[Oh yeah? Then Riku's gonna punch him in the shoulder.

Doesn't mean I'm going to play pacifist.

[heartdive]

[ punches back. 8| ]

No one said you had to.

[islandshore]

So, what's your point?

[C'mon, tell him more about this strength.]

[heartdive]

C'mon, Riku... Don't be a meaniebutt here.

[islandshore]

Meaniebutt? Man, you've really gotta work on your insults.

[He nudges him with his elbow.]

But seriously, what were you getting at? My real strength and all that.

[heartdive]

Pfft.

[ if you didn't see this coming, Riku, you are so disappoint. Sora pokes at Riku's chest. ]

That's where your real strength is. All the training in the world won't make that stronger, Foofyku.

[islandshore]

[He was about to smile, maybe thank Sora after calling him a sap, but then... 'Foofyku' comes up.

Suddenly, Riku tags his friend in a headlock.]

What'd you just call me?

[heartdive]

[ laughing and only half struggling to get free. ]

Princess Foofyku!

[islandshore]

[Sora, you have just unleashed the demon that is Riku, the noogie monster.

Beware as he ruffles thy hair!]

Princess, huh?

[heartdive]

[ Riku he will depants you right here and not even care! ]

Hey stop!

[islandshore]

[Try it, bro. Juuust try it.]

Hmm, I don't know. Can't have you prancing around, calling me a princess.

[heartdive]

[ you asked for it, Riku. you really did. because YANKING DOWN PANTS. ]

[islandshore]

[W-WHAT?!

The minute his pants drop, Riku steps back, eyes wide for a few seconds...

And then, after pulling his pants back up, he tackles Sora.]

[heartdive]

[ too busy laughing to care! ]

[islandshore]

[So... what if he starts screwing Sora's hair even further? What then?]

[heartdive]

[ IT WILL POP BACK INTO PLACE. WORTH IT TO SEE THAT FACE. ]