islandshore | 53 - video/action for Cerulean;

[The video clicks on, giving a view of Cerulean's water park in the distance, complete with towering water slides, wave pools, and other aquatic attractions. For a few seconds, Riku gazes at the park before giving a light shrug and facing the camera.]

You know, it's too bad summer's almost over. Cerulean's water park's gotta be one of the best attractions I've seen in Johto or Kanto. If you haven't seen them yet, you should really check out their water shows. Think there's only a week or two left before they shut down for the season. Come to think of it, the bug catching contest's over too, isn't it? Seems like all the fun stuff happens over just a few months.

[It's been a solid enough distraction after everything that's happened. Scooping up Kairi, his stubborn fixation on honing his own strength (and getting a few scrapes and bruises in the process). At least staying on the move satiates his wanderlust.

Ah well. After shaking his head and chuckling softly, Riku props one hand on his hip and continues.]

Anyway, you'd be surprised what happens when you've got hours of free time and nothing else to do. I talked to John about this a while back, but... Dodrios. You'd think that without wings they'd be grounded like ostriches, but they're not. So, I decided to teach one Fly and... well, just see for yourself.

[The tilts the camera up, giving a fine view of, well... this, just with a single Dodrio. There's nothing remarkable about it beyond its disregard to physics, but at least it'll make a good present for Sora. And now that he's shown off that little oddity, he'll turn the camera back on himself.]

But that's nothing new, right? Gastlies can learn punches somehow and Cubones hatch with their skulls. Now that I think about, do Farfetch'd start out with those leeks? I don't know. I'm sure there are stranger Pokémon attack combos out there, so if anyone's got any, I'd be happy to hear. Not like I've got any plans right now.

['til then, the feed clicks off.]

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[He's actually kind of a tree due to being eighteen now, but it's no big deal. Either way, he's clueless of his future and has no idea who he's talking to here.

He seems smart enough, given those big words.]

You've got that right. I've been training them for three years, and they still surprise me sometimes. And if you think this is interesting, just check out some of the Pokédex entries. You've got gems like:

"Spoink bounces around on its tail. The shock of its bouncing makes its heart pump. As a result, this Pokémon cannot afford to stop bouncing – if it stops, its heart will stop."

"Banette generates energy for laying strong curses by sticking pins into its own body. This Pokémon was originally a pitiful plush doll that was thrown away. It seeks the child that disowned it."

Haven't gotten around to investigating those, though.

[Oh oops, but he's still far from the tree-armed punk he had to possess his younger self to attempt to smack down. All's the better...]

You research into these oddities? Please let me know the next time that you decide to. There seems to be quite a great deal to investigate as far as the lore behind these creatures goes... and that doesn't even extend into the mythology of earlier people who no doubt elevated them as gods or spirits of various sorts.

Perhaps one could say such things are a hobby of mine. I would be quite pleased to be kept abreast of any details that you do find, or if we are in the same area to observe or assist with any other such delvings.

If you're thirsty for legends, you should swing by Ecruteak sometime. That place's packed with lore. Even has some ancient landmarks like the Burned Tower.

Or you could scope out the Ruins of Alph. It's got ancient inscriptions, old puzzles, and the place screws with the PokéGear's radio signal. Basically, it's got 'mysterious' written all over it.

I'll keep you clued in on anything else I find, though. Gotta keep myself busy somehow.

I'll definitely keep such sites in mind. As I am just starting out, transportation is a bit difficult. It's of little concern, as a journey is just as interesting as the endpoint... anticipation is the best spice of such things, is it not? The idea of a resolution, of finding something new... quite worthwhile.

Ah, yes. An idle mind does desire distractions. There isn't a finer way to to distract oneself than with exploring what is lost or unknown.

You're one of the few people I've seen who's looked at it that way. Most people complain about how they have to go everywhere on foot or how it takes so long to go from one town to the next. I guess the one upside's that you get a chance to take in the scenery instead of breezing right through it.

Exploring mysteries is probably a lot less reckless than what I've been doing, too. Not that I'm gonna slack off with my training, but I've picked up some nasty bruises in the process.

[Then again, he's put himself up against monsters much stronger than himself.]

We are shaped by our experiences just as much as our successes or losses. One can easily look at life itself as a journey, a passage, with destinations all the way depending on how we wish to live. Meeting those milestones does not end one's journey... and what happens along the way sets up more milestones or changes one's direction and focus.

Most of the people here seem to be relatively young so they have little reason to complain. When they reach my age then perhaps they can grouse about such things as the time required for travel, on foot or otherwise.

I'm sure you took away a fair bit of knowledge with those bruises. Such things are rarely for naught.

Your age, huh? Well, if it's any consolation, you're not the only adult trainer hanging around. You just gotta know where to look, and you'll find them.

And, sure, I learned a thing or two, like how not to tackle a crazed dinosaur head-on.

I've conversed with a few, though I have yet to see any as venerable as myself. Unless perhaps their ages are obfuscated through some means.

[Which is unlikely due to no magic, but one should never completely rule something out.]

Perhaps one of the best lessons we can learn is humility. Such defeats have deeper insights. A loss is only a loss at face value.

Maybe, but the only reason I attacked in the first place was to push myself to the limit. I want to be able to stand up against Pokémon as a failsafe. Can't be too sure when someone will get the bright idea sic their "pets" on trainers.

Usually it's safe, but there's always a few bad eggs mixed in with the pacifists.

You went up against it by yourself? Without a Pokemon?

You must have had quite the strategy. Or merely been very lucky.

It's what I've been doing lately. Figure it's better than either letting them do all the legwork or sticking to human opponents.

I just... might've bitten off more than I could chew.

How do you go about such a thing? With a weapon, or your bare hands?

Blunt weapons are technically legal, so I tend to go with that. I'd have to be nuts to go up against a dinosaur with my bare hands.

Indeed so. Well, good fortune to you... with any luck, perhaps you will survive your brawling until the next time we speak.

53 - video/action for Cerulean;

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so sorry this is late D: I coulda sworn I tagged this!

it's okaaaay I'm behind in my tags anyway sob

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