firstnothing

[Video!]

[The video clicks on to focus not on Xemnas, but a rather sedate looking kadabra carefully picking burrs out of a blitzle's fur, the ever-present kadabra-spoon held in its teeth. Both have rather new looking and fairly loose black collars studded with small silvery ...studs, and a single bright silver charm a little too distant to make out clearly. Neither seem to mind said collars, possibly because they'd be able to get them off very easily if they wanted to. When Xemnas speaks, likely the one holding the camera, he sounds bemused.]

I have finally seen evolution in this world for myself, but not with one of the pokemon I have had the longest. Is it odd, that the abra I captured not so long ago, evolved so quickly into its next form? Or is this common for wild-caught pokemon? I have high hopes of seeing the second stage of Regret's own evolution soon.

[The blitzle notices the camera first and perks up visibly. Then begins making faces at it, no small fete for a horselike face. Aside from a slow flick of its rather fluffy tail, the kadabra doesn't bother to divert from its goal of burrs.]

Additionally the growlithe that had chosen to accompany me is still present. If anyone is desirous of having a free growlithe, alert me and I will bring it somewhere you can capture it. To the young man I purchased the gastly egg from: it is a remarkable creature, and one I suspect I will keep for some time. You must be very pleased with its parents.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

shadowdive

[He's far enough back that had the noses of those Pokemon moved, it would have been more difficult to see anyway, unfortunately. He hears him though, so he trots back in closer to answer the question, looking almost childishly excited. On one hand, this has been a long attempt at letting himself feel positive emotions; on the other, if Vanitas knew how ridiculous he looked, he'd be toning it down by trying to be serious.

It's never a win win.]

Salamance and Haxorus. Without the wings is the Haxorus, her name is Kat, the other Kodak. The common dragon weakness is ice and other dragons, but a good one I don't have that counteracts both is called a Kingdra. It's a water and dragon type, meaning ice does diddly, and it has high health so you have to really work at knocking one of those out.

From:

firstnothing

They are very impressive creatures.

[It's an allowance, perhaps due to the almost genuinely boyish happiness Vanitas seemed to be showing. While Xemnas probably didn't care one way or another whether or not he was happy, it was ... good to attempt at least one or two positive relationships. Just in case.]

You must be very proud of them. ... Are you intending to catch a kingdra, to fill in this possible weakness-gap?

From:

shadowdive

Raised them both from eggs. Yeah, I think Kingdra comes from a Pokemon called a Horsea, so it's one of the few things I need to look for when I hear people selling eggs again.

From:

firstnothing

A remarkable set as they are. I admit the .. ah, haxorus? Appears to be far more fierce than her winged companion, is this so? Or merely appearances?

[Horsea. A mental note is made; he'll need to get one at some point.]

Where did you acquire these eggs from? A specific breeder?

From:

shadowdive

Yeah, Kat likes to fight more than Kodak does, but both will get up and antsy when I used to take on gym leaders. She does look more fierce with that axe for a skull though, huh?

Not really anyone specific, but Riku winds up with egg batches from time to time. They just start happening when you get a lot of Pokemon, or you start traveling with someone. Karkat and I wind up with batches sometimes too, though they're not as frequent since we try to keep handfuls of them apart. We both just have too many Pokemon.

From:

firstnothing

I see. I am glad none of mine have seen fit to indulge in that particular sort of activity.

[Something in his tone also says he better not have to in the future either and the blitzle visibly cringes, no matter how mild the tone. Noooo they'll be behaving themselves. No eggs here!]

You no longer actively battle them? Have you run out of challenges worthy of your time?

From:

shadowdive

They're probably too young or there aren't any in your party with the same egg groups yet. [Good luck with that tone bro, Vanitas is chuckling over here.]

No, unfortunately the elite four hasn't been open since I've been here, and I have all sixteen badges. Since I have so many level 100 Pokemon, it's hard to find them challenges now, so they tend to just fight each other.

From:

firstnothing

'Egg groups'. I see I have further research ahead of me. I presumed they stayed within their species.

Have you fought other trainers that have been here as long as you? There may be no prize other than bragging rights but to some such a reward would be worth the time and effort.

From:

shadowdive

You'll be surprised what breeds with what.

Sometimes, but then we have to put self imposed restrictions on the battle that wind up more boring than we wanted.

[Taking his gear back from the Scrafty he had holding it, he returns the two dragons and takes an ungraceful flump into his chair next to the Pokemon, but with the camera turning with him, it shows his "chair" is actually a large blue and white fluffy Altaria, who simply chirps a pleased greeting at the stranger on the screen.]

From:

firstnothing

[It takes several moments of processing for Xemnas to acknowledge that yes, the boy IS using a bird as a chair.]

What sort of restrictions? One would assume a near free-for-all would be ideal. Anything bitten off, gouged out or torn off would have to be handed back afterwards, of course.

From:

shadowdive

[Sanaa is the best chair ever kthx.]

Except most people bitch and complain if their Pokemon gets hurt beyond typical battle standards, and it's frowned upon to have a legitimate "wild beast". Dartanian is actually a lot calmer than he used to be, the bit I've gathered from asking psychic types is that he was initially raised by a vicious woman with light hair and an affinity for shocking the shit out of him through a Luxray.

From:

firstnothing

A legitimate 'wild beast' would not listen to orders to leave off when the opponent is defeated. Savagery is not always disobedience. ... While it is .. unfortunate your pokemon was so abused, he seems to be significantly better currently.

From:

shadowdive

Riku has an Aerodactyl called Terror that I don't think has been any bit tamed either. Mm, though it didn't come without him snapping my shoulder once.

From:

firstnothing

[There's one of those pauses.]

Which one snapped your shoulder, the pokemon or Riku?

[Because honestly it could go either way.]

From:

shadowdive

Oh, Dartanian, maybe during the first year I had him. A younger Sora who isn't the same one as the one here tried siccing him on me, and he decided he liked me more and threw Sora into the ocean. During a gym battle, I clocked Dart in the snout for being obnoxious and he decided he had enough and just opened his jaws.

From:

firstnothing

[Promptly, a few things are moved around in his mental sorting columns. Riku ISN'T breaking people's shoulders, that's good to know.]

This woman with the luxray had him first, then gave him to Sora, who of all people sicced it on you, whereupon you kept it? ... How unusual, but still useful for you. Aside from being bitten. Was it this world's lack of death that preserved you, or did your pokemon simply choose to not use lethal force?

From:

shadowdive

Hilarious turn of events, right? He couldn't control the Pokemon either, probably only got it when she disappeared from this world. Dart used lethal force enough to get his point across, but I did need to go to the hospital for a few weeks and wear a cast. So, I guess he chose not to burn me to a crisp.

From:

firstnothing

Certainly ironic, as this is not the sort of thing a hero of the keyblade should be doing. Heroism doesn't involve siccing monsters on people.

[Xemnas doesn't really sound like he thinks it's a bad thing to sic a pokemon on a person, he has been teaching his own how to do just that only hours before. But he wasn't a hero of the keyblade!]

I take it the charizard respects you significantly more now, or does the risk of being chewed on still exist?

From:

lastcharge

There's no such thing as a pure hero who wields a Keyblade. If that's the case, I'd never have been capable of summoning mine for being made of darkness.

The risk of being chewed on exists if I take to punching him in the snout again, otherwise, we've come to terms.

From:

firstnothing

Of course not. It's a delusion that was crafted for him by DiZ and Yen Sid, to control his actions and keep him on the path they wished for him to be on. And like most blind, naive children he danced to their tune without a flicker of hesitation.

[There's a brief, ever so brief tinge of disgust to his voice. It clears by the time he speaks again.]

It is good you have reached an understanding with your charizard then. I can't imagine being bitten was terribly enjoyable.

From:

lastcharge

I don't know who this DiZ was, but Yen Sid probably said it because he saw all the things that happened to the other apprentices. He has darkness, but it's small, probably as much as Ventus had before I was made with it.

[There's no need to comment on the disgust, but he's noting it was there; it seems like Xemnas doesn't particularly.. exhibit emotions often, but it's not particularly concerning. He's more controlled with it, and Vanitas is honestly jealous of the control.]

Heh, no. He got my arm down his throat and whipped me around like a damn toy, I had some cracked ribs too, but the shoulder took the longest to heal. I'll say don't underestimate any of them, their size shouldn't be the only indicator of danger.

From:

firstnothing

A fool of a man clinging to petty grievances long after those he wished revenge on were gone. Both he and Yen Sid wished to have an easily controlled weapon and got what they wished to have. A tool to wield against that which they didn't understand and thus feared.

[Anyone can learn that level of control, it just requires sacrificing your heart and being without it so long you forget what feelings are.]

... No, I don't think I'll be underestimating them. If I am attacked by my own pokemon then it is my failure as their master that led to it, not their own actions.

From:

lastcharge

[He kind of likes having a heart so no thanks maybe another time.]

Yeah, it was probably my own cockiness that led to what happened, but you'd be surprised about some of the harmless looking ones. There's one called a Magikarp, and they're completely useless until you train them to level twenty. They then evolve into a large sea serpent; I've seen a handful of people who were mistreating Magikarps get one to evolve and shoot a hyper beam at them, they deserved it.

[Let's not count that Vanitas once kicked a karp only to have it evolve and try to shoot him out of the sky, yup.]

From:

firstnothing

Ah yes, the pre-evolution of gyarados. I have been intending to catch one of those, but they are surprisingly difficult to lure to shore when all you have is some bread and a waiting blitzle. I have yet to find fishing poles in this world. A hyperbeam seems terribly useful.

Aside from the risk of being shot by it. I suppose one could treat their new fish very well until then and prevent angry sea dragon lasers later.

From:

lastcharge

[Well. Guess who is going to transfer Xemnas a handful of fishing poles by tomorrow? Yup.]

That's what one should do, but most people take a first look at the Magikarp and decide it's useless from the get go.