View Flat HTML
View Metadata
Search Post
It's a crisp, fall day. Fluffy clouds are rolling through the sky. A slim, green-eyed girl of about thirteen sits on the edge of a meteorite crater in rocky Veilstone City, Sinnoh. A messy, windswept bob of black hair frames her face. Black jeans hug her hips, with a pokéball belt hanging slightly askew — only one ball at the moment. Above that, she wears a midriff-bearing t-shirt in dark green, with a sharp-looking abstract pattern in black, and over that a short, rugged, black utility jacket. A dark green messenger bag hangs from her shoulder, resting on the rocky ground.
Hailey and Iron are starting Pokémon Journeys
Compute-and-Conjury
Their hand claps into itself, and little motes of grey-glistening energy form once more, shooting forth in a broad singular beam to challenge the rush of shadow now that Concordance has regained their bearings.
of-tricolor-and-tricks
The steely beam doesn't do a lot to disrupt the ghost-type attack, but it does quite a bit to discourage the ghost. Neo dives sharply to avoid the blast, grimacing as she's clipped by the edge, her form wavering around the edges as yet more wisps begin to leak.
of-tricolor-and-tricks
But at another pair of snaps from Hailey, she strikes out with her shadow a final time, diving into the shadows as she does so.
Compute-and-Conjury
Concordance lurches back at the blow, audibly creaking and groaning and then in a moment there's a brilliant flash of light, scouring away the shadows with pure radiant brightness -
of-tricolor-and-tricks
Neo falls out of the vanishing darkness, still looking thoroughly battered. She readies herself to lash out again—
of-emerald-and-ether
But Hailey whistles once, high to low, and pats her thigh softly.
"We concede," she says aloud, a concerned frown on her face.
She steps down into the crater and gathers her little ghost into her arms.
Compute-and-Conjury
They bow their head politely, and tap their finger against a ball, the soft red beam of the recall system spilling out and collecting their own pokemon post-haste.
They blink a little, eyes flicking down to their feet before stepping slowly forward towards them.
"Is there something wrong?"
of-emerald-and-ether
"I don't know why, but those steel moves were hitting her like a type advantage. I wasn't sure at first, but the psychic strike toward the end made it clear. She'd be eager to fight 'til she drops, and normally I'd let her, but this is odd."
She feeds Neo a sitrus berry.
of-tricolor-and-tricks
Some of the leaking wisps around her form close up, and then she vanishes into the shadow of Hailey's coat.
Compute-and-Conjury
"That is unusual... I've heard of regional variations of pokemon that go down to the substance of their typings and abilities, but something that subtle is... odd, certainly."
Compute-and-Conjury
"I presume your pokedex doesn't return anything odd for her? It might be wise to check again if it gives you anything - which it might, if it's something progressive."
"Though...
"I'd expect that you'll need a specialist to find out anything useful, I don't think it'd hurt to check with what we have here."
They stroke their chin softly.
of-emerald-and-ether
She coaxes Neo back out with a mago berry, and then scans her.
"No," she shakes her head, "it doesn't turn up anything abnormal. As far as it can tell, she's just like any other injured Misdreavus."
Compute-and-Conjury
They tap their lip.
"I suppose one thing that might narrow it down is if Neo can use Babiri berries? I'm not entirely sure how - narrow the mechanism of those are, but it might give some insight into her condition. Beyond that..."
They shrug a little.
"Your guess is if anything likely better then mine."
They glance over their shoulder.
"Would you like to go to the pokemon center together, then? I suppose it's not impossible that it's something on Concordance's side, and Nurse Joys' services should hopefully at least give a referral to where we could look for further answers."
of-emerald-and-ether
"Babiri... for easing supereffective steel damage? Hmm. That's a really good idea to narrow that down. I haven't picked any, though, because I never thought Neo would need one. Know a store around here that carries 'em? And yeah, going to see Nurse Joy together would be great. Maybe she has one, even."
Compute-and-Conjury
"My first thought would be to check the department store - even if they don't have any in stock, we might be able to get something out of the attendant in the food section."
They take a moment to pull out their bag and fiddle with the potion nozzle's interface to get it to apply to Concordance's ball, an odd little hum radiating from it after a moment as the healing fluid drains away. They place it back in its place, and saddle up the bag back on their back.
"And well fought, incidentally. You've clearly trained quite well, to work so fluidly in combat."
of-emerald-and-ether
"Thanks," she replies softly, leading the way toward the department store with a nod, Neo hiding back in her coat.
of-emerald-and-ether
"Think we should poke our heads in the Center on the way, just to ask if the nurse has a babiri on-hand before continuing on to the store?"
of-emerald-and-ether
"Mmkay." Conveniently the center is on the way to the store. She looks a little frustrated at the situation, but gradually works on steadying her face out toward neutral. "Neo likes y'all, by the way."
Compute-and-Conjury
Their cheeks pinken and twitch a little before they really realize what's happening. They relax into the words, a little, and just... keep walking for a few more moments.
"...Much appreciated."
of-emerald-and-ether
She shrugs a bit, making an expression that's not quite a smile, and keeps walking.
Soon enough the pokéball logo of the center is looming overhead, and Hailey leads the way inside.
of-emerald-and-ether
"D'you have a spare babiri berry? My partner is acting like she was hit with type advantage when there shouldn't be one, and I wanna check that out real quick before having you heal her."