paladinlost | 33rd moon [video/action]

Which gym is that?

This one is Olivine's. It uses Steel-types.

What's that weak to? Fire and Fighting?

Ground, also, though it would be completely useless against Jasmine's Skarmory. But it works wonderfully against the rest of her team.

Sounds good. A lot of mine specialize in Ground too.

As long as one of them can use a Fire-type attack, you should be perfectly fine. The match was simple enough, though Flare's level is admittedly rather high.

Did you happen to catch her levels?

Her Steelix was level 60, and the rest of them were weaker. They were quite manageable.

Sounds easy enough.

I certainly found her less troublesome than Falkner was when I challenged him.

... Really?

What kind of Pokemon do you have now?

Clefable, Banette, Butterfree, Arcanine, Meganium, Milotic, Arbok, Lucario, Dragonite, Umbreon, Lunatone, Altaria, Delibird, two Gardevoirs, Luxio, Chansey and Gyarados. A few of them came from friends. I only had a Clefairy, a Banette, a Butterfree and a Growlithe, for my first badge.

... Some team. What are their levels like?

They go from 25 to 100, with quite a few in their thirties. I received a group of eggs some weeks ago.

... Even 100?

... Wow.

That one was raised by a friend, but a few of the ones I've always had are over level 90.

That's...

In fact, you could say my Butterfree is somewhat underlevelled. She was my third Pokémon, but my Arcanine has reached a higher level.

That's still pretty impressive. Mine are only about half as high as your highest right now.

Considering the difference in time spent here, that's a very good level.

Edited 2011-06-11 01:35 (UTC)

You think so?

Of course. It took ages before Rosie was anywhere near that level.

How long is ages...?

It happened in... January, I believe? Or was it February? And since I arrived at the end of August...

... I still can't get over how long you all have been here.

...Neither can I, sometimes. So many people have come and gone since then...

... Sorry. Didn't mean to bring up bad memories.

It's fine. I still have good memories of them, after all.

Really?

Of course. Travelling together, discussions about worlds, love and everything else, meeting in person for the first time... Even if they return with no memories, I still recall all of that.

... Even if they return with no memories, huh?

Can't you get them back?

..It could be possible. As far as I know, no one has tried it.

Count me as the first.

...You'll be the first to do quite a lot, won't you?

Only if no one mans up and beats me to it. So long as it gets done, that's all that matters to me. I'm not in this for a first place award.

Luckily for you. I doubt much of a prize would come with it, other than a greater understanding of this world.

... And the memories.

Can a goal also be a prize?

If you let it be, sure.

...I suppose a saved world was always both, by necessity.

... Yeah, there you go. That's a pretty obvious one.

It's also one everyone would appreciate keeping, for once.

At least, you can hope that.

...The people who count usually do.

... Yeah, I guess.

The wishes of threats from space matter little, after all.

You think so?

That sort of people has no right to tell people to die.

No one has that right.

You'd think people would understand that.

You'd think people would understand a lot of things.

Such as decency and altruism?

Yeah.

Most do. The ones who do not are merely louder.

Well, someone's certainly on a roll. Congratulations.

Thank you. To think that I have only two left to earn...

And then?

...I'm not certain. I'll learn more information about a way to return home, supposedly.

Mm, I've always wondered about where that idea came from. Is it written somewhere in fine print?

I think it was passed down from the earliest arrivals, but was it something they were told? Was it simply a rumor? I have no idea.

Mm, if it were me, I'd want to figure out the origins of something like that before I went off on my merry way for great justice.

Still, it does give one a good reason to travel, even if it's a false rumor.

Fair enough. Though I'll have to say, not all excuses to travel are good ones.

True, but I've not yet found one in this world. It has no wars, after all.

Mm, can a world that knows no war truly know peace...? Or something like that, I guess.

It can, but can it appreciate it to its just value?

Perhaps. Though I'd say that it's more of the people here. A world that doesn't know war wouldn't know the concept of peace -- but just from glancing at our population, it's a little obvious that there are some out there who know war better than anyone else.

True. Most people I've spoken have seen at least some form of conflict in their lands, though they were not always directly involved. I've heard of many soldiers, too.

And it's those people who brought the concept of war. And because of that, they've brought the concept of peace, too.

Funny, isn't it, the way things work.

...Perhaps sad would be a more appropriate word for it, all things considered.

Mm, I wonder if there even is an appropriate word, really.

If someone were to say, 'my country was torn apart by war'...

...I truly doubt the locals could understand that person's feelings, or even the concept behind it. Evil seems to be restrained to Pokémon abuse, here.

Ah, what an interesting thought. If all the negativity of the world were encompassed in selective pokemon abuse, rather than allowed to run amok.

Maybe it's their way of maintaining this world's child-friendly atomosphere -- directing the antagonistic things towards something that seems relatively harmless.

But is it truly so harmless? Think of the Magikarps, for example. Many are abused because of their lack of attacks, leaving them furious when they evolve and endangering any who approach them. Yet no local thinks of warning new trainers, even if they find Pokémon abuse reprehensible. Is that not a form of neglect?

...Then again, I've never heard of anyone dying because of a Pokémon. Perhaps that is something else they cannot understand.

Perhaps. Or maybe it's just the way things are -- I can't disagree with you, really. Concepts that don't exist in this world that we've brought with us, what seems normal for us may seem perplexing for them.

Have you ever heard of anyone striking up a friendship with the locals?

...I've never heard of any such friendship. Not that I know anyone who has tried, but the locals always seem a little... distant, with us. The closest I've seen would be those who are asked out by Whitney after their battle.

And beyond the police, very few of them seem to take acute interest in us.

Even the police seems to care little for us, as long as we do not break the law.

Oh, dear. The more we think about it, the more morbid it becomes.

I find it more xenophobic than anything else, really.

I suppose. It does make me feel a little sorry for them, having their home invaded by these strange, alien people.

They've not tried to throw us out with weapons and Pokémon, at least. We should be thankful for that.

Mm, however should we show our endless gratitude?

...By participating in the local economy and not breaking their laws?

Haha, that could work. Though, really, sometimes, I question a little about their humanity.

What do you mean by that?

They're awfully fond of repetition, wouldn't you say?

...A little, at times. Some have it worse than others.

They do say we're trapped in a video-game-like construct. [a bit of a shrug, here.] I guess the question is if we'd consider someone as truly 'alive' if they're actually pre-programmed to only act in certain ways.

I truly doubt they always act like this. They might even be paid to welcome travellers with the same phrases, to give the cities a certain image.

Mm, if that's the case, it does sound like even most citizens are paid for the same reason. It seems like an awful lot of trouble, for a tourism campaign.

And the costs of maintaining a whole touristic region would be too high for any sane government to consider.

Ah, the age-old conspiracy theory. It's good to know that some things just don't change, even between dimensions.

Would a touristic resort truly count as a conspiracy? It sounds rather harmless, in theory.

Always in theory. Of course, that all changes once we discover the fire-breathing bears in the basement.

Or the poisonous jellyfish in the bathroom.

Or the seven-legged cat in the ceiling, above the floorboards.

Then again, that might attract a particular clientele, at the cost of everyone else.

It might be a willing sacrifice, really.

People with particular interest would be willing to pay more for them, but would it truly compensate for the losses?

Oh? And what sort of 'particular interest' would that be, do you think?

An overpowering wish to find out which Pokémon is the strangest of them all, of course.

[a chuckle] The worthiest goal.

[all in all... not a bad way to spend the afternoon.]

My vote goes to Ditto. All of them.

Truer words never said.

With a very special mention to Bartz's Gogo.

Really, do I want to know?

Young Gogo has a friendly personality. And a hat.

... I'll bet the hat is absolutely vital, huh.

There must be a reason for it, but I have no idea what it is.

Have you tried taking it away?

Frankly, I try not to approach him if I can.

I suppose it's just another mystery of Johto, then.

At least this one is harmless, in theory.

Aren't most things harmless, in theory? Doesn't stop them from being hazardous.

...I've seen many objects used as weapons in my life, but never hats.

Mind explaining how that works, really?

I suppose one could accidentally step on it and slip...

Or maybe it could chuck the hat like a throwing star.

Ah, but kitchen knives would be a better choice for that.

But wouldn't a hat be more of a novelty? And half the fight is about making it look easy.

A novelty, perhaps, but it'd be less likely to make the opponent give up without a fight.

On the other hand, it might get them to underestimate you terribly.

So while they're laughing over your ninja-throwing hat spectacles, that's when you whip out the kitchen knives.

Or you could sew the kitchen knives to the cap itself. Who would expect that?

Not to mention it'd be surprisingly fashionable. I think someone should make this happen.

Not Gogo. I refuse to trust him with that.

You could, of course, take it into your own hands.

My stitches are finally straight, but they're not quite that strong yet. It might take some time.

Something to work towards, maybe?

If I do not cut my fingers off with needles first.

Oh, I certainly hope not. Unless, of course, you have a multitude of creative uses for severed fingers.

They'd clash with everything I own, sadly.

Possibly a ready excuse to go shopping for something new.

Perhaps there is a local store that sells finger-related clothing, but I rarely patronize that sort of establishment.

A ring or two wouldn't be too bad, I should think.

The wedding ring is more than enough, thank you.

I suppose that's one thing that I don't know enough about to deny.

You still have more than enough time to spend before knowing about that, I think.

I should hope so. My sister would be distraught if she became an aunt before she's made a career out of herself.

My brother took it rather well, at least. But after seventeen years, he must have expected it. I doubt you'd have that sort of time to soften the blow.

Not quite seventeen years, no. I still have a ways to go, sadly enough.

That'S perfectly fine. Youth is to be enjoyed, after all.

Especially with the way some children wanting to grow up as quickly as possible. It's a shame, really.

Indeed. They grow up fast enough as it is, truly.

And later on in life, they scrabble to reclaim that childhood. It seems a little counterproductive, really.

We always seem to want the wrong thing at the wrong moment in our life, really.

Isn't that the root of our discontent? Which is why society progresses at all, really.

Would that not make dreams a sign of discontentment?

Think of it this way-- would we have dreams if we were content?

Of course. We could still dream of passing our contentment on.

I think people have already invented another word for that-- 'nightmare'.

That seems rather harmless, as far as potential nightmares go.

Oh, I don't know. Whether it's monsters or death-- Having happiness and watching it pass away... isn't that the root of all terrible nightmares?

...Not even having to chance to feel unhappiness after would be even worse, I think.

If you look at it that way, maybe feeling unhappiness is a blessing.

It's much better than not having the chance to feel anything at all, at least.

Like they say, there are always worse things to look forward to.

But really, if it's inevitable anyway, being pessimistic about it won't do much good, I'd think.

Unless someting particularly terrible happens, I've no reason to feel pessimistic. Spirits can still watch over the living, in my world.

[ah. a chuckle.] I wonder if it could be the same, in mine.

I'm afraid most people do not have the chance to find out. Only the most powerful of spirits can allow themselves to be seen.

It's still terribly reassuring, just having something like that act as a guarantee.

I wonder what it's like, being a spirit.

It must be frustrating, watching and watching with no chance to help your loved ones.

And reassuring, in the way that you are still able to share in their happiness.

Hopefully they prefer watching our happiness to watching our troubles, even if some find peace boring.

As long as peace isn't stagnation. The ones left behind will just have to lead exciting but peaceful lives for the sake of those watching.

Peace is a time we must use to make the world better. I'd not call that stagnating.

That's a fine way to think of things. Is that what you do?

To the best of my ability. Well, to the best of the kingdom's ability, really.

And is this where I find out that I've been speaking to royalty this entire time?

Something like that. It happens.

Not too often, hopefully. Do you have a sword?

A few, but this world dislikes them and has seen fit to take them away.

Thought it was strange that I haven't seen a single sword-point around these parts, especially with all the pokemon abound. Maybe it's a precaution.

Sometimes, it seems as though weapons simply do not exist in this world. Even the locals have none other than their Pokémon, though they usually suffice.

Could be that they think of pokemon as a fitting substitute. To be fair, if your pet could breathe fire and cause earthquakes, you wouldn't have to do much fighting yourself.

Some people simply enjoy sparring and fighting. All the Pokémon in the world cannot replicate that feeling.

Mm, I can't say I know. I don't spar.

What a shame. It's quite the relaxing activity.

Would you teach me, if I asked?

Of course. Have you a weapon in mind?

The sword's always been particularly romantic, I think.

That it is. Out of all the weapons I've been trained to use, it's my favorite.

Mm, what other weapons?

Axes, daggers, staves and bows. I had a well-rounded education.

I'd imagine. [a chuckle, here] But hypothetically speaking, if I were to ask, I'd probably like to stick with the sword.

It's the most straightforward weapon I know. Bows are tricky, daggers involve staying very close to your opponent, staves mostly complement magic, and axes are rather less precise.

And it's probably the easiest one to find, really. I don't think you'd find many wooden axes or staves around these parts, but wooden swords can be found at any souvenir shop.

Those are terribly unbalanced. Frying pans work better, in most cases.

Really, now. Is that how you learned the art of the sword?

[He shakes his head.]

My teacher did not believe in training blades. But the frying pan is Queen Sheila of Fabul's favored weapon.

Edited 2011-08-05 16:49 (UTC)

Favoured? Or fabled?

Favored. Extremely favored. Her kitchen knives are also lovingly sharpened.

My, that's quite a literal approach to the age-old idiom of how the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

Her cooking is also quite delicious, though more people receive a taste of the frying pan.

I suppose you're one of the rare few that make it to the main course?

As a family friend, I have more chance with that than most.

Fun. It does sound like I should invest in a new frying pan, then.

You should, if only for its more usual uses. Warm food is always nice to have.

Learning to spar, then cooking a hot lunch to go. I could live with that.

As long as you do not forget to remove the food from the pan before you spar.

I'd say dodging flying eggs is a perfect way to hone your sword skills.

Yet it'd be a waste of eggs, on the road with no way to buy supplies.

For the sake of the greater good. You can't complete your expertise unless you're willing to make great sacrifices.

I doubt my Chansey would appreciate that particular sacrifice.

If your Chansey asks, tell them that the eggs were lost valiantly in battle.

...If my wife asks, tell her that death by Chansey is completely painless and that I fought bravely.

I'll pass it along.

Thank you. It'll certainly ease her sadness as she mourns.

Oh, dear. Should I prepare flowers?

A small, simple bouquet will suffice.

Mm, I don't think I'd get the flowers quite right. I think you're better off delivering those yourself.

I'd need a Raise spell. Or a Phoenix Down. Or to survive with merely debilitating injuries.

With your resourcefulness, I'm sure you'll find a way to keep yourself from getting bulldozed by a Chansey.

...Sleep Powder. Or Stun Spore, if needed.

Oh, did you have prior experience with that sort of thing? You should share stories like that, you know.

It works for Gym leaders' Pokémon. Why not a Chansey?

Mm, are there any gym leaders with Chansey as a pokemon?

None. Whitney uses Normal-types, but no Chanseys.

Then it so follows that there should be a fundamental difference. They're very strong pokemon, though, and very loyal.

And extremely proud of their eggs and their nutritive value.

And we've come back to the sudden lack of eggs. Maybe you should use a different pokemon's, then. Something safer, and not as likely to send you to your early grave.

...They'd also be more useful if they were sold to prospective trainers. I might have a source of eggs, but I still need to buy everything else.

Maybe it's time to invest in pokemon that give almost as much as they take. Those bee-like pokemon make for great sources of honey, I've heard.

I've seen one of those before. Do you know where they can be caught?

Not a clue. [cheerful!] The ones with the large stingers, you can probably raise from a worm. But the other kind I've only seen from eggs.

They must not be indigenous to Johto, then. I wonder how they arrived here?

Suppose a rock fell out of the sky and carried them here?

Or perhaps Johto regularly receives egg showers.

I wouldn't be surprised. They probably employ their own fleet of pokemon storks for the occasion.

I'm quite surprised we've not yet seen that species. They seem to have everything else.

A rather unfortunate oversight, isn't it? It makes explaining to the poor children that much more difficult.

Perhaps they use Pidgeots, instead. Or Fearows, those would be common enough.

Hardly the gentlest of birds, though. They'd scare the poor, expectant mothers witless.

The capacity to transport twins or triplets easily would compensate for that.

Only for the few who look forward to that sort of thing. Viscerally useless to everyone else, really.

And transporting children for more than one family at the time would give people the wrong idea.

All in all, they're fairly impractical. Johto needs to do better.

I'd suggest Swablus, if they were local birds.

If we started up a breeding campaign, would that be considered charity for the land?

We'd need to argue our case before the land's rulers, and hope for financial aid.

Edited 2011-09-11 23:49 (UTC)

Maybe swallow a thesaurus or two to make it sound convincing.

I've no doubt I could argue my way to an advantageous settlement, if needed.

Oh? Are you speaking from experience?

Too much of it, I fear, and with greater disadvantages.

In that case, we'll leave it up to you to lead our grandiose campaign.

I shall do my best, for everyone's sake.

Not to the point of martyrdom, I hope.

Should I need to become a martyr, it'll be for a greater cause.

And who would be the judge of the cause?

The martyr himself, of course.

... they say the one in the midst of it all is the one who cannot see the entirety of the cause.

It'd be fine. I've already sworn to never not see the full picture again. It'll not happen.

Promises are easy to break.

Not that particular one. Quite a few people are ready to help me keep it.

Mm, will it be foolproof?

It is extremely difficult to prepare a plan that is completely foolproof, but we can come close.

I'd like to think of the relationship between plans and perfection to be asymptotic in nature. Forever approaching, but never quite reaching it.

...And completely isolated from one another, in certain cases.

On the other hand, that's only if you have a very narrow definition of perfection.

The world is safe, and no one died. Is that too narrow?

It could be, if it's unattainable.

...It is, I suppose.

Settle for second-best.

...Low casualties. Tricky but possible.

Aiming for the impossible is a sad venture, anyway. You know the saying-- shoot for the moon, and you'll land amongst the stars?

...The moon is much easier to reach than the stars, as long as you have the right ship.

[No, he doesn't.]

[a chuckle, here.] Well, for those of us who don't have that ship-- they say that the stars are an acceptable alternative.

What do you think?

...It'd not work if the problem can only be stopped by going to the moon in the first place.

[Both literally and metaphorically.]

And it extinguishes the stars.

That'd take a rather great problem.

When it's your problem, of course it'd seem great.

I believe that particular problem would be considered objectively great.

Seem, being the keyword. Is any problem truly great?

When thousands if not millions of lives are threatened? Yes.

Not to the tyrant. Not to the child.

Not to the flower that blooms from the ashes of war.

There'd be no children or flowers left, and the tyrant is probably responsible in the first place.

So in the end, there's still the tyrant to account for. Even the greatest problem might not be a problem in the eyes of others.

It'll become his problem when someone decides not to let it happen.

Even then, there's no guarantee that he'd regret it.

...Such a person is far beyond anyone's help, then.

And it's everyone else's problem-- but his, of course.

Such problems can be eliminated with a few good swords and spells.

Is it really so simple?

...Perilous travels and near brushes with death are also often involved.

With the end result of killing the tyrant at the risk of your own lives?

If it must be done, and it often must.

Can a problem truly be solved by the death of a man?

Not completely, but it can help if everything else fails.

You've seen a lot of death.

As much as anyone from my world has, which is rather too much.

Being alive... that's a rather lucky thing.

That it is. Too many die simply because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Is there ever a right place and a right time?

In your bed, at ninety, surrounded by four generations of descendants.

Is that where you'd like to be?

...Slightly older, perhaps.

Something to work towards.

I stay away from damaging habits.

Then, I trust that you'll take the prerogative to rest well on your journey?

But of course. What sort of trainer would I be if I collapsed on my Pokémon's back?

A very tired one. At the end of it, though, I think you'll be a very successful one.

Thank you. That is indeed my goal, to a certain degree.

Only a certain degree?

Seeing my son again is by far my priority.

[... a pause, here.]

Ah, your son?

Many of my friends have been brought here at some point, but not yet him. It's been quite some time since I last saw him.

Mm, I wonder if he takes after his father.

He does, but he takes much more after his mother.

How so?

He has most of her talent for healing, and definitely her stubborn streak.

Mm, what would you do if he showed up?

Fly to his side in an instant, no matter the circumstances.

33rd moon [video/action]

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