victory_road | 4th Cast Off [Video]

Greetings... [The camera is fixed on Kira, showing him from about the waist up. It's a completely still shot and there aren't any Pokeémon fluttering or hogging the camera this time.] So. I have these two eggs that I'd like to hand off to a trainer. [He holds up the rather large eggs. All white with blue spots.]

But first... I kind of have to tell a quick story.

When I arrived here I was pulled away from an important mission at home. But it seems like I was given an important one upon arrival. The Pokémon I was given is a Lapras. All its entries are about how it's been hunted to the brink of extinction. Here listen to this one specifically: "People have driven Lapras almost to the point of extinction. In the evenings, this Pokémon is said to sing plaintively as it seeks what few others of its kind still remain." That's messed up... and really sad.

Despite the rareness of this species, I had one. I also had a book about breeding and all that. If that's not a sign of what you've been sent here to do then I don't know what is. So these past six months I've been working on breeding Lapras. And I was even more determined when that machine that just summons random pokémon, Lapras included, for you to ride on came on the market. No secret, I hate that thing. But that's not an issue for here and now but...

Look, long story short, I managed to get two eggs. According to my calculations they are both Lapras eggs there is a fifty fifty chance with the gender. I did breed Lapras with a Politoed so there may be some unique moves happening here. And I really want, more than anything, these eggs go to a good home. Like, this is my whole purpose for being here so I have to make sure that these things are taken care of. I'm not naive by any means that I'll save the species but it's a start.

So, I assume all of that got sent here are decent people with good intentions for these guys right? So, I guess I'll do whoever asks for one first kind of thing. First come first serve. And I mean, if you really want one and can't get on this time, I intend to breed more. Just let me know you're interested and when more come about, I'll pass it on to you when it, you know, appears.

Protect these creatures of the sea and help reverse the damage that people have done to them. And not just Lapras, but all these guys. I'm sure this is not the only species that's suffering from near extinction.

And then... On a less, well no, this is still kind of serious. I've been trying to get hold of a kid named Josuke but I'm not getting through to his a pokégear. If anyone has seen him tell him his new nephew is looking for him and he's being a shit uncle.

Thanks. And if you have any questions let me hear them.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Breeding more Lapras is a wonderful idea. A whole pod visited Johto years ago, yet they've been so rare since then... Such wonderful creatures should be plentiful, and loved by all who train them.

[The love seems commonplace these days, thankfully.]

Where was your uncle when you last spoke with him? If he's in central Kanto, I might be able to find him.

[Okay. It's weird to have other people call Josuke his uncle. He's got like a decade on the kid but that's, for all intents and purposes, what they appear to be.]

This is going to sound bad, but I never found out. We said we'd meet up at some point but there's been nothing but radio silence on his end. And now none of my messages are going through. Just getting an error... I wanted to give him one of the Lapras eggs. But...

[He's sort of already knows that maybe Josuke ended up going home, back to Morioh. And while it shouldn't cause a twisting sort of aching feeling in his guts it really does. People just keep on vanishing without warning and it really sucks.

Kira clears his throat though, suppressing all that emotional garbage.] A swarm of Lapras sounds insanely cool. Maybe with enough work something like that won't be so rare anymore...

Your attempts to call him lead to errors?

[Cecil's smile drops in an instant, replaced by a frown.]

...You'll truly have to find another trainer for that egg, then. He's been sent home, without a doubt.

[He sighs.]

Well, there's always a chance he'll return. And if he does, perhaps you'll be able to surprise him with a higher Lapras population and another egg.

[See. That's exactly what he thought happened. So... Yeah.

Hell if it still doesn't feel like an unpleasant punch in the gut. He had lots of things he wanted to talk to Josuke about. Figure out what happened with their family tree and sort things out.]

Right. [He nods slowly.] Right well... I kinda thought so. But it's good to have confirmation and know that he's not, like, in a ditch somewhere. And yeah, I'll keep doing what I'm doing. No big deal.

[Stupid pompadour teenagers... Just vanishing without a trace. He'll give them both a piece of his mind when he sees them again.]

If he had ended up in a ditch, surely his Pokémon would have manifested themselves. Or he'd have been teleported to the nearest Pokémon Center after reaching critical condition.

[That... doesn't help much at this point, does it.]

Living as usual is the best way to move on, when someone returns home. Not that we have much of a choice.

[He wasn't being serious about that but it also is a good point...]

Of course. It's not like you can bring them back and I wouldn't want to stop anyone from going home.

Just feels kinda shitty, I guess. [Like, really shitty.]

...It always does, I'm sorry to say. You might think that it'd not be so bad after a few years, but the loss still feels much the same.

[Years of that shitty feeling! Isn't that something nice to look forward too?]

Your bedside manner is nearly as bad as mine, but I appreciate the honesty more than anything.

[It is! Thank you Cecil.]

There'd be no point in lying about it, as there's no way to tell if someone will stay long enough to see the truth for themselves. Though I suppose I... could say it more kindly, sometimes.

[Not that there's a way to say it kindly enough for the younger kids.]

Maybe just a little bit. Like, be a touch gentler. [He puts his thumb and forefinger together, leaving the tiniest bit of space for emphasis.]

[Cecil laughs, just a little.]

Only by that much? That should be doable. Though I'd much prefer it if that speech became unnecessary instead.

That would be nice...

But you can't fault anyone for eventually going home. Sort of a necessary unpleasant pain.

It's selfish to want otherwise, I think.

I could never fault those who are sent home. But whether we go or stay... it's not our choice, and we've no warning. If it was our own decision, one that could first be communicated to our friends, parting would not be nearly so painful.

Yeah... Yeah, I think a chance to say goodbye would help this crummy process a great deal.

It would also allow us to ensure our Pokémon are provided for. Too many vanish without a trace, when their trainers disappear.

Crap... you're right. I didn't even think about the Pokémon. They obviously don't come with you. Damn... I wonder what happened to all of Josuke's partners.

Check your PC, if you've not yet done so. Ask his friends. They're the most likely new homes, for recently abandoned Pokémon. But some disappear and never resurface.

I will do that... [Or try that. He really doesn't know much but he'll try.]

Thanks for all this... I didn't even think about the pokémon. I'll try and find them.

You're welcome. I hope you'll find them, or at least manage to confirm their safety. They can surely thrive on their own, but knowing for certain that they'Re safe is always nice.

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