victory_road | 44th treasure [audio]

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44th treasure [audio]

[For a minute, only the usual noises of a large city at night can be heard. It's only after two Meowth start arguing some distance away that someone finaly speaks.

Ash hesitated a long time, before starting this feed.]

...If I have to celebrate one more birthday in this world, I think I'm going to scream. Does anyone have any terrible birthday stories to share, or do I have to start telling my own?

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Great! That's what I was hopin' to hear!

_{[He hesitates, looking thoughtful suddenly. If there's one thing he's learned in his brief time here, it's the value of making friends. Or the purple rats EAT YOU.]}

What do you want for your birthday?

Stories and distractions, mostly. Anything that stops me from thinking about the time that has passed. Why, are you looking for ideas?

[He says that teasingly, but he's actually very touched deep inside.]

_{[Maurice averts his eyes, still having to work on this social interaction thing. He'd launched right in without thinking about whether or not this would be a good idea.]}

Uhm...okay. I'll try and come up with something. When is it?

Right about now, actually. I think.

[He's not quite sure of the time, at this point.]

You could just tell me about your first day here. Or your first Pokémon capture. Those are usually nice stories.

Oh!

_{[Well that sure puts him on a tight time limit until Ash starts giving him specific prompts. Maurice visibly relaxes, letting out an involuntary, nervous laugh.]}

I haven't caught anything yet but this place did give me Meatloaf!

_{[He gestures to someone off screen and soon heavy footfalls can be heard before a cheerful Rhyhorn shoves his head between his trainer's arms and the Poke'gear.]}

This guy is pretty much the best. I don't know what I was expecting to pop out of that ball but it wasn't him!

_{[By now Maurice's skittish disposition has been traded out for one fit for gushing about HOW AWESOME HIS RHINOSAUR IS JUST LOOK AT HIM. Meatloaf happily plants his muzzle against the side of Maurice's head and snuffles his hair, sending it into his eyes.]}

I was goin' through all this gear that--I guess that Mom lady gave me-- and found a thing with a button on it and how can you not push a button?

Wow, he really doesn't look like he could in such a tiny ball, does he? I can see why he'd be a surprise. A pleasant one, though; I hear the Rhyhorn family gets very strong as they evolve.

[That is quite possibly the sweetest thing Ash has seen in weeks. He can't help but smile at the sight.]

Of course you have to push the button. It's a point of pride that I managed to last three hours before doing it.

_{[Impulse Control is NOT Maurice's highest stat so he has to beam behind his mop of hair, obviously impressed at Ash's feat.]}

Man, you deserve to be proud of that! And is that right? He's gonna change into somethin' even bigger? Folks say I should ride him but he's-- I mean, I just got him. I'm afraid he's too young. We're supposed to take good care of our Pokemon, right? There isn't a vet in New Baaaarrrhey! Hey hey hey!

_{[Meatloaf has moved beyond snuffling and has gone on to mindlessly chewing on Maurice's hair. His trainer carefully shoves his snout away and keeps an arm around what serves as the Rhyhorn's neck to keep his locks out of munching range.]}

Haha, with that kind of affectionate display you'll never have to wonder if he loves you. How lucky.

[Ash is very much torn between laughing and cooing, at this point.]

Don't worry, you'll have plenty of opportunities to see his strength and decide whether or not you want to ride him. Both Rhydon and Rhyperior are bipedal, though, so I'm not sure how riding them would work.

So he's gonna change two times? Huh...well, that's a ways off, isn't it? I'm sure we can figure something out, right?

_{[He gives his Rhyhorn a questioning look. Suddenly Maurice's face blanks and his worried expression is back.]}

Oh! Oh shit! I didn't even ask your name, I'm sorry! I'm Maurice.

You'll have weeks or even months to prepare. That's plenty enough to deal with any potential issues.

[Except 'how can I make this guy fit into a hotel room', but that's a universal problem.]

It's alright, don't worry about it. I'm Captain Ash. It's nice to meet you, Maurice.

_{[Maurice straightens up instantly. You can tell he's trying to physically restrain himself from saluting. A captain!]}

It's nice to meet you too, sir! I'll bet you have a lot of Water Pokemon, hah.

[A space pirate captain, even. ...Maybe he won't mention that second part, not to break the guy's heart.]

I do have a few, but I actually train a lot more Normal- and Flying-types. Though since a lot of species share both of those types, that doesn't mean much.

_{[Maurice slowly tilts his head.]}

Oh, yeah I was wondering about that...Pokemon with more than one type. How does that work?

They're just... both at once? I mean, one of my birds can both fly and naturally spit fire, so it's both a Flying- and a Fire-type. So Rock=type attacks hurt her twice as much, but she's not weak to Ice like other birds.

Man...there's so many types to remember. And this little computer is tough to navigate.

But Meatloaf here is Rock and Ground...so Water will mess him up pretty bad, huh?

_{[The Rhyhorn in question gives a dismayed little grunt.]}

It sounds like...a really complicated game of rock, paper, scissors. Sorry for all the questions, I just got here.

It's alright. What good would old timers like me be, if we couldn't help newcomers like you with the basics? ...Though I don't know how to help you with that little wet weakness, unless Meatloaf's got good compatibility with Electric-type TMs.

[Could a rhino learn how to shoot lightning bolts? Anywhere else he'd say no, but here...]

_{[He nods thoughtfully as he listens. And, guess what, IT'S TIME FOR A NEW QUESTION.]}

What's a TM?

It's a disk you can break over a Pokémon's head, to teach them a new move. They sell them in Goldenrod and Celadon.

[A beat.]

Don't ask me how they work, though. I have no idea.

_{[Maurice opens his mouth--and Ash shuts it for him.]}

Okay...yeah I think. I think thinking too hard about all of this might ruin it somehow. My computer thingy says Meatloaf knows Tailwhip...which is weird since he doesn't have a tail. But he knows Horn Attack and that sounds pretty good! I think we can make it with that until I get to one of those places.

...How can he use Tail Whip without a-

[Ash stops himself, as he knows not to expect too much logic from this world by now.]

Those moves should be enough until he gains more levels. And if you use Tail Whip before Horn Attack, the opponent will take more damage.

_{[Okay yeah that doesn't make a lot of sense but...this advice is coming from someone who has had a lot of birthdays in this world so he is going to follow it!]}

Alright! Got it! Y'hear that, Meatloaf. Shake your booty at 'em and then take 'em down when they're starstruck!

That's the spirit!

[And probably not quite how it works, but who cares?]

Once you learn how to combine moves like that, you'll have no trouble dealing with the local trainers and wild Pokémon. Most don't use much strategy.

I'll study on that. Thanks again, Captain!

You're welcome! As long as you keep learning more about your Pokémon and asking smart questions, I'm sure you'll be a great trainer someday.

_{[Maurice hasn't heard praise like that in a long time. His face lights up all over again.]}

I'll never stop!

_{[A salute. Because he doesn't know what else to do to show respect. With that, he ends the feed.]}

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44th treasure [audio]

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