[Video] 1st Book

[logical_lioness]

[On the screen is a slightly disheveled looking Hermione (although it can be hard to tell with her unruly hair anyway). It's obvious she's been travelling. Cyto, her Solosis, is hovering in the background looking concerned.]

Is it really necessary to keep Pokemon in a pokeball? [It's a rhetorical question. She's getting fired up.] It's inhumane to cage any creature this way. Whoever came up with such a horrid system should try being squashed into a cramped sphere themselves and see how they like it.

[There's a slight disturbance as the camera angle suddenly shifts down to Hermione's leg, where a Bounsweet is clinging tightly to it in distress.]

Shh, there there, it's okay.

[Hermione straightens the camera up again.]

She obviously wants to come with me after I rescued her from that pack of dogs but I refuse to put her in one of those ridiculous spherical balls.

Comments

[rambling_runner]

It ain't, but it don't hurt them either. I've outright asked my Pokemon about it. And I got one who doesn't like it, so I don't force it on 'em either.

[ Hello very angry teenage witch! Meet this half Irish wizard from a very different world. At his side is the free spirit who refused a Pokeball; of course, it's a Pikachu. Holokai the Pikachu gave a gentle and slow 'chaaaaa' from his side. ]

[logical_lioness]

It may not damage them physically but what about psychologically? Being trapped in a ball for hours or days on end! That's like locking someone in a room and throwing away the key. It's completely appalling.

What if someone loses their ball? Or just forgets about it? That poor pokemon is trapped in there forever!

[Hello half Irish wizard! In other circumstances Hermione would love to pick your brain on all that is wizardly.]

[rambling_runner]

Okay, it's not like that. Trust me, I've seen Pokemon with mental stuff from being locked in literal cages so small they couldn't stand up or turn around. [ It's not a fond memory and he does appear pretty serious at that. ]

From what they've told me - and yeah they have told me, I got a psychic one who uses telepathy - it's like being in a deep sleep. And the thing is, they can break out if they really want to. I've had Pokemon pop out because their friends were nearby or because I was about to do something they thought was dangerous.

[ Holokai nodded with another low 'chuuu' and climbed onto Ash's shoulder, watching Hermione. ]

[meteorman]

Have you tried asking her what her opinion on the matter is? I find even with the language barrier my Pokémon have little trouble making their preferences plain.

[logical_lioness]

It's a matter of principle! They shouldn't have to choose whether or not they want to be locked in a ball!

[Hermione hasn't asked her Pokemon, mainly because Solosis was never in his ball to start with, and Bounsweet is too upset for her to even consider putting her in a ball.]

[meteorman]

Mmhm. And yet this world has operated in this manner for thousands of years, and the incredibly intelligent and powerful creatures who are more than capable of outnumbering and overpowering the humans they coexist with have not rebelled against this injustice. Many of them, for some reason, are almost eager to be subjected to it. Strange.

[The passion and sheer righteous fury are impressive, he has to admit, but he thinks she's kind of wasting her energy.]

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[notvaljean]

[Hello, humorously angry girl. It's pretty fun seeing someone else pitch a giant fit on the network for a change, and Jean is grinning when he answers. There's a Mimikyu perched on his shoulder and peering into the camera.]

Some of them like it.

[The Mimikyu, Spookycheeks, nods in agreement.]

And it's really the safest way to travel with them. There isn't always room for a lot of Pokemon to be out and about at once.

[logical_lioness]

[Hermione huffs and crosses her arms in annoyance.]

It isn't amusing. This is a serious breach of basic creature rights!

[A pause.]

From what I've read you can bring six at a time with you. Don't even get me started on the ridiculous "computer storage" issue. That seems a reasonable number to keep out and about. After all, none of them seem bigger than a medium sized dog.

[notvaljean]

[Jean doesn't really like the computer storage thing all that much either, they've got that in common.]

Uh... hold on a minute.

[Let him just dig through the Pokeballs on his belt to find the one he's looking for...]

Here she is.

[He tosses the ball away from himself, there's a flash of light, and there's suddenly an enormous anchor ghost looming behind him.]

Hi, Charybdis.

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

[A-Ah...well that's certainly a hot button question right there. Jane looks tired as she turns the 'gear on, a cup of coffee in her other hand and the soft chatter of sleepy Pokemon in the background.]

I mean...you'll have to do it at least one time, to register the poor thing as yours, or else anyone could come along and take her away. But so long as she'd like to stay outside and you want her outside, there's no rule against that afterwards. [There's a pause as she stifles a yawn.] Golly...I'm guessing you're new here, right?

[logical_lioness]

[Hermione can almost smell the coffee through the video phone, and would kill for one right now. This whole thing was such a mess - a nice strong coffee would help her think straight.]

But surely there must be a better way to register them than by putting them in a ball.

I mean, we register dogs back home all the time and it doesn't require caging them.

[She takes a deep breath.]

And yes, I am. Is it that obvious?

I'm Hermione Granger by the way.

[video]

[exeggutorhead]

You know, I think you'd get along with my sister.

She and another friend bought a whole house with a pool just so they could keep their sharks there.

[Envy seems to be leaning against a...green rock wall, although as he speaks, it shifts and a Tyranitar leans his head down into frame curiously. Envy pats him absently.]

Chimera here got too big to go through doors without going in his ball first, though. So I'd keep that in mind.

[logical_lioness]

Well it sounds like she has the best interests of her pokemon in...wait, sharks?

[Hermione blinks as she realises that the green wall is in fact a rather large pokemon.]

Wouldn't it make better sense to leave him outside to wait for you? Surely a pokemon that size has nothing to fear. Or, better yet, businesses should actually cater to pokemon as well as humans, since it seems that they're a vital part of society here.

[Video]

[findingbeasts]

I actually have quite a few Pokemon that travel with me simply because they want to. No Pokeball required; they made the choice on their own. But I also have quite a few Pokemon that have also chosen to go into a Pokeball on their own accord.

[It's okay, Hermione, he totally understands where you're coming from.

This is Newt Scamander, after all~

On his shoulder are a pair of tiny Pichus, the brother and sister chattering away before waving at the Bounsweet.]

If she wishes to stay with you, I see no reason why you can't leave her without one.

Been waiting for this meeting ;D

[logical_lioness]

[Hermione already likes this person. He seems to have the same kind of mindset as her - he'd probably feel the same way she does about house elves if he knew what they were. Plus the two cute pokemon on his shoulders are melting her right now. Bounsweet tentatively comes out of hiding for a moment to watch them.]

Well, then in that case the Trainer Handbook really needs to be rewritten. It sounds more like an order or a rule to catch and keep pokemon in their balls, which is completely horrendous. I'll certainly be letting my pokemon choose to come with me rather than forcing it upon them using a spherical mechanical object.

[Hermione pauses, looking a little confused.]

Can I ask why your pokemon would choose to go into a pokeball rather than just choose to travel with you? It certainly seems like it would be detrimental to their wellbeing.

[pikapikajankenpo]

There is an upside to capturing Pokemon though, and registering them in the Pokeball. It protects them from capture if they're being hunted by Team Rocket and possible unscrupulous trainers who might see a pokemon and want it. You can't capture an opponents Pokemon in a Pokeball that isn't their own, and it provides safe and secure transport when you're moving across areas that may be too hazardous for Pokemon, but not for humans. Imagine using Fly on a Pidgeot and carrying a Snorlax on it's back. The poor thing wouldn't be able to get off the ground let alone fly.

In all, it's all what you want to do though, considering everything. This place really is meant for a sort of sandbox-y place to live.

It won't protect them from theft but without a Pokeball, there's little chance of one being able to train anything in this place.

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[bertall]

It's not bad for them, actually. I, uh... I've got a couple that'll go into their ball on their own, and if they really didn't like it they'd be able to break out too. One of mine does it if he feels like he has to protect me, but he usually stays outside of it unless he wants somewhere quiet to sleep.

_{[And then there's... Hoo boy.]}

There, um... It's also the only way I can bring some of mine into buildings. I've got one that can't barely get his nose through a doorway.

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[schachmeister]

It took me a while to get used to the idea too, but I don't think it's right to really compare the pokeballs to cages. None of my pokemon have ever acted as if they are. They do not mind being put into one, and some have even retreated into them of their own accord.

Of course, I try to leave them out as much as I can, but it isn't always possible.

[islandshore]

Technically, if you want to officially own a Pokemon and prevent further captures, you do have to catch them, but after that, you don't have to keep them contained.

[He gestures to the rather large Charizard chilling in the back, who gives a grunt of affirmation.]

Really, it's just a matter of convenience for a lot of trainers. Keeping them in their balls means they're more portable and you don't have to account for a full team of six running loose... especially if you end up with huge, fully evolved Tyranitars and Gyarados.

[Shrugging, he folds his arms over his chest.]

In short, it all boils down to your preferences, but I'd definitely check with your team, too. Some are fine with Pokeballs. Some aren't.

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[dreamsofahero]

It's not generally necessary, no, but it can be useful at times, and some particularly shy pokemon may even prefer it, as well.

Though from what I've been able to tell, they're hardly uncomfortable.

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[shiro2hero]

I'm sure most people have said by now that no, it's not totally necessary, unless they're too big for wherever it is you're traveling to.

[For emphasis, he nods off screen -- which is quickly invaded by an Aggron's muzzle, as the big metal dinosaur drops its chin onto his shoulder.]

... Case in point.

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[in4apounding]

I don't think they're actually squashed? Physically. I'm not sure how it actually works, but none of mine have ever acted like they mind.

[When even the tiny purple rats can take the humans in a one-on-one fight, making their displeasure known is not exactly a problem for the Pokemon.]

And you don't actually have to keep them in the balls once they've been captured, unless you have more than six? Then they're transferred to the PC system. ...I REALLY don't know how that works, but it does.

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[toxicodendron_isley]

[Ivy appears on screen, smiling to herself. She's surrounded by Pokemon, mostly Grass types, who're either climbing on her or playing in the background. There's at least 40 of the things.]

My darlings tell me that most find it a perfectly acceptable resting spot, both in the balls and in the system.

Though I only use the storage systems when traveling or staying within a densely populated area. Otherwise I prefer to have them with me.

[Ivy gestures to the Pokemon behind her taking her snooze.]

Though technically, I'm only allowed to assign 6 as 'on my team'.

[video]

[charcoalfeather]

I think it's a little more technical then that?

[Rakka's just sitting on a couch right now, snug in a blanket and flanked by several Pokemon curled up around her.]

I heard somewhere that pokeballs are actually not that bad for Pokemon, but if they really don't like it then you can just leave them out of it. It's actually really nice to travel with a Pokemon beside you.

[video]

[badluckbabe]

[ Oh good, Jinx was wondering if there were people like this in the pokemon world.]

I mean...technically it's not required. But have you seen the size of some of these guys? What are you gonna do make em sleep outside in the cold?