victory_road | [Video] 2nd Book

[The feed clicks on to what appears to be a single bedroom in a Pokemon Centre. There's a bit of a ruckus going on in the background - a Shinx, Litleo, Meowth, Glameow and Purrloin are all fighting over food, bedding, pretty much everything. A Solosis seems to be trying to keep the peace but failing miserably. Hermione is in the foreground, looking a little frazzled.]

I think Goldenrod may have a...well...feline problem, for want of a better word. Two I found on the outskirts of Goldenrod rummaging through my backpack because they were starving, and the other three were fighting each other over food from a garbage can near the centre. I couldn't just leave them like that, the poor things. They were all just so hungry and looked terrible.

*CRASH*

[Anyone watching the feed is probably seeing that the 'poor things' just knocked the trash can over, and the television is teetering ominously on its stand as Solosis tries to right it. Hermione whips her head around quickly.]

Meowth I told you not to fight with Glameow and Purrloin! And don't get me started on you two![She points a pair of fingers at the Shinx and Litleo, who just ignore her.]

[She's not a crazy cat lady...she's really not...they were just so darn cute though! How could she NOT help them?!?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yes, with these guys I think I'll have to. Honestly they remind me of a few friends at home. [A few redheaded friends.]

I don't really have anything bigger than they are, but I certainly have a couple who are stronger, like my Snover and Flaffy. Plus they have a couple useful abilities that could help keep them in line.

I still think I'll have to get them out only one or two at a time just to stop the in-house fighting.

[The pokemon nature topic is interesting to Hermione, and she pulls a notebook out to take a few notes.]

Oh that's quite useful. Are there other temperaments that pokemon can have?

Boy, I know that feeling.

[Looking at you, Blue. Even though you're not here.]

That could work. Long as they know you've got to respect it -- and therefore you. And if it's any consolation, from what I can tell, being in the balls isn't as bad as it seems like to us.

[He idly scratches at his Meowth's ears.]

There's a lot. But she's the only one I have who was bred for anything specific. Like Kuro -- my Aggron -- he's a lot more patient than other Aggrons I've seen.

Respect certainly is a big deal for pokemon from what I can see. It's similar to at home - many animals like dogs refuse to obey their owners unless they respect them.

[And then there's Crookshanks who just did whatever he wanted regardless....]

Oh are Aggrons usually more temperamental?

[She's taking quick notes in her notebook.]

Is there a way to tell a nature of a pokemon?

Right. And these guys are a lot closer to human than a lot of people seem to give them credit for. Not all of them... but most.

[They all have very distinct personalities, for sure. Just look at Jean's Electrode.]

Or territorial. Kuro's always been pretty mellow ... except where I'm concerned. He gets defensive of me.

[With good reason.]

Maybe the 'Dex could help? If not, there's bound to be a person native to this place who could tell you.

Oh yes most definitely. It seems that they can understand human speech extremely well, and they certainly display their individuality in...interesting or quirky ways. [Looking at you, Umbra!]

Perhaps you're right and it's about territory. After all, living on the streets means that you need to do what you can to survive. I guess it will take some time before they realise they don't have to fight over territory, at least while they're with me.

Oh, why didn't I think of that?

[Hermiome pulls out her pokedex and points it at each of the balls in succession, reading the reports aloud.]

Let's see... Rash, Hardy, Brave, Bold and Sassy. Oh dear that's not a great combination. No wonder they're all fighting with each other. Do you think I can bribe them to behave with food?

Yeah, yeah, they do. A couple of mine are... very individualist. Very much so.

[Haunter and Blue. Haunter and Blue.]

It might help to explain it to them. Even if it's just one by one. At least that way, they won't be all out at once.

[He nods. Trying not to grimace when she reads off the natures.]

It's worth a try. Don't count anything out until you give it a shot.

[Hermione sighs.]

My Misdreavus loves to pull my hair or spook wild pokemon. Half the pokemon fights we get into are because of her.

And that's a good idea. If I spend equal amounts of time with each as well, hopefully none of them will get jealous either.

I guess I'll just have to see what works. Trial and error. Plus if I can figure out their favourite foods, that might help me as well.

I should put together a schedule and chart so I can track their individual progress....

You've been extremely helpful! Thank you Mr... Er... ?

I'm sorry to hear that. My Gengar isn't... anything that extreme. It's just dramatic.

[Very much so.]

You can do it. Just give yourself time to work through it, try not to get discouraged. Something's bound to work.

[Time to be encouraging!]

Sorry -- I'm Shiro.

Dramatic? In what way?

Thank you for your encouragement, I'll do my best. I'm not one to give up, and Goldenrod has a lot of resources I can access which will help immensely.

I'm Hermione Granger. Pleasure to meet you Shiro.

[He just... sighs... as a Gengar literally pops out of the wall behind him, in a shower of confetti. It spins on one foot, bowing to the camera, and the young lady on the video feed.]

[Shiro looks tired.]

Like that.

[It's always like that.]

But, good. Glad to hear it. These guys take a lot of work but ... they're worth it. Absolutely worth it.

You too.

[Hermione blinks at the display and then bursts out laughing.]

I'm...so...sorry...[She's trying to talk while still laughing.]

That was not what I expected when you said dramatic. Your Gengar and my Misdreavus would get one swimmingly.

[She suddenly looks concerned.]

We'd better make sure they never meet. That could be disastrous for everyone.

[Haunter meanwhile applauds. This is exactly the kind of reaction it was going for. It loves making people laugh!!]

Yeah, when we met, it let Kuro charge right through it, and then pretended to die.

[Shiro's life is ridiculous.]

I don't think I've ever seen a Misdreavus. What are they like?

That's certainly one way to get attention. I guess he just loves to have fun?

Oh they're pretty similar to a Haunter. Dark ethereal body but with tendrils that look like hair. Hang on, let me show you.

[Hermione types a few buttons on her pokegear, and sends Shiro a previously taken photo of her Misdreavus pulling a face at the camera. Because that's what she did every single time.]

Oh, it loves the attention, all right. But it's... it's been good. Couldn't get anything done without it.

[Because, without Haunter, he wouldn't have been able to sleep. Ever.]

[But he pauses, to look at the image. And laughs.]

Yeah, she looks like she'd get along with it.