Scavenger hunt #1 | Video

[logical_lioness]

[Being based near Goldenrod made it easy for Hermione to travel to find some of those earlier town 'people' listed in the scavenger hunt, without actually needing to pack for a full long-term trip. Let's face it, everyone knew who Mom was but she wasn't the easiest to actually see. Hermione had tried ringing the doorbell, calling out etc without an answer. Finally she had given up and just waited until Mom had gone outside to hang out laundry. Sticker one, check!

[Then it was back to Cherrygrove to find this so called 'Skippy'. It had taken a couple days until some bored kids had finally told her where to find him for real, after sending her off on a wild goose chase for a whole day. The fact that she'd threatened to tell their parents what they'd been doing and recommend pokemon privileges be revoked may have prompted the honesty.

[And now, it was The Monk. Easy. Or so she thought. She'd already met a number of the monks at Bellsprout Tower, so the ones who recognised her were more than happy to point her in the right direction. She didn't notice their half hidden smiles as they did so however.]

[The video feed clicks on to a battle raging between Hermione's Ampharos and a Chimchar. Hermione is looking stressed out - she's down to her last mon and this was not how she thought this sticker was going to go...]

Ampere, use Thunder Punch!

[Unfortunately the monk calls for Chimchar to use Fire Punch, which ends up burning Ampere. The two exchange hits a few more times but it isn't long before Ampere collapses. Hermione dejectedly recalls her, walking over to shake the Monk's hand.]

I'll be back once my pokmeon have healed. I don't think it's fair to claim the sticker for the scavenger hunt unless I win.

[The monk bows his head sagely at her without saying a word. As she turns, she spots her gear on record.]

What? Cyto! Why would you...you could have at least told me you were going to film it! Don't tell me you broadcast that to everyone?!

Comments

Video

[sleepallthewayhome]

Are you okay? Did he attack you?

[Worried Newt is worried.]

[logical_lioness]

[Drat. It was broadcast. Hermione gives Newt a reassuring smile.]

No, nothing like that... It was just...well I'd listened to him talk about pokemon for three hours, and the only way I could leave was to agree to a pokemon battle. I'm afraid I lost rather badly.

[And of course that loss would be recorded for the world to see.]

[sleepallthewayhome]

Oh.

[She thinks for a moment.]

But if you only have to see him for the scavenger hunt. Why are you going to go back and fight him again? He sounds like a jerk.

[logical_lioness]

[Hermione understands where Newt is coming from - Ron would have said the exact same thing.]

He wasn't a jerk, it's just not what I was expecting.

I want a rematch because of the principle of it. I don't feel right claiming the sticker after losing the match, even though it's not a requirement. It feels like cheating. Also, I want to prove to myself and my pokemon that we can win.

[sleepallthewayhome]

But he wouldn't let you leave without fighting him? That sounds mean.

[Seven year old logic is very firm about this sort of thing.]

And wouldn't there be rules in the booklet if it was cheating? You should put the sticker on and check, they come off if it doesn't count.

[She thinks for a moment.]

If he tries to make me fight him, I'll run away before he can attack. I'm good at that.

Do you think you can beat him?

[logical_lioness]

Well, it certainly wasn't ideal.

I know that, according to the rules, I only need to find the person to put the sticker down. I guess it's also a matter of personal morals and pride. I don't feel that I can move on until I beat him - I'm afraid I'm a bit of a perfectionist, as you've probably seen in the homework I've graded for you.

[Hermione smiles at the young girl.]

You're very fast and quite clever - I'm sure you can outsmart him. As long as you go in well prepared, I think you'll be fine.

[sleepallthewayhome]

[She nods, that makes sense. Hermione is a lot different from her old teacher. And she likes both of them, though it's probably for the best. If she was too much like her old teacher it would make learning hard, given her teachers fate, whatever horrible end she had.]

Oh, okay. I bet you'll beat him then. Now that you have time to study his pokemon.

I'm glad you told me though, now I know I'll have to get in and out really quickly after finding him.

[Random fights she's gotten used to. Refusing to let you leave until you fight. Unfair, won't do it.]

[video]

[captainash]

...Yeah, it was broadcast to everyone. Guess you didn't mean for this to be a PSA about the peril of scavenging unprepared.

[If finding the guy is that stressful, maybe he'll pass.]

[logical_lioness]

[She huffs.]

I wasn't unprepared. I just wasn't expecting to have to fight him to leave the premises! It's not like the scavenger hunt booklet says you need to engage in a pokemon battle with each person.

... But I'm coming back better prepared next time.

[Oh you better believe she's going to read EVERYTHING about monkey pokemon now and create an amazing battle stretegy.]

[captainash]

Honestly, in this land, not being ready for a Pokémon battle does somewhat count as unprepared.

[Depending on each opponent's available team and levels, of course.]

I'm surprised he uses a Chimchar, though. Isn't that tower mostly made of very flammable wood?

[logical_lioness]

[He's not wrong, but Hermione is still embarrassed as heck that her dramatic loss was broadcast, so she's being defensive.]

I brought a strong team with me, but how was I to know he had a party full of strong elemental primates? I thought he'd have the Bellsprout evolutionary line, or other grass types, like the other monks.

...and yes it is. It wasn't a very responsible move even if his Chimchar was extremely well trained.

[captainash]

A monkey-themed team? That's a new one. I hope there were no Ambipoms with Technician in it; those are deceptively nasty.

[Then again, would a guy who uses a Chimchar bother evolving an Aipom?]

Their willingness to battle near and inside historical landmarks is a little alarming. Especially when they have very visible proof that those things can burn down.

[logical_lioness]

If he has one he didn't bring it out, but the way he was going on about primate pokemon in general, I honestly wouldn't be surprised.

I'm assuming that they have some kind of protection should things go awry, otherwise it's very dangerous. Surely they wouldn't want to risk the tower coming down on them during a battle. Japan has a method of sealing wood by burning the exterior - perhaps they've done something similar, or the wood is coated in some sort of fire retardant?

[worstfieldtripever]

Woo! What a cool battle. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time!

[Hello here is an excitable boy who just really enjoys watching other people battle- almost as much as he enjoys battling himself, honestly. Almost.]

Which, admittedly, wasn't very long. But still.

[logical_lioness]

[Hermione tries really hard not to be offended - it was her own fault the battle was short after all.]

Oh, well, I guess I'm glad it was entertaining? I wasn't properly prepared, and I got trounced. But the next battle will be different - I'll definitely be doing a lot of research into the pokemon he used and their moves so I can beat him next time.

[And probably research every other kind of monkey pokemon just in case.]

[worstfieldtripever]

Sometimes- and by that I mean all the time- the best battles are the ones you aren't prepared for!

[Take it from someone who's very, very used to that.]

I'm gonna point out the obvious though and suggest that you use a water type next time. That might help a little... or a lot.

[logical_lioness]

[Hermione frowns. Not being prepared?]

That sounds like the worst type of battle. If you're not prepared, you get stressed and anxious about what's coming and that can cause you to make more mistakes. How could anyone enjoy that? Preparation is vital!

He had more than just a Chimchar, but I'll certainly be using a pokemon with water abilities next time.

[worstfieldtripever]

[They. Clearly have a different way of seeing this.]

Well. Y...yeah? That's part of the excitement! It'd be like only watching movies if you know exactly what happens before it happens!

[logical_lioness]

I re-read books all the time - knowing how they end doesn't make them any less exciting. Being prepared doesn't guarantee the outcome either [boy, just look at Harry and his luck] but it does mean it's likely the outcome would be more favourable.

Also, characters in books and movies always rush into things unprepared and look where it gets them. Movies are riddled with flaws in the main protagonist's logic and lack of preparation.

Video

[dreamsofahero]

You know, if this is what your pokemon decided to broadcast, you should probably consider yourself more fortunate than some...

[logical_lioness]

I guess that is true... I've certainly seem some stranger videos appear on the gear. It's still highly embarrassing though.

[dreamsofahero]

You think so? It looked like you were putting up quite the fight, really.

[logical_lioness]

Oh, you think so? I really didn't think it was even close. That may have been the most stressful, ill-prepared battle I've ever had. And of course Cyto would have to film it.

[She sighs]

I guess at least I can watch it back for study purposes...

[dreamsofahero]

Anyone can put up a good fight if properly prepared and given time to make use of every possible advantage they can, you know. Doing one's best under more limiting circumstances is a bit different.

*he should know, he's one of those types who makes an art of trying to get any advantage however he can... and has still screwed up at times despite that*

[logical_lioness]

Well...I guess, but it certainly didn't feel like I did my best. I feel like I let my pokemon down by being caught off guard. I should know better.

[She looks determined.]

I'm going to study much harder and make sure I'm better versed in my pokemon movesets as well as type advantages and disadvantages so I don't get caught like that again.