01 | Video

[icecastlemadonna]

[The feed turns on to a young woman in her mid 20s adjusting the camera for a moment before straightening up with the best smile she can muster. Yuuko looks a little worn out since she isn't used to traveling outdoors, but after successfully making it to Cherrygrove and getting some rest at the Pokemon Center she feels a lot better.]

Um...well, hello! My name is Yuuko Nishigori. I just arrived here three days ago, and luckily I managed to make it to the next town with the help of Flip here. [As if on cue, a Seel pops up to face the camera with an excited bark.] These Pokemon really are something, aren't they? I didn't know what to think at first when I suddenly found myself here, but I guess there are worse places I could have ended up. It definitely helped that I wasn't traveling all by myself.

So, I should probably say that I'm supposed to be a Pokemon breeder...so for any other breeders out there, is there any advice you could give me? I've studied the guide as thoroughly as I can, but if there's anything else I should know, I'd really appreciate it.

Anyway, since I'm here now, I'm going to try to make the best of it. Nice to meet everyone! [Flip turns to Yuuko and barks again, making Yuuko laugh and hug her. But at some point, her cheerful expression falters just a little bit.]

I just hope Takeshi and the girls will be okay... [That last part is said more to herself than to the camera or her Pokemon.]

Comments

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[shiro2hero]

[It's Europa the Spheal who answers the 'gear. Because she heard barking! That means it's a friend! Right? Bark bark friend! Bark bark hello friend!]

[Shiro does his best to... corral her, a little. Which means it's really hard to hear what Yuuko is saying, completely. He catches the last bit...]

Europa, hush -- Sorry, have we met?

[Sorry, Yuuko. He wouldn't even have misheard "Takeshi" as "Takashi" if it weren't for a friend of his.]

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[icecastlemadonna]

[Flip starts to get excited as well when she hears another Pokemon barking, and even claps her flippers together in typical seal fashion. Wow, a new friend!!!]

Flip, what is it-- [Yuuko also tries to get her Pokemon to quiet down, but she's caught off guard by the question. She pauses for a moment to consider.] Um, I don't think so? Unless you've ever been to Hasetsu. [Or maybe this was someone who came to Ice Castle once and she just forgot. Hmm.]

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[shiro2hero]

[Corralling an excited, round Spheal is more difficult than it sounds. Especially when she's trying to make friends! Hello! Let's roll together!! Even if Flip is ... less round than Europa.]

I haven't, no. I'm sorry, I thought you said my name.

[And boy is that embarrassing.]

I'm Shiro.

[THAT DOESN'T. EVEN REMOTELY SOUND LIKE WHAT SHE SAID...]

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[icecastlemadonna]

[Meanwhile, Yuuko is holding Flip around the middle to keep her from licking the camera, which she seems to keep trying to do in an attempt to be friendly.]

Nice to meet you. Did I say your name...? [She thinks for a moment, and then she realizes that Shiro must have heard what she said towards the end.]

Oh! Sorry, I guess you must have misheard me. Takeshi's the name of my husband. [It doesn't sound anything like the name he gave her, but maybe he misheard because both of their Pokemon were being loud.]

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[badluckbabe]

Well I'm not much of a breeder, but I can warn you to stay on your toes.

[Unfortunately Jinx is in a bit of a mood so she's maybe not the best person for advice at the moment but she's trying.]

Just because it's all sunshine and clear skies right now doesn't mean this place doesn't have it's fair share of problems.

How's Flip in a fight? For that matter how are you in a fight?

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[icecastlemadonna]

Ah...well, I guess that's to be expected. No place is completely perfect, after all. [Yuuko wasn't really a fan of spending three days traveling on the road, for one thing.]

Flip didn't do too badly. I'll have to train her up a bit more, though, since the last day of travel was harder on her. [The only physical move she knows right now is Headbutt...] As for me...I never actually got in fights back home. Is that something I'll need to be prepared for here? [She is in fairly good shape considering how she's a former figure skater, but that's a whole other matter.]

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[badluckbabe]

I mean, not really?

A lot of trainers just rely on their pokemon to do all the fighting and frankly they are better suited for it.

But some trainers, like myself just can't seem to resist throwing a few punches here and there even if we're not supposed to.

And there are some Trainers out there like Team Rocket who are just bullies and will totally attack you and steal your pokemon so a little basic self defense is a good idea.

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[icecastlemadonna]

Team Rocket, huh? I think I've heard them mentioned.

It's pretty worrisome that there are people who are going around and stealing Pokemon. I'll definitely keep an eye out.

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[schachmeister]

[Armin isn't a breeder, so he can't help there, but he can extend a bit of comfort. Or at least, something that gave him comfort when he just got here.]

I'm not sure who the people you referred to are, but if it is any sort of comfort, time more or less... freezes while you are here. Nobody in your own world will realise you are gone. And if you go back home, you will be returned to the exact same moment.

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[icecastlemadonna]

Really? [Yuuko lets out a long breath that she doesn't seem to realize she was holding.] That's a relief...I have a husband and three daughters at home, so I'd really hate to think that they'd still be wondering where I am.

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[schachmeister]

It might not make it easier being without them here, but at the very least, that is not something you need to worry about.

There is also always a chance one of them might end up here as well. Nobody can predict who comes here next, but it seems that people who have some sort of connection to the people who have already been brought here have a higher chance of ending up here as well. Though that is just my personal hypothesis.

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[icecastlemadonna]

Is that right...it would be nice if they turned up here sometime. I'm sure the girls would like this place a lot. [What with all the weird animals that have powers running around and all.]

[forsaintcecilia]

Breeder's kind of a... loose term. I'm technically one myself, but I've never bred any of my Pokemon before. You can pretty much just do whatever you want! I just don't battle much, or challenge gyms.

[icecastlemadonna]

Well, it does look like there are a lot of options for what to do with your Pokemon while you're here...but I was thinking I could try to start with breeding and see where else I can go from there. I don't know if battling is something I'd want to do much, but at the very least I should probably train Flip some more so that we'll be able to get through long journeys...

[forsaintcecilia]

Journeying is definitely an option! It's what I mostly do. My team has gotten plenty strong enough to protect me just from traveling. And then you can find new friends along the way!

[icecastlemadonna]

It looks like there's a lot to explore in this place, so that'll probably be fun! [Just so long as she can take enough breaks from the outdoors when she needs to...] And I wouldn't mind making more friends, either.

[islandshore]

[Ah, breeding. While Riku's a trainer, he contemplates for a moment. He did do a lot of breeding while Sora was around, after all.]

Guess it depends on what you're looking for while breeding. I'd say you'll get a much bigger draw if you try to breed eggs with diverse movesets. So, stuff like TMs and move tutors certainly don't hurt.

But that's just my experience as a trainer with too many Pokemon and too many moves. Obviously mileage may vary, and picking popular species never hurt.

[icecastlemadonna]

Well, I haven't tried catching any other Pokemon yet...mostly I was just trying to get to Cherrygrove in one piece. [And trying to survive sleeping outdoors.] I guess I'll have to start looking around and see what Pokemon I'd want to breed.

Maybe I should look into which Pokemon Flip would be compatible with and start from there once I've trained her a bit more...

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[dreamsofahero]

I don't know if I have much advice for breeders specifically, but if you have any questions, I can certainly try to answer them.

*he's only been here what, six years? he's learned a few things...*

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[icecastlemadonna]

Hmm, well...battling people and selling eggs aren't the only ways to make money while you're here, right? I think I should probably get some part time work, at least. [She operates the local skating rink back home, so she's used to working.]

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[dreamsofahero]

Of course not. There's nearly always some place or another hiring, and some people have even started their own businesses.

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[icecastlemadonna]

That's good to know. I'll need to make some money if I'm going to be traveling around and looking for Pokemon I can breed.

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[awomanoutoftime]

[Kim totally caught that last bit.]

Hey, Yuuko. My name's Kim. I just got here about two weeks myself, so I'm getting used to this place too. Nice to meet you.

The pokemon are pretty interesting. My first one here was a shapeshifter that looked like a purple blob.

Oh and I'm not a breeder so I can't give you advice about that. But I'm pretty sure I heard you mention ...family I'm guessing? I have a young son back home and when I first showed up, I was incredibly worried about him.

Apparently time doesn't pass on us back home while we're here though. And if we do go back, it'll be to the exact moment we left. Enough people told me that, that I'm liable to believe it. So I hope that helps.

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[icecastlemadonna]

Yes, I was told about that. It's still a load off my mind to hear it from other people, though...I have a husband and three girls, so I'm glad to know they won't be worrying about me.

It's nice to meet you too! A shapeshifting blob sounds like it could be useful.

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[awomanoutoftime]

Wow three kids. And I have my hands full with just the one.

[To be fair the kid can make laser weapons.]

Yeah, I have some friends back home that would look after him for me if I vanished, but it's easier, knowing they won't be worried about me in the first place.

[Especially considering where she's from.]

Apparently it's called a Ditto. Which makes sense. I named it Deacon Jr. after a friend of mine.....oh here they are.

[She'll reach down and pull up a purple blob that probably looks like jello with a simple face. The Ditto looks over at the screen and then waves hello with part of it purple mass.]