victory_road | [Video]

[Alright he's figured out how to do video at least. After being ousted from a home that he is pretty sure it got implied he lived in by someone named 'Mom' who certainly isn't his mother or look anything like him. The two toned hair being the one indicator. The fact that he remembers his mother and that this is not his mother is another good indicator.

Or maybe this is the culmination of how many times he's been knocked around. Maybe this is a fever dream.]

Good afternoon everyone.

A local man said he wanted to fight me and then presented a small rat. I think his implication was he wanted me to fight his pet. I don't condone animal abuse so I won't be doing that. However, any time I step near to pass by, he insists I should be battling "him". Each time it's the rat. Does anyone have a number or a contact for a humane society? I don't think I'm comfortable leaving it in his care.

Thank you.

[It takes one or two times of tapping at the screen before he shuts it off, but he gets there.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You would be surprised at how clever and resilient they can be.

[And, with all of his rats, how they can electrocute a man. But that's irrelevant currently.]

There should be a book within it... I believe studying that will help you a great deal. It explains battling fairly well, and what that means.

For most, this is nothing more than simple sparring, with you as their mentor, their coach.

I heard they're highly trainable pets in Japan, but I didn't think you could train them to fight.

[He knows a man like that back home. Conspiracy about him being an electric rat, when? ~~Never but still.~~]

I see.

[To the book he's already getting out to give it a bit of a better skim with the thin knowledge he's obtained.]

In other words, these animals are helped by being 'Coached'?

[He's got a lot of friends who would've been hurt even more had they not had coaching. Looking at a certain person who's limbs wouldn't be so broken up.]

I assume they fight in the wild?

Well, likely, these particular variant are considerably different than the ones you or I know.

[Probably. But hey, if Shouto has rats that can chew through concrete in no time at all, more power to him.]

They do indeed fight in the wild... and, while you are traveling, you will likely be challenged by them - and by 'you', I mean you and your Palien companion, of course. Many of them are practicing to get stronger on their own, but some are also looking to see if you are a suitable trainer for them.

One way to see if they are interested in such an allegiance is by using the small red and white balls you should have on you... At least a few. If you throw it at them, then it 'catches' them. If they truly struggle, then they can break out with ease, I believe... but any who are interested in working alongside you will eventually settle, whether quickly or after a moment.

That is the traditional way of things, however. There are a variety of ways this sort of encounter can go.

But by working alongside humans, it seems to be easier for them to grow stronger, or whatever other reason they decide to follow a person.

[Not rats, but he'd put money on a few of his friends. He's listening very carefully, anything that he already knows is only solidified by hearing it from someone else he presumes has been here longer. During the explanation his eyes dart to the pokeballs in his bag. Red and white balls, check. ...He honestly thought it was just someone taking a stab at him when he saw them at first.

This seems a lot like mentorship. That's a little easier for him to grasp on to.]

So it's symbiotic. If I take them in, it helps them grow into what they want to grow in, if they choose to stay with me. ...In these balls.

[Because that looks uncomfortable.]

Only these?

If both of you desire it, then your Palien companions can travel outside with you, and that may be recommended for the larger variants who agree to carry you - whether that's riding along the routes, flying, or going across water.

[One must ride something, after all.]

However, for many, the Pokeballs are often preferable. It allows them some measure of privacy, and lets them rest in peace.

There are actually a variety of Pokeball types, some which seem better suited to particular Paliens... I suppose that means a part of their construction must be especially appealing to them in some way? At any rate, you need not worry. They seem to have no issues with whatever is inside.

I suppose I'll know if they want to be in the ball by presenting it and watching their reaction? Can I change their ball while I'm asking. I won't need anyone to carry me across the water, though. I'll take myself. Flying I can't do and will look into the safest option. I assume planes?

[That's right, no one's told him he can't iceman his way over the water. He'll learn the hard way and be extremely soaked by that point, but you know. Details. He's trying to learn quickly and absorb all the information he can, even if it's going to crash down on him later despite looking like he's taking all of this relatively well.]

Ah, yes, that would do, and I believe you can change the ball... And mostly flying Paliens?

But, may I ask what you mean by taking yourself across water?

[Normally Dimitri would think of a boat, but that... Somehow, that doesn't quite sound like what this young man is referring to?]

He seems to be sentient enough, so I'll ask him which ball he likes. ...And will look in to birds.

[No one tell Shoto it isn't a he. That they're genderless.

Being asked, and without water around to exemplify, he just explains as is.]

Normally I'd freeze the water in front of me. I can get across it efficiently if I'm quick enough.

[Ah.]

[Dimitri's brow furrows, mostly in concern as he's going to have to drop this unfortunate bombshell.]

That... may not work in this place.

It works on most things, anything that-- [He doesn't need to touch it with his actual hand to activate his abilities and from the screen to the floor his eyes tick down and he's definitely staring.]

--Anything that has a freezing point.

[No, that's not exactly it, but that's where his brain is stopping in order to process what's going on.]

Excuse me a moment.

[That's his gear off for a second while he's attempting to figure out just what's going on. The next message is a little less to the stoic side and more to the annoyed side, clearly not at the conversational partner.]

You knew it wouldn't work, does that mean everyone?

Of course.

[Dimitri understands the issue completely, even if he has to admit that their situations are different. To have something that was a part of one's self, so suddenly gone...]

[At least he doesn't take the annoyance personally.]

Yes... From what I understand. Whether magic, or something more innate... It is gone.

...Are you all right?

[Thank Arceus for the kindly ratman. It's probably something every other friend had dealt with long enough that they hadn't even thought of it.

Hearing further he nods his head, taking an obvious breath and letting it out which seems to calm him down past the little annoyed version of his voice.]

I'm alright.

[He will be, but things got more complicated.]

I have all four limbs and my faculties so I'll be fine. I'm going to sit down and read this book, make some notes based on what you and others have told me. Thank you for being direct.

[Well... If he says so. Dimitri supposes that the only way to really become okay is to adjust, slowly and calmly.]

It is no problem. I'm glad that I was able to give you such helpful information.

If it is any help... Sometimes, the world behaves strangely, and we return to how we were before - powers, or magic, things of that nature. It seems to happen almost on a set schedule... And lasts for a single weekend.

Such a thing happened just the other month, as a matter of fact. So... It is something to wait for.

[Video]

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