[video/action] 1/28 - It's not easy being green!

[stormstar]

[ Crookedkit has never touched the network before. In truth, it's a wonder he hasn't lost his Gear, considering he had no clue what it was and what explanation he was able to get only confused him even more about it. When the chips are down, though, one thing he always keeps in mind best is how to get help. And right now, gauging by the utter misery all over the face of the sparkling green Rattata that appears on-screen, that's exactly what he needs right now. ]

[ His voice is familiar to those who've spoken to him, at least as much as it can be when it's choked with sobs and tears, though the lisp he has now is not only different but much more obtrusive than before. A Rattata body may be mostly familiar to his most familiar one, but those huge incisors are an even bigger challenge for Crookedkit than his broken jaw ever was. ]

[ He appears to be hiding inside a hollow log of some kind, with rays of winter sun shining down on him through cracks and holes in the rotting wood. His cheek fur is streaked with tears and a smaller pokemon - Frecklepaw the Skwovet - is pressed close next to him and doing her best to give warmth and comfort with her big fluffy tail. ]

This is all wrong!! [ His cries are loud and hoarse, enough that anyone in this area of Viridian Forest will likely hear him. ] I'm not a Twoleg, I'm not a Rattata, I'm a cat! A RiverClan cat!!

[ Wait, no, complaining isn't why he got so desperate that he learned to use the network. He shakes his head sharply with his eyes squeezed shut in some effort to force his fear away. ] N-Never mind, what's important is that the Twoleg kit that looks like me isn't me! He just ran away this morning and I'm trying to follow him but he's really fast!



Option B - Meanwhile...

There's an extra-feral child on the loose! Notchpaw, now several times bigger and armed with his Trainer's face and tools, is taking full advantage of today's bizarre phenomenon, doing all the things a Trainer is supposed to do.

That is, catching pokemon with pokeballs and training them up through glorious battle! He's already "enlisted" a Silicobra and a Pikachu - two of the boldest, toughest, meanest pokemon he knows of around here. He's hardly done yet, though; Notchpaw wants to make sure everyone knows he's better at this than the wimpy human that pitied him earlier this month.

Crookedkit and Notchpaw have swapped! Crookedkit will be searching for Notchpaw in Viridian Forest, and Notchpaw will be off on a catching and battling spree further in!

Comments

video

[islandshore]

[...Well, that sure is a lot to unpack, isn't it? This whole thing is just so... weird. Waking up in a human body. No wings. No tail. No flames. No claws.

But human hands are easier to operate this kind of equipment than Charizard claws, and Flare's level-headed enough to handle such a weird situation.

Still... what a predicament. He breathes in slowly, then exhales.]

He's probably just as confused as you are. Think about it. You just woke up in a strange, new body. Nothing feels right. Everything from your size to your center of balance is off.

[There's a grumble from off-screen.]

Ugh! How do I keep this thing from setting the whole place on fire?!

[Flare pauses, turning toward the voice-]

Slow down, for one.

[Now, back to the camera-]

Do you have any others with you? If not, you could try using your sense of smell. I'm not a Rattata, but I'm pretty sure they have sharper senses than humans do.

[stormstar]

[ The Rattata on the other end of the feed quickly starts nodding as soon as Flare mentions smell. ] It is very strong, maybe better than mine, but it still doesn't work the same. [ He rubs his nose with a paw in catlike fashion with a squint. ] Nothing here smells like the woods I know, and I don't like how some of the Twolegs looked at me when I tried following his-um, my scent earlier.

[ Truth be told, the poor kit is almost certain the ones with the yellow clothes - Youngsters, right? - had every intention of grabbing him right up, and that would surely turn this nightmare into a proper terror. ]

[islandshore]

They might have tried capturing you. When you're in that body, you look like any other Pokemon. Even if you've got language on your side, that might just be more enticing.

[Riku's fingers drum against his biceps. Flare's... still getting used to his extra digits. The lack of tail already makes his center of balance funky. Never mind the missing wings.]

If I had any suggestion, I'd say try to use your surroundings to blend in. You're probably small enough that you could slip by if you're careful. That's one luxury us fully evolved Pokemon don't really have.

[To prove his point, he points a finger over his shoulder, where a very frustrated "Charizard" is now holding its flaming tail and trying not to let it touch any furniture. Classy.]

[stormstar]

[ It's not until "us" and "Pokemon" comes up that Crookedkit registers who he must be talking to. He's going to try to be polite, of course, but...wow. It's enough to make Notchpaw's whiskers quiver. ]

Oh, yeah! I can probably hide...I haven't gotten a lot of practice yet, but I'm green, so I just need to find some other green stuff, probably.

[ He scrunches Notchpaw's snout in thought. What green is there to hide in when it's leaf-bare...? There must be some foliage somewhere. He remembers some the reeds around RiverClan camp usually stayed during the cold season, so does he need to stick close to water? The thought puts a ghost of pain through his jaw and memories of churning dark through his mind, but it's better than being stuffed into a nut, probably. ]

[ As his thoughts wander, one of them wanders right out of his mouth. ]

So you're a Pokemon?

[islandshore]

Yeah. A Charizard, but right now, well...

[He turns the camera to reveal a rather large, fairly muscular Charizard grumbling at a Haunter. The silly string on his snout might be the reason why.]

Very funny, Phantom.

[Oh, and here comes some unholy, screeching laughter. Charming.

Flare grumbles.]

Phantom, back off. This day is already off to a rough start.

[The Haunter responds by sticking his tongue out and blowing raspberries. Classy.

Flare responds in turn by... returning him to his Pokeball. 'cause he can do that now. Heh.]

Anyway, I get feeling disoriented. Bad enough that I'm in a different form- it's unsettling going around without my wings.