victory_road | Surfing Swarm!

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Surfing Swarm!

[The video feed opens with Radley filming as he goes outside on his property to see what some of his Pokemon are exclaiming about. He almost drops the PokeGear when he sees.]

What the ... ?!??!!!

[Pikachu and Alolan Raichu are surfing in the pond.]

Just ... how?!??!

[Evie makes an exclamation of delight and runs over to the shore.]

Evie! Evie, no! Come back!

[Evie has already leaped onto the surf board to ride with Raichu. She warbles in delight.

Radley slaps his forehead.]

Oh gosh. Evie!

[He's terrified of Electric types attacking him, but he's more afraid of them getting mad and hurting Evie. He watches for a moment, tense, but they seem friendly and welcoming to her being there. Seeing that, he keeps filming the video, but it's probably shaky until his hands stop shaking.]

So ... I'm not gonna antagonize these guys. But ... what do I do about this? How are they even surfing in my pond?!

[A crowd is starting to gather outside the property fence, enjoying the show. Seeing this, Radley ponders. If Evie's not in danger, and people like this, maybe it can turn to his advantage. Maybe he can subtly hint at the crowd getting some food to eat while watching the entertainment.]

... They are pretty skilled at what they do. I have to say I'm impressed. Anyone wanna drop by and see this in person?

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It is not just you?

[The feed shows the large pond that Sita in front of Sprout Tower, with said landmark in the near distance.

Pikachu and Raichu are all over the place; showing off their moves to a crowd of increasing size while the local Jennies keep control.]

Is this a common occurrence?

[As for Keldor? He can barely keep the "I want one!" off his face. The first gym he'll be facing specialises in flying types, and if he can catch one of these 'chus, he'll have something other than the Voltob he got back in Hisui to use to get his first badge.]

Edited 2022-08-27 03:50 (UTC)

[Radley chuckles in surprise.]

It must be a swarm all over. It'll probably last the day, I guess. I'm milking it for all I can.

A day, you say?

[That means a small window of opportunity to catch one of these things.]

Then if I am to acquire one, I must move swiftly.

[One of the Jennies is addressing those who, like Keldor, are looking to catch one.]

Trainers! Trainers only! Please queue up over here if you want to catch a Pikachu or a Raichu. To ensure fairness, everyone gets fifteen minutes to catch a pokemon. There will be four queues total.

Line up, Trainers!

[Keldor quickly gets in line, but he's got what must be twenty people ahead. Well. He's got time to talk.]

Yeah, you sure had.

[Radley listens as the Jennies regulate things.]

... I wonder if it's fair to make them stop surfing to be caught? Or maybe they can pick it right up after, if they're not too worn-out. My pond's small, so I've only got a couple in it. I'm just using them as entertainment.

[Keldor cranes his head above the line. The 'chus haven't come to a stop. If anything, they seem to be speeding up. Like they're aware that there's people that want to catch them, and they don't intend to make it easy.]

They are not stopping. They are accelerating.

[The feed is angled to show the 'chus zipping about; taunting anyone who thought this was going to be like shooting Magikarp in a barrel. The effect is like a carnival game, but at a higher speed. And already, the first trainers are struggling at catching anything, despite their best efforts. Only one so far has managed.]

I wonder if that means they're making it a game or if it's an act of defiance.

[Either way, Radley is amused.]

Whatever their motive is, it seems to be working.

[Someone in Keldor's queue goes for a mighty splash when they try to throw one of their balls at one of the 'chus, which just mocks the poor guy as it goes past; very much uncaught.

It's making him wonder if his chances will be any better. He's had to try and hit moving targets before, both in training and in war, but it never involved throwing things at them.]

[Radley chuckles.]

Yeah, it looks like you've got your work cut out for you. Meanwhile, my Eevees keep surfing with them.

So it would appear...

[He can't see it; it happened to someone in another queue, but he hears a pair of thwack! sounds. One of them came from one of the Pikachus, who must have the reflexes of a Babe Ruth. The other comes from the poor soul who threw the ball at "Babe Ruth", when the ball smacks them in the face.

Suddenly the crowd erupts in laughter, as the unlucky trainer wanders off, hoping that there's an easier place to catch a 'mon somewhere else.

The guy walks past, sporting quite the bruise.]

I can only hope I do not suffer his fate when my turn comes up.

[He's already been electrocuted. "Hit by a pokeball" is not something he wants to experience next.]

[Radley hears the sounds and sees the guy too. He winces.]

Public humiliation is never fun.

[He knows firsthand.]

I do not think this is a public humiliation. Just unexpected misfortune that triggered the laughter.

[Just bad luck, in other words.

The 'chus, feeling rather cocky, decide to do a victory lap around the Sprout Tower pond. It has the effect of momentarily taking their mind off of the people trying to catch them, and before any of them can react, two Raichu are captured in short order, prompting some cheering from the crowd.

They've got rather smug looks as they pass by. Maybe they'll cheer up the "smacked by a pokeball" guy if they find him.]

Well, maybe not a deliberate humiliation in this case, but I'd probably feel humiliated if that happened to me in a crowd.

[Especially after the deliberate humiliation he had experienced back home.]

No one would enjoy it if it happened to them.

[Unless they're weird like that.

The queue inches forward as more people try their luck. With a bit more caution so as not to have anything smacked back at them. Any part of them.]

Is anyone giving up or are the lines staying just as long?

[Keldor looks around to check. Some people appear to have left; either because they don't want to end up like Pokeball Face Guy, or from a lack of patience.]

Some have departed, yes.

I figured as much. Well, at least hopefully that means you'll get your chance sooner.

[Two or three obviously impatient people in Keldor's queue have given up. It means his wait has been reduced by, at most, 45 minutes.]

Even if they did not leave, I am prepared to wait.

You're pretty determined! That's cool. I would be too, if it was something I wanted.

I need this creature. Violet City's gym specialises in the flying type, and I need something that is strong against it.

[He moves forward. About ten or eleven people ahead now.]

Perhaps it would be easier to visit the Dark Cave or travel along Route 32 to find appropriate opponents, but I wish to see if luck will smile on me here first.

[These 'chu might be of a sufficiently high level to make it so they'll last against Falkner and his trainees, if the difficulty in getting one is an indication.]

Oh yeah, they would be good for that!

It's worth a try anyway.

[Despite the success that came after Pokeball In Face Guy, most people are still coming away empty-handed. One of the people who didn't get anything walks past, clearly soaked with water. Not because they'd fallen in, but because one of the Pikachus surfed so close and turned so hard that it sent a wave at the hopeful before even a ball could be thrown.]

And I for one am willing to try.

[Should hopefully be thinking up a strategy while he's waiting.]

So what's your plan for getting one?

[Radley is honestly curious.]

Timing, it might appear. I have not heard anyone giving instructions to their pokemon, so that approach has been ruled out.

[Wouldn't be all that fair to the 'chus if they had to dodge attacks and balls at the same time, apparently.]

Timing, huh? Like throw the ball when they're distracted?

Something like that.

[Which brings up the question of how to distract one of them long enough to throw successfully.

Or he'd think about that if he wasn't being elbowed. ]

Hey! Move along! Yer holdin' up the line!

The line is not being "held up". Patience, please.

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