Fifth Spell: Post-Victory [Video].

[behindblueskin]

Is Keldor looking inordinately pleased with himself? Does he have a reason to be?

Yes and yes.

Not long after coming back from the battle convention, Keldor decided to get in some last-minute training for his very first ever gym battle. Much was learned while he was there, and, eager to put that new knowledge to good use, Keldor did what he could to get everyone as ready as they could be for the showdown with Falkner.

But first, he'd decided to test what he learned on the students, who were the only ones there at the time [not that he minded at all—all experience is valuable; including the ones that gain levels].

Sadly, though, they're just students and can't give out badges to trainers no matter how well they did. If Keldor wanted one, he'd have to come back another time.

He did, and this time, Falkner was in.

It was a good battle, and at the end, Keldor got what he came for.

Now that that's over, it's time to get ready to pack it up and head on out towards Azalea Town and the next challenge.

First, though, Keldor has something else he'd like to do.

Shidosanda the Hisuian Voltorb and Fukiran the Growlithe are sitting in front of their trainer as their teammates look on.

It's a big day. A momentous occasion.

In Keldor's hands are two boxes. Inside these boxes are a leaf stone and a fire stone. He'd gotten them not that long ago, and had been keeping them boxed to prevent an accidental exposure to them.

Now? He's going to use them.

"You have done well," he addresses them all. "Fought well and helped me earn the Zephyr Badge. And now it is time for the next stage."

Keldor opens the boxes and empties the contents into his hand. Is he nervous? Yes. But he doesn't show it.

"Shidosanda?"

The Voltorb rolls forward.

Keldor touches it with the leaf stone.

A flash of light, and the stone is gone.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEELLLECCCTROOOOOOOOOOOODE!"

"Fukiran?"

The Growlithe comes forward.

"It is your turn."

But this time Keldor hesitates in evolving.

Is his bond with the Growlithe strong enough? Will Fukiran's disposition change once he's an Arcanine? Will he accept the kind of non-battle training Keldor intends for him?

Will Keldor be able to use Fukiran to get about the Pokemon World with?

Only one way to know...

Comments

[crystalmaster]

... I don't wanna impose, but if you'd like company, I could come out.

[behindblueskin]

[It takes Keldor three seconds to realise he's being spoken to, as he was losing himself in thoughts of home and Lyn's companionship.]

I—

[Good thing the feed isn't angled at his face, because that's quite the expression of embarrassment there.]

Of course. You will be taking the warp pads?

[That, or a long flight.]

[crystalmaster]

Yeah. Harley hasn't evolved yet.

[And Radley has been wondering if he can even use her when she does. Are Trainers the only ones allowed to use Fly? He's heard something like that but doesn't know if it's true. Well, that's a problem for another day.]

We'll be out soon!

[He smiles and looks over the Pokemon, wondering who's coming today.]

[behindblueskin]

[It might be that it's not that nobody can use Fly without the Zephyr Badge as it might be that Trainers are so restricted. To maybe keep them from jetting across the regions going from city to city and gym to gym.

Maybe.]

Then I shall head towards the Pokemon Centre to wait.

[Catch a bus or a taxi, even, since Fukiran's not yet big enough.]

[crystalmaster]

[After several Pokemon volunteer, Radley heads out with them and soon arrives at the Pokemon Center. They look around. Are they the first?]

[behindblueskin]

[Yes. Mainly because the taxi he took was held up in traffic. But the wait isn't long. Keldor wasn't so far from the centre that it'd take an hour just to get there.

In a few more minutes, and after the driver is paid, Keldor finally walks in.]

I am sorry for the delay.

[crystalmaster]

It's fine! We haven't been here long.

[His Pokemon chirp. He's brought Evie, Evan, Isla, Kiryu, Lily, and Cosmo. All Eevees except Cosmo the Ralts.]

[behindblueskin]

[Still, he feels he must give an account for it.]

I have forgotten that transport in this world is not like what I am used to. But at least I am not absurdly late.

[As for Keldor, he returned his to their balls. Would get rather cramped with a full-sized Electrode or a Lycanroc inside a car.]

[crystalmaster]

Yeah, you're good. I still miss motorcycle travel.

[behindblueskin]

[Ah, motorcycles. The more he hears about them the more his intrigue about them increases.

He really needs to see these things.]

If I had a sky sled, I would not have to worry about things like travel time. I could reach most destinations in minutes.

[crystalmaster]

That would be great! It sounds like maybe it's even faster than motorcycles.

[behindblueskin]

And they do not need to compete with ground vehicles or deal with ground-based obstacles.

[Sure beats getting about in a taxi.]

[crystalmaster]

Yeah, I guess there's less things in the sky to contend with, except other sky sleds?

[behindblueskin]

There are other forms of aircraft, but Eternian skies are not particularly congested most of the time, regardless.

[crystalmaster]

That's pretty cool. It would sure beat traffic jams down here!

[behindblueskin]

At any rate, we will just have to make do with what we do have until we are able to acquire things like motorcycles and sky sleds. [he says, as he's heading for the door.

Like raising pokemon that can carry you around, for one.]

[crystalmaster]

Yeah. I got a bicycle since that was the best I could do at the time. At least it's collapsible, so that's pretty cool. I can easily carry it around.

[He follows with his Pokemon.]

[behindblueskin]

Perhaps one day I will get one myself.

[It wouldn't do to force one's pokemon to do all the leg-, wing- and finwork of getting about.]

[crystalmaster]

They're in Goldenrod. It was one reason why I was so determined to get there. Then I just decided to stay.

[behindblueskin]

I wonder if I will find a place of my own to live.

[He'd like that. Just settle down somewhere, instead of wandering, even if it'd feel weird at first after having spent many years roaming the wilderness of Eternia.]

[crystalmaster]

I'd be happy to have you live in Goldenrod. You might like Ecruteak, the city next to it. It has a lot of the aesthetic that you said looks like your world.

[behindblueskin]

[That makes him pause a moment. Ecruteak isn't far from Violet City. If he wanted to he could go there instead of to Azalea Town. It's a very tempting prospect, especially if the city is anything like Anwat Gar.]

Some of my world, [he points out.] Anwat Gar has features similar to what I can find here. The rest of Eternia varies, depending on where you go and what sort of people you will find living there.

[Some of it futuristic. Some of it rustic. And some of it things only the people who live there would call "suitable housing".]

[crystalmaster]

Right. [Radley nods.] That's like my planet too, with lots of varied cultures and architecture.

[behindblueskin]

But I might like that. Be somewhere that is like the home I knew, if only in spirit.

[It won't be Anwat Gar. He doesn't expect it to be. But "close to it" will be good enough.]

[crystalmaster]

[Radley smiles.]

I can show you around there, if you wanna see it.