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]

[Radley smiles.]

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

[behindblueskin]

[Keldor has his own, awkward smile. It feels like he's getting ahead of himself with this.]

First, the teahouse. Then, perhaps, afterwards, we can go to Ecruteak.

[crystalmaster]

Yeah, let's do that.

[The Pokemon dance ahead, looking for the teahouse. ]

[behindblueskin]

[It shouldn't be too hard to find. As it's on the route that leads to Alph, finding it mostly involves looking for all the road signs that point towards this major attraction or that.

It won't be long before they find it: a nice little building with what looks like a pond behind it. At this time of day, the lights outside are on, and what looks like really tiny creatures are dancing about in the air [Keldor won't realise it yet, but the Sinistea are coming out to play now that night is coming]. The place is cozy and small, but warm.]

Here it is.

[crystalmaster]

Oh, this is really nice!

[Evie exclaims in fascination and tries to jump up to play with the Sinistea.]

[behindblueskin]

[He grins, pleased that his friend likes it so far.

Then looks at Evie.]

Your Eevee... She seems excited about something.

[crystalmaster]

She wants to play with these ... floating teacups? Sinisteas, I think.

[Evie reaches up a paw to one.]

[behindblueskin]

[Now that he gets a better look...]

I do not... Ah. Yes. I see them now.

[Teacups. Enchanted-looking teacups. It reminds him of the tsukumogami he'd encountered on Anwat Gar, save for the fact that none of the object-inhabiting spirits he'd seen were teacups, but other things.

He checks his pokedex. They're Ghost types. Perhaps he should get one.

But... Maybe after tea, so as to not upset the owner.]

[crystalmaster]

["Eevee-vee!" Evie exclaims.

Radley laughs.]

Let's go inside, okay?

[Evie walks over to him.]

[behindblueskin]

Of course.

[He can try for one afterwards.]

Tea first.

[crystalmaster]

[Radley pets Evie.]

Are you interested in getting one of these?

[He's not sure catching is available here. Maybe they belong to the owner.]

[behindblueskin]

If I can.

[If he can catch it. If the owner will let him. Both of them.]

I have a Pumpkaboo and a Phantump, but it would be nice to see what a Sinistea is capable of.

[Capable of making your wallet cry if you had several Sinisteas and you needed to evolve them.]

[crystalmaster]

You like Ghost types, huh?

[Radley has nothing against them, but hasn't really ventured into trying to get any.]

[behindblueskin]

I merely wish to have as many of the different types as possible.

[He says as the door sides open to let him in, and, once inside, according to etiquette, removes his boots, places them appropriately, then waits.

It's not an exact, traditional teahouse, and there doesn't seem to be any rules about it being enforced, but the owner seems to appreciate the fact that Keldor is familiar enough about this system of etiquette to know about things like not wearing footwear while indoors.]

[crystalmaster]

I get that. I want as many Eevees as possible.

[He smirks.]

They're all so different.

[He follows suit about his shoes. It's a nice tradition. His Pokemon wipe their feet.]

[behindblueskin]

[Radley's gonna end up as the Eevee version of the crazy cat lady.

Meanwhile, the owner of the teahouse—an older man who barely comes up to Keldor's chest—comes up to greet them, giving a slight bow.]

Welcome, guests. Are you looking for anything in particular?

What do you offer?

Oh, many things. From the modern to the more traditional. We've got it all.

[Hmmm. He's wondering how "traditional" is traditional here. Will he be asked to follow a traditional dress code for it? Does this establishment even have anything in his size? He'd had something more traditional in-between the Wish Festival and Cara Liss' mishap, but it didn't survive the trip into the past, and Keldor doesn't intend to replace it until he's got his own place [kimonos and dirt roads just don't play well together].]

[crystalmaster]

[He probably already is.

Radley is wondering similar things about the traditional version.]

How are they different?

[behindblueskin]

Well, I...

[He looks Keldor up and down, like he doesn't get many customers who might frequent the "Big and Tall" sections of clothing stores.]

...normally "traditional" can mean "fully traditional"...

[Complete with dress code, from the sounds of it.]

...but we also have more flexible takes on tradition, where we can wave certain requirements.

[Stop talking like Keldor's clothing uses up half a circus tent to make!]

[crystalmaster]

Radley nodded thoughtfully. "What kind do you want to try?" he asked Keldor. He was also quite tall, at 6'2", but not that muscular.

[behindblueskin]

[Yeah being muscular seems to be a requirement for characters from franchises like Masters of the Universe I mean, what?]

I think I shall go with the flexible option, as I do not currently own anything that fully traditional would require.

[But he will. He really did like that yukata he got during the Wish Festival and would like to get one similar to it.]

[crystalmaster]

Works for me.

[Radley was mildly curious, but didn't feel the need to go fully traditional.

The Pokemon warbled.]

[behindblueskin]

Good! Follow me; I'll take you to your table!

[That actually went rather well, despite the whole clothing thing. If the tea is good he might come back for the "traditional" option.]

[crystalmaster]

[Radley was glad there had been no request to put them away. They wanted to be there and they were very well-behaved. He went to the table. The Pokemon sat down when he knelt.]

[behindblueskin]

[If they're behaved enough to wipe their feet without being asked, then there's no reason to ask that they be returned to their balls.

Once everyone's sat or knelt, it's time to begin.]

Would you like the matcha? Or something else instead?

[Seeing as this isn't a traditional serving, no one's going to mind if they ask for a different kind of tea.]

[crystalmaster]

I'm not really familiar with it. I'm happy to try it.

[Radley will try most edible things at least once.]