Sixth Spell: Getting Ready. [Video]

[behindblueskin]

Who: Keldor
Where: Violet City
When: The weekend
Summary: Keldor's last few days in Violet City
Rating: G

Log: Now that Keldor's won his first gym badge, there really isn't a lot left for him to do in Violet City, save for some serious, last-minute power-training of his pokemon [and shopping for cold weather clothing]. Just about everything that could be done here has been done.

Except visit the Ruins of Alph.

According to his research, there are some Fairy and Steel types roaming what's left of the ancient civilisation, and that's what's got him out here on this Saturday afternoon. So far he's managed to find himself a Spritzee and a Bronzor, and is currently trying to catch a Klefki, but there's one little problem...

THUD!

That.

It's the fourth time it's happened. Keldor has somehow managed to trip over ... something, but when he looks around, he sees nothing about him that could've tripped him. And it doesn't help that the ruins aren't really properly lit. At least in this section anyways.

This is starting to get annoying, and his Klefki is about to get away, too.

---

Well. Today's the day.

Keldor's currently in the Pokemon Center [he'd just been to the Mart to stock up on supplies] at the computer, going over all the pokemon he's currently got. Tomorrow he sets off for Route 32 and Azalea Town, but it's gonna be a hike, and as there are no places to heal up in-between, which pokemon to take with you is important. Strong enough to not require too much patching up, but not so strong as to kill everything you encounter while en-route, either we do want to catch a few things along the way, after all.

Keldor decides that his Hisuian Growlithe, Asama, meets the criteria for "strong, but not too strong", and that Kishiko the Goldeen can come, too, as she isn't "too strong" either.

As for the rest of the party, it's gonna be the lower-leveled 'mons who get picked, but he doesn't know which ones to choose, as he has several of them.

But whatever decision he makes, he'd better do it before nightfall and the Crobats start to come out looking to nom on anything they can get their teeth into. 'Cause that would be bad.

Comments

Saturday

[crystalmaster]

Radley has little interest in the Ruins of Alph, at least as far as visiting them in person. He's happy to visit them via Keldor's video and watch his journey. He winces at the latest trip.

"Is there a Ghost Pokemon in there or something?"

[behindblueskin]

Really, he'd like to say that there are no ghosts here. But this is an ancient ruin, so of course there will be ghosts. He's even seen a few.

None of them were at ground level, though.

"I cannot be sure if this is the work of Ghosts," Keldor grumbles, tapping his fingers in annoyance. "Especially this time."

He can't see the culprit, but he can hear what sounds like feet beating a hasty retreat.

Ghosts can't be that solid as to make sounds, right?

[crystalmaster]

Radley isn't sure if something solid could be a Ghost Pokemon, especially since sometimes they seem solid.

"... I wonder if it's just a prankster or if they really don't want you catching that Klefki?"

[behindblueskin]

"Protecting other pokemon is something I would not put past them."

As Keldor gets up for the fourth time after as many tumbles, his thoughts go back to when he was out trying to catch Mareep, and how one of them tried to protect the flock mate that ended up becoming Tanpopo.

"Even if it is not one of their own species."

[crystalmaster]

"Yeah, maybe they've all lived there together for a long time," Radley said.

[behindblueskin]

"Long enough to be able to alert each other and thus thwart trainer efforts to capture them."

It works for regular animals. It should work for pokemon too.

"I will not begrudge them that."

He'll just be miffed over being literally tripped up in his efforts to catch something.

[crystalmaster]

"So, what are you gonna do?" Radley asked.

[behindblueskin]

"I am going to keep trying until I catch it."

Naturally.

Not many Fairy/Steel types in the world.

[crystalmaster]

Radley smirked a bit. "Well, good luck."

He hoped it was worth all the trouble.

[behindblueskin]

Keldor's a trainer.

"I will take what luck I can."

Of course it's worth the trouble.

But the Klefki's now out of sight, and the section up ahead is darker than the ones he's been through already, so he's fishing in his bag for a flashlight.

...klik...

That should help him see where he's going and avoid tripping on anything that might otherwise go unnoticed in the gloom.

[crystalmaster]

Radley could imagine himself going to much trouble if he saw a Shiny Eevee.

He watches the new area with curiosity.

[behindblueskin]

We all have things we'd do anything to get.

...the beam of light plays along the floor...

Motes of dust and cast-off feathers and tufts of fur float about, and what looks at first like they might be insects dart away from the light—too fast to be sure if they are insects, or something else entirely.

And somewhere up ahead is the sound of pieces of metal clacking together.

The Klefki, we hope.

[crystalmaster]

Evie thinks all the floating things look fun to play with! She perks up at the metal sounds, ears wiggling.

Radley pets her.

[behindblueskin]

There's also what looks like slime along the walls, and in random shapes. Very random. Too structured in their form to be natural, but also applied haphazardly.

It's as if the slime was placed like this because whoever put it there was doing it out of pure habit. And that no care was taken to do a better job of it because there's next to no light to see by and make sure it's done right.

Keldor decides to inspect it.

Hmmm...

Very curious...

...footsteps.

[crystalmaster]

"... What the heck is that?!" Radley exclaims in disbelief. It looks awful.

He tenses at the footsteps. What now?

[behindblueskin]

Judging from the sound, whoever's making them is rather small. And it doesn't seem like they're wearing anything on their feet.

That makes it unlikely that it's coming from a lost child.

Still, might be a good idea to be sure. There were kids here. Kids on a weekend field trip.

And one of them could have become separated from the group.

[crystalmaster]

Radley stays quiet, not wanting to startle whoever it is. He leans forward, studying the video as he tries to take note of anything that could be a clue anywhere in the scene.

[behindblueskin]

Splatting noises now.

Like someone's throwing liquid at something.

Like at a wall.

Hmmm...

Keldor stops for a moment. Runs his finger through it.

The slime seems to be ... fresh.

[crystalmaster]

"... Are they playing paintball or something?" Radley blinks.

[behindblueskin]

"I do not know what that is, and thus cannot tell you yes or no."

He pauses a moment.

"There's someone or something speaking. Just down this passageway."

Repetitive speaking.

Very repetitive. The same thing, over and over again.

Kinda like...

[crystalmaster]

A Pokemon?

Radley is very curious, as are my Pokemon.

[behindblueskin]

Splatsplat...

"Sme... Gle..."

Splat...

Splat...

Sme... Gle..."

The beam of light falls upon something vaguely doglike, which blinks rapidly from the sudden brightness, before shielding its eyes with its paw. In doing so it drops its tail.

That slime-like substance starts oozing from the tip.

"GLLLLLLLLLLE!"

Keldor lowers the flashlight so as not to blind the poor thing.

[crystalmaster]

Radley winces.

"... I should have got that. Some of those guys showed up on my property when I was trying to paint the building."

"Eevee-vee!" Evie exclaims.

[behindblueskin]

"It must be a compulsion with them, if this one is painting the walls despite the lack of sufficient light to see by."

"Smeeeear..."

He checks his pokedex. It only really learns one move, but that move can be used to copy anything. Possibly useful, but it sounds like it'd require a lot of luck to get the right ones.

Sensing that it's in the presence of a trainer, the Smeargle starts to back away.

"Smeeee.... Gllllleeee..."

"I am not here for you," Keldor informs it. "I am seeking another."

"...glllleeee..."

Doesn't sound very convinced.

[crystalmaster]

"Pretty much. We had a terrible time distracting them," Radley says.

"Eevee-vee-vee!" Evie exclaims.