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

[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.

[behindblueskin]

"I would wager that providing them an alternative outlet for their instinctive urges would be a suitable distraction."

He eyes the wary Smeargle.

"I am looking for a Klefki." He holds his hands in the shape of something circular. "Have you..." He was going to say "seen", but you can't do much seeing here. "Have you noticed it? Heard anything?"

"Ssssmmmeeeeeerrr..."

It doesn't like the way you said "looking for", Keldor...

[crystalmaster]

"Yeah, that was what we ended up doing," Radley says. It's bittersweet remembering that day. A friend now gone had helped him paint.

"Eevee," Evie sighs. She nuzzles Radley.

"... I get the feeling it is looking out for the other Pokemon," Radley says, noting the reactions. He pets Evie.

[behindblueskin]

"Smeeer... ...gle..."

The Smeargle doesn't wait to be asked again. Instead it grabs its tail and makes a run for it, paint dripping from the tip.

"Smeeeeeer!!"

Keldor watches it disappear from out of view of his flashlight.

"That does appear to be its intention. And it will be alerting the others now. Especially any Klefkis."

Keldor sighs. Looks like he's going to be spending more time in this dungeon crawl than he intended.

[crystalmaster]

Radley chuckles a bit. "I guess they're like a family. That's pretty cute."

[behindblueskin]

How nice that at least one person thinks this is cute.

"Yes. Guarding each other; protecting them from harm."

He only goes in the same direction the Smeargle went, until the pathway divides. Choosing which one to take isn't hard—the paint marks are fresher on the left hand side, so Keldor takes the right, figuring that anything roaming the left hand side will be on alert now. Particularly any Klefkis.

[crystalmaster]

Radley understands it would be frustrating for a Trainer, but still finds it cute.

"Eevee-vee!" Evie chirps. She has seen Pokemon villages.

Radley shushes her as Keldor takes the right path.

[behindblueskin]

In this corridor there's a lot of Ghost types. Chiefly Goletts and Yamasks, but there might be others as well. He can't see it, but he hears what might be a Spiritomb roaming about. Keldor's not really interested in them—as far as he's concerned, he's got enough Ghost types now that he's added the Sinistea twins to his collection.

Much to their relief. Keldor still wants his Klefki, and he's going to get it.

...shapes bobbing in the air...

The light now shining in their direction reveals a column of Unowns floating about and heading towards him.

"Unnnn ... oowwwwwwn... Unnnnn ... oowwwnnnnn... Unnn ... owwwwnnnn..."

[crystalmaster]

Radley doesn't care for Spiritomb at all and is creeped out to hear it. Even Evie looks a little scared, but her tail is still wagging. She would try to make friends if they were there.

"... Hey, there's those living letters," he blinks.

[behindblueskin]

"Letters?" Keldor asks. "They are letters?"

Something like that.

He'd seen the ones outside the Researcher's Office, but hadn't clued in to what they were, let alone what they spelled.

If his Anti-Eternia counterpart were here, he'd think those Unowns were quite funny, given how immature Anti-Keldor could be.

"They are getting closer—"

They're also bigger than he expected them to be, and this corridor isn't exactly roomy...

"Ah! Ow! Gah!"

He's getting bopped on the head by several Unown, before he ducks to avoid yet more collisions.

[crystalmaster]

"Yeah, they're some kinda Pokemon ..."

He trails off as the Unown go past. "Are you okay?!"

[behindblueskin]

He rubs his head where the Unowns hit him.

"They struck me on the head as they went past."

Likely accidentally.

"But I am well. I have been hit worse than this."

He's gonna wait for the rest of them to go by before standing up again though.

[crystalmaster]

Evie watches them in fascination and paws at the screen. "Eeveeee!"

Radley chuckles. She'll probably be begging him to take her there to play with them now.

"That's good you're not too bad off."

[behindblueskin]

The last of the Unowns pass by, completely oblivious to the man trying to avoid them.

"Unnnn ... owwwwn... Unnn ...ooowwnn..."

Once their voices trail off, he stands up.

"And I shall remain so, provided that I do not encounter more of them."

It's the Ruins of Alph, champ. The only place on the mainland you can find Unown. You'll run into more of them yet.

[crystalmaster]

"I think that's kinda their home," Radley says. "They're probably everywhere."

[behindblueskin]

Fantastic.

"I shall guard my head then."

Back to hunting Klefki.

[crystalmaster]

Evie starts singing a song while swaying back and forth. "Eevee-vee, Eevee-vee..."

Radley has to laugh, but tries to quiet her again. She's probably asking the Unown to play.

[behindblueskin]

After getting bopped by Unowns, continuing on down the corridor is pretty uneventful. There's no Spiritombs to be heard, or Smeargles painting walls, but there's still Yamasks and Goletts wandering about. Unlike the Unown they seem much more aware of their surroundings, and move out of their way to let Keldor pass. Though when it gets wider it's Keldor who makes way, much to the surprise and appreciation of the pokemon [maybe getting caught by him wouldn't be so bad, they figure].

This goes on for roughly half an hour, until light can be seen up ahead. It's coming from the ceiling where the roof caved in centuries ago. There's also what looks like a pokemon, stumbling about and crying out; clearly in pain.

Poor thing. It needs help. Now.

"Easy. Easy."

Keldor approaches cautiously, knowing that injured animals are known to lash out to defend themselves.

[crystalmaster]

Radley smiles at his consideration.

When the injured Pokemon appears, Radley and Evie come to attention, worried.

"Eevee?!"

"Is it badly hurt?" Radley frowns.

[behindblueskin]

Turns out the poor creature is a Stantler. With gentle words he manages to calm it to get a good look at it.

The fur is singed. It must've been in a battle and got burned.

"Easy..."

Pause.

"Not too badly. But I may need to take it to the Researcher's Office to see if anyone can help it more.

But first, he's rummaging for some Aspear berries to give to the Stantler.