victory_road | First Report [video]

[ In one of the Paldea dorms, there is a young preteen girl sitting at a desk, having set up the device to look at her. Her expression isn't... much, and her voice sounds flat. As she begins to speak, she repeatedly taps her fingers on the desk - those who have any knowledge of morse code will understand what she's "saying" there the same things she's speaking out loud. ]

This is a distress signal, calling for Scrooge McDuck or any one of his many... many... many associates. S.O.S. Violet Sabrewing reporting. I haven't been able to deduce if this kidnapping and subsequent hideous transformation is the work of any remaining members of F.O.W.L. or one of Mister McDuck's many... many... many enemies. Regardless, I will stay in place until further information is gathered about my situation and will appreciate a rescue post-haste. My fathers know that whenever I sleep over at Webbigail's, things tend to happen, but this may too much for them to handle.

Speaking of which - Webbigail, Lena, if you're hearing this, rest assured I am currently safe, albeit possibly traumatized by my transmogrification. I look forward to seeing you both as soon as possible. Dewford, Hubert, and Llewellyn, I trust the three of you to keep those two from going into homicidal revenge mode.

[ A pause, and then she moves to grab something from beneath the table... it's an Espurr! She props it on the table.]

On a less distressing note, any ideas on how to convince my fathers to let me keep this strange magic cat would be highly appreciated. I have named him Loki, after the Norse God of trickery. Say hello, Loki.

[ Loki says nothing, and just stares into the camera. o_o ]

Once again, this is Violet Sabrewing, over and out.

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[ It does take a few tries to grab her attention, and she does see him, she jerks, startled - not so much by him, but what he is now. Man, why did the transformations here have to be so hideous? ]

My apologies, Hubert. It is going to take some time to adjust to your new look.

[ She shuffles off her throne and stands - still feels weird doing that without tailfeathers! - and brushes herself down before addressing him again. ]

Let's not waste any time and head for the track. I was not exaggerating when I told you how earnest I was to see what you have collected. My imagination is working overtime to even grasp what you could possibly have.

[ and here comes Espurr, toddling along. don't forget me! ]

I understand. It took me quite a while to get used to it myself. According to Louie there's a few that have gone through drastic transformations, though the majority here seem to come from their own worlds where this is the default appearance.

[As he's talking he's leading her to one of the double doors at the back of the large library space that makes up the academy's entrance. That leads to the track field, an expansive study-and-work area. Specifically he walks with her to one side where there's a small set up of seating by a couple of trees.]

So! Let me introduce my Pokemon to you. We'll start with Snow, the second partner I acquired. [And out of the Pokeball comes a Quaxwell, who almost immediately starts brushing off his feathers and getting all Sorted Out.] His species is Quaxwell, and he is a middle stage Pokemon.

Some, though not all, have "evolutions," which similar to the conventional idea but on a much quicker time table. That's one of the similarities I was discussing earlier- even Pokemon vastly different from each other in every way will share the fact that they can evolve in new forms.

Snow in particular- [Who looks up at his name, posing after a moment.] -is a two stage Pokemon. He started as a much smaller duck species known as Quaxly, and has one more stage to go before he is considered "fully evolved."

Your own Espurr, if I remember correctly, will have a single stage evolution, but not without its own particularities. Espurr is a Pokemon whose final form will depend on what biological gender they are.

[ Whole worlds that look like this? It's stomach-churning to imagine!

But now it's time for true learning! Violet has whipped out a notepad and pencil and already furiously starting jotting down observational notes the second Snow entered the scene. She even gets down on one knee for a better examination, nodding along to Huey's detailed lecture. She might need several notepads at this rate.

Though she will stop when it's time to discuss her own monster. She looks at Loki the Espurr, who just stands at her side doing its usual o_o ]

... I can't be entirely sure what gender it is, nor what signs to look for to indicate which. But seeing as I did name him after a male Norse God, I felt inclined towards the masculine identity for them, perhaps for emotional reasons over logical.

[ She'll give Loki a few scritches before the Ted Talk goes on. ]

According to what I've read here, these creatures evolve in many ways, but the most common way is by battling one another. I must admit, hearing that pet-fighting was such a staple of this world was rather unnerving when I first learned it. But they... enjoy it? As one would play-wrestling?

I have to admit that threw me a bit at first too, but I think that play-wrestling is an apt analogy.

[He spends a moment watching Snow, then goes for another Pokeball and releases his second teammate, a Vaporeon, as he's talking.]

It's its own sport here, somewhere between play-wrestling and the idea of a mage's duel. Contests of strategy and strength, of type match-ups and ideal moves. All Pokemon benefit from the battling system and it's extremely rare for them to get seriously injured in a way that potions and healing hubs known as Pokemon Centers can't fix. And indeed, while levelling up from training is the main way most Pokemon evolve, there are others! Darwin here is the perfect example of that.

[While Huey had been going on the two Pokemon had been conversing. Then Darwin heard his name and strolled over, sitting in front of Huey and receiving a head scruffle between the fins.]

There's a Pokemon known as Eevee who, unlike most, has the potential for many different evolutions of different methods. Three, Jolteon, Flareon, and Vaporeon, which is this one, are "stone evolutions," where exposure to a magically charged stone will induce the evolution. For many Pokemon such as that, they can often cease learning moves naturally. Eevee is unique in that it changes type completely upon evolution, and continues learning new moves!

Many Pokemon also have several unique moves or abilities. Vaporeon can outright melt away into surrounding water and disappear entirely, boosting its defense and evasion.

[ Violet is writing things down so quick and fervently, it's really a wonder the pencil and notebook don't catch fire. Look how far down the pencil is already being whittled due to how much information she's jotting down! She doesn't dare interrupt, lest she miss a single detail, so she waits until Huey's finished before any furth inquiries. ]

My astoundment continues to grow, and it may never stop at this rate. What a wondrous experience. This is one of the few times I've become naturally envious of you, Hubert.

[ Which implies that there was something about him she envied before??? ]

As you may well know, magic is one of my favorite areas of study, due to how expansive and far-reaching it is, going past the possible and making new ground despite most logic and scientific breaches. To think that it will be a part of my day-to-day life here makes me pleased beyond measure.

[He's nodding enthusiastically right along as she speaks. One does not associate with Scrooge McDuck for more than five minutes without coming out the other end with a healthy respect, nay, admiration for magic and its infinite intricacies.]

Well in me you will find a faithful steward into the world of Pokemon! And where my information is lacking, I can certainly hope that we'll be able to ferret it out together. Two investigative souls, back to back in the depths of research! Unraveling the greatest mysteries of the Pokemon world!

Naturally. With our combined mental prowess and determination, all the mysteries of this world shall be unlocked with very little to stand in our way.

[ ... Oh. An idea. One she's very glad to share. ]

... And if there is any way to bring this documented knowledge to our home world, we may earn our own place in the Junior Woodchuck Guidebook. Perhaps they could even create new badges in dedication of this momentous event.

[Hold please, there's enough stars in his eyes to make a whole new set of constellations out of.

Okay, there we go.]

All the more reason to do as much research as possible! There will be no stone left unturned, between the two of us!

Naturally. We shall be an unstoppable force, the likes of which this world has never seen.

[ She smiles, pleased beyond measure to be here with her friends, and it even manages to show in her voice, just a bit.

~~My, Hubert can be quite adorable.~~ ]

First Report [video]

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