Une première

[etranger]

Oh look, there's flower petals drifting on the breeze.

Lots and lots of them.

If you were to follow this baffling profusion of petals back to their source, you'd see...well, it appears to be a Lilligant and her trainer dancing together. They are surrounded by huge piles of petals, which a Sigilyph is telekinetically playing with, forming into spirals and swooping shapes in an airborne mimicry of the dancing partners below.

So! Now what do you do?

Comments

[archer_flower_ix]

"Oh, I see. I really do need to travel a little more someday, I think. I had no idea there were Pokemon like this in Unova." She inclined her head at the Lilligant, smiling. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Aeris."

[etranger]

Aeris trills pleasantly in response. It's nice to meet someone so pleasant. Mako, meanwhile, is looking at your pokemon.

"I recognize the Tangela, but what's that one with the bulb? I've never seen one of those before."

[archer_flower_ix]

"Oh, Roderick is a Bulbasaur. I suppose if you're from Unova I shouldn't be surprised you haven't seen one before. They're fairly rare even in Kanto. Roderick!"

The Bulbasaur trundles over, still chewing on a petal, and lowers his head in imitation of Erika's nod earlier.

[etranger]

Aeris trills again, and Mako nods in greeting.

Looking between the pokemon again, Mako recalls the attention you paid to Aeris and considers.

"Are you a Grass specialist?"

[archer_flower_ix]

Erika laughed softly. "I suppose I gave myself away, didn't I? Yes, I am. I run the Gym in Celadon City. I don't battle as much here, though."

She reaches out a hand, and one of the Tangela's vines curls around it as he approaches. "What about you? You don't seem like a specialist, not looking at these two."

[etranger]

Slight shrug.

"When I was a kid, I wanted to be a Dark specialist like my dad."

Standing up, brushing some petals off. Nostalgic smile.

"The first Gym I challenged convinced me otherwise - they always use whatever you're weak against."

Another shrug.

"If I hadn't gotten a Grass type I would probably still be challenging Cress."

[archer_flower_ix]

"Really? I've never heard of a Gym that does that before. It's certainly an interesting idea, though."

Let's see... first Gym, so probably gone to shortly after first getting a Pokemon. Knowing the sorts that Professors tend to give out, if Cress's Pokemon are weak to Grass and he was using a type hers was weak against... "I'm guessing you started with a Fire-type, then?"

[etranger]

With a nod, Mako holds up a pokeball.

"I'd introduce him, but...probably not prudent."

A slight shrug and nod towards the giant mass of highly flammable petals.

Placing the pokeball back in the slot, she reaches into her bag and draws out a bottle of water, which is opened and poured near Aeris' roots. The Lilligant trills happily.

[archer_flower_ix]

"Mm, fair enough. I'm a bit curious really; I don't know very much about Unova. It's so much farther away even than Sinnoh... I'm surprised you recognized Keith, honestly. The, ah, Tangela," she adds, realizing she neglected to introduce him.

Keith is currently waddling off after Roderick, who's ambling off among the piles again. Erika isn't too concerned; she knows she can trust him to keep an eye on the little Bulbasaur.

[etranger]

Shrug.

"There are wild Tangela up near Lacunosa Town, actually."

Drawing out a map from her bag and tracing a C-shape on it.

"This part of Unova is actually filled with Pokemon from other regions."

[archer_flower_ix]

"Oh, really?" Erika leans over to look at the map. "That's interesting... We mostly just have the Safari Zone in Kanto. Well, it's in Johto, now, but still. There's some concern about invasive species, so they're usually careful to keep them inside the area."

[etranger]

A nod as she studies the map.

"The two bridges here and here sort of act as a natural barrier - this area is kind of a quarantine zone."

Pause.

"There's a research center near here" - indicating the bottom of the crescent - "that studies pokemon from foreign regions. I'm pretty sure they're in charge of keeping the wild pokemon from spreading too far."

[archer_flower_ix]

"Ah, I see. That makes sense."

Erika regards the map a little wistfully. It's been a long time since she's traveled, not counting her time here on the island. "I think I'll have to visit someday. Once I get home, of course."

[etranger]

Smiling.

"When you visit, I can show you around! I'll show you all the Grass types you can only find in Unova."

[archer_flower_ix]

Beaming!

"I'd be delighted! I'm afraid I've been running behind in that regard..."