Welcome/Welcome back, you crazy diamonds!

[spiritcrystal]

[An island! This is most certainly not where everyone was just a few moments ago. ...Alright, maybe some of you were on an island. Don't get cheeky.

At everyone's feet is a small note. It gives no description of their location or explanation, of course; it only says one simple thing.

Please choose one.

The note comes along with three Pokéballs with different "starter" Pokémon in them- the three Pokémon can be anything, from a Froakie, Charmander, and Treecko to a Rattata, Patrat, and Bidoof if you're particularly unlucky- and everything in between. If it's not a legendary Pokémon, it's fair game.

Of course, you can only pick one! Trying to go for a second will leave you thinking that you better not get too greedy. If you're one of those types that wouldn't care either way, the other two Pokéballs will simply disappear.

Now go forth, and into a world of Pokémon!]

Comments

2/2

[reflecttype]

[NOW GO FOoh wait this sure is not coumarine city uh]

...Oh...oh my.

[Let's call out Kecleon so he can fuss and worry and let it all out instead of sitting in his Pokeball fretting all day. Shh, yes, we're fine, honey. C'mon, let's figure out what's going on.]

[tidaldrum]

[Oooh, Kecleon. Hi there, friend. Let this really cool thirteen year old swagger on up, followed by his giant crocogator feraligatr why.]

It'll be easier to figure out what's up if you don't panic.

[He's ... a little confused (really confused to be honest) and a little concerned, but Kanto and Johto didn't hold much for him in ways of a challenge. A new place though... With new trainers... Maybe he could lose.

But he'd definitely win.]

[reflecttype]

[So cool.]

That's a good idea. [She nods in earnest, and her Kecleon goes klaaa and stares in distress at Ethan, as though beaming to him his thoughts of no you don't understand this is a wonderful opportunity for panicking]

Everything seems alright, doesn't it? It's a little strange, but I'm sure we'll be fine. [Pat pat. There, there, you fidgety lizard.] Have you discovered any clues?

[tidaldrum]

Not really. It's just an island, and there's a lot of us in the same boat. [His best friend, some scrawny ten year olds, this official looking lady in front of him... Among other things.] It kind of forced a Pokémon onto me though.

[...A Happiny, actually, but he's not going to say that. It's small and pink and round. It's more of Lyra's style.]

[reflecttype]

...You know, I think the same thing happened to me. [regards new Pokeball with bemusement.] Maybe it's a good omen. Nothing bad ever comes of making a new Pokemon friend.

[tidaldrum]

I guess. [he's still not totally sold on it.] I just hope it won't be too upset that I won't actually use it in battle.

[reflecttype]

Mm, that usually depends. But I wouldn't worry - there's all kinds of ways to bond with Pokemon. What kind of Pokemon did you get?

[tidaldrum]

[UH.]

...A Happiny. [Rare? Sure! On his list of things he'd consider using? Nnnot really.] She's really cute and wouldn't stop crying unless I picked her.

[reflecttype]

She must be very happy to be with you. [no judgment here, kid] Do you not usually raise Normal-types?

[spiritcrystal]

[--!! An adult!

She and her new partner come to greet her! She's not sure what this grass type thing is- or if he's even a grass type- but he looks big enough to ride on and is pretty cute. She looks a little like a Stantler, doesn't she?]

Hi!

[reflecttype]

[A kid! A trainer, looks like. That's good. Delairea pats her chittering Kecleon on the head, smiling serenely.]

Hello there. Oh - if you're looking for a battle, I'm sorry. I'm a little lost, actually. [She knows how young trainers are. Hopefully this one is more in the know than she is.]

[spiritcrystal]

[Oh man, they don't get to battle first? -Wait no, that's okay! They're in a weird place and weird stuff is going on.]

Me too. I was hoping you knew what was going on, or maybe what my buddy is.

[Said buddy trots around her in a circle. She's full of energy...]

[reflecttype]

[Ah? Ah!] Oh, that's a Skiddo. They're Grass-type Pokemon from the Kalos region. You must not be from there?

[spiritcrystal]

Nope. Never heard of it. Does it have lots of new Pokémon like Ski...Skiddo? [Yeah, she said it--!]

[reflecttype]

Some of the Pokemon that live there are ones I've never seen anywhere else - but I've also heard that it's one of the world's most diverse regions. Where are you from?

[spiritcrystal]

Johto. I'm working on a Pokédex for Professor Oak! I guess I'll have to go to this Kalos place one day if I want to finish it. [If it's got all kinds of Pokémon like that, then she's gotta check it out. Right?]

[reflecttype]

[Whoa now] ...The Professor Oak from Kanto?

[spiritcrystal]

The one and only!

[reflecttype]

And you're working on the Pokedex? [Delairea's smile rapidly goes from "serene" to "enthused".] It's an honor to meet one of his assistants. The Pokedex is really an incredible project that's revolutionized Pokemon studies - Professor Oak is something of a rising legend in the field.

[She holds out her hand to shake] I apologize for not introducing myself sooner! My name's Professor Delairea.

[spiritcrystal]

My name's Kris! I'm from New Bark Town in Johto. [Gotta be polite! She'll definitely shake this this cool new Professor's hand. Professor Delairea. Got it. She can remember that.]

Do you do anything with the Pokédexes, Professor? [...Maybe she can upgrade hers--! Yeah! Right, right--?]

[reflecttype]

No..not directly, but data from some of my research has been used in recent upgrades, I believe - some information on a handful of moves I've been studying. From my understanding, much of the Pokedex's framework content is aggregated from researchers like myself, so a lot of us contribute without being fully involved in the project.

[spiritcrystal]

[Recent upgrades. Like hers?]

What kinda moves?

[reflecttype]

[GLAD YOU ASKED] There's quite a few, all with incredible effects. For example, there's Freeze-Dry, which in most respects is a normal Ice-type attack...except that instead of dealing little damage against Water-types, it's exceptionally effective against them! And the move Flying Press, which behaves as though it has both Fighting- and Flying-type attributes! Some of the moves being studied in Kalos really change the way we think about Pokemon types.