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

[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.