Duel 02 // Video // Violet City

[princelyspirit]

Steady, steady...

[The camera swerves and shakes, and glimpses of one of Violet City's inn rooms can be seen as it slows down]

There! Perfect!

[And soon it focuses in on a teenage girl, sitting crosslegged and barefoot on a bed, her back against the wall. She's dressed a lot like a cyclist - if cyclists wore red instead of pink, that is]

Alright, so. [Takes a deep breath] I've been slacking off a little - okay, no, I've been slacking off a lot since I came here. But, I think it's time to start doing more. To get out and actually see this place. And for that, I need to start training - both myself, and my pokemon.

But... there's one thing.

[She waves her hand, and the camera sweeps over to a Kakuna resting upright against the pillows. It zooms in and the Kakuna twitches... right before it flops over and falls on its side. Utena sighs and catches it before it can roll off the mattress, and sets to putting it back upright]

I have no idea what I'm going to do about her. I mean, these bug things are supposed to evolve pretty quickly, right? But it feels like she's been stuck in this cocoon for forever. I'm not going to take her to the gym with me, so maybe it doesn't matter, but...I don't know, I can't help but worry a little-

[And there's a light "paff" as the Kakuna falls over. Again.]

...anyway, if anyone has any advice, that would be great. For Kakuna over here, or the Violet City Gym.

[And she picks her up again, right before the camera cuts off.]

Comments

[video]

[atrueheroine]

It really depends on your Pokemon. If they've decided they don't want to evolve, you're out of luck.

[[It's a rather blunt way of putting things but Page has never been one to mince words, particularly when it comes to important information. The sight of the Violet Inn's rooms was what drew her to this girl and her message; she'd never stayed there herself (can't justify the expense, and besides; she's used to camping out in what some would consider less-than-civilized conditions) but she did have a wander through when she first arrived and was contemplating the place. Anything involving Violet City is a good thing, in her eyes.]]

It could just be a matter of trying to discern what it is about evolution that's putting her off, presuming she's reached the appropriate level for it. As for the Gym...well, I wouldn't mind some advice myself, so I'm afraid I can't help you there.

[video]

[princelyspirit]

[Her face is a lot closer than it was before - it looks like she's doing her own camera work now]

Don't worry about it - to be honest, I'm more concerned about Kakuna right now. Anyway, I think she's the right level, but what would be so bad about evolution? I mean, one of my other pokemon evolved a few weeks ago, and she didn't seem to have any trouble with it at all.

[video]

[atrueheroine]

Think about it; would you want your body to transform itself in a way that isn't reversible? If you don't like what it changes into, you're rather stuck.

[[Really, it's a rather scary thought. One of her Pokemon is coming close to his evolution level and she's starting to worry.]]

Although I have read that Pokemon who delay their evolution will have a more varied movepool than those who don't, so I suppose you could consider that somewhat of a perk.

[video]

[princelyspirit]

[Shudders]

Good point. Still, any form's got to be better than the one she's got now. She can't walk, she can't play, she can barely move... it's like she's trapped in this big, giant shell. I just don't know how she can be happy like this.

But...well, if what you said is right, then do you think that could be it? Like, maybe she's waiting to learn something else before she moves on.

[friendyousohard]

Well, even if she were fully evolved, bringing a bug type to a flying-type gym like Violet's would be a pretty bad idea. Still, it is kind of worrisome that she's been stuck in a cocoon form for so long... maybe she's afraid of the outside? Or what she'll become when she evolves...

[princelyspirit]

[When she replies, there's a small frown on her face - which is much closer now, by the way. It looks like she's taken over camera work for the time being]

I know, I know. I was just going to leave her behind, but, well...

[looks a bit sheepish] I've been doing that a lot lately. At least, I have been, ever since she evolved the last time. I'm not sure why she'd be afraid, but-

[squirms in her seat, guilt obvious on her face]

Do you think that could have anything to do with it? Being left behind, I mean.

[friendyousohard]

Hmmm... there's a distinct possibility. Particularly if you were more attentive to her before her first evolution. She might be thinking that you don't like her anymore because she changed, and be afraid of what might happen if she does it again.

Though I should point out that I'm only speculating, here. Fluttershy's a lot better at figuring out Pokemon moods and the causes of them than I am.

video

[3_butterflies]

Um.... I could try talking to Kakuna, and ask why she won't evolve... if you want to, that is...

video

[princelyspirit]

Wait, you can talk to pokemon? [Looks impressed! Surprised, but impressed] That's pretty amazing - I mean, I've heard of people who can do that, but I've never really seen it in action before. If you can do that and figure out what the problem is...

[smiles at the camera]

I'd appreciate it, really.

video

[3_butterflies]

[She nods slowly, shyly hiding behind some of her pink hair - hey, they match!]

I could talk to animals back home, and it stayed with me here... I can give it a try... if Kakuna is up to talking... A-and I like talking to Pokemon, too...

video;

[comeatmibro]

It's pretty hard to level cocoons, dude. I mostly don't bother with bug Pokémon. Godzilla-bro had a cocoon stage, too, but I basically skipped it.

But if you send your Kakuna out at, like, the beginning of a battle, then call it back and win the battle with something else, it'll help it grow levels faster.

video;

[princelyspirit]

[Grumbles] Yeah, well, it's not like I knew that when I caught her. Anyway, I don't think leveling's the problem here, or at least, it's not the only problem. According to the Dex, she's been like this for about... eight levels, I think? I don't know if that's normal or not, but it feels like it's been dragging on more than it should.

video;

[comeatmibro]

Huh. There's only three levels between Weedle and Beedrill. Maybe she just doesn't wanna evolve. I've got a Slowpoke who isn't evolving.

[video]

[idlewanderlust]

Oh my... I'm afraid I don't have any real advice regarding Kakuna... Mine evolved right away! Though he was a good deal larger than any other I've seen.

[video]

[princelyspirit]

Really? Well...

[Suddenly, idea!]

Hey! You don't happen to have yours with you, do you? Someone else mentioned that she might be scared of what's coming next, and... well, if I can take a look at yours, maybe I can figure out what the problem is.

[video]

[idlewanderlust]

Hm? Oh, certainly! Just a moment...

*There is some rustling about off camera as she digs out her Pokeball, before a bright flash fills the screen! A brief smile from Azusa later, and she moves to one side to reveal......

A Very Large four foot Beedrill with a snazzy red scarf around his neck. He buzzes loudly at the camera in greeting.*

This is Yamato. He's been with me ever since I caught him between Cherrygrove and Violet~

[used_realtears]

Maybe she likes it in there... [Pause] Oh! I know! I could show her-[he stops] No, wait. Piikayu isn't here... [He slumps again]

[princelyspirit]

[...she's not in the best mood, but she doesn't want to see some kid bummed out about this, either. So, she puts on a smile, hoping that that will help a little]

I guess that cocoon does look pretty cozy, doesn't it? But, who's Piikayu? Is he a friend of yours?

[used_realtears]

No, Piikayu's a girl! She used to look like that, so I thought I could show her what she could turn into. Maybe then she'd want to evolve!

But Piikayu disappeared when I left this place...

[papasmellslikethis]

Sometimes it's just best to let them work at their own pace, hmm? She doesn't look unhappy, at least.

[ Though, it's a little hard to tell... ]

[princelyspirit]

She doesn't look unhappy because she doesn't have a face. Or at least, it's not much of a face...

You have a point, though. I don't want to push, really, I just want to make sure that she's all right in there. It's kind of hard to tell sometimes.

[OOC: Sorry for dropping that old thread with Charles and Winry, by the way. That was pretty flaky of me]

[papasmellslikethis]

Some creatures express with their whole bodies. And I've heard Pokemon can talk to each other. So have one of your others ask her?


[[ ooc: no worries! c: it happens ]]

[video]

[grapecape]

You're not the only one.

[Metapod on the feed! His...eyes....seem to be closed. Lazy, lazy metapod.]

Henry wasn't particularly motivated before his first evolution, but since then it's been difficult to help him grow even with the switch-in method.

[video]

[princelyspirit]

[wow, and she thought Kakuna was bad... She gives him a sympathetic look as she replies]

Yeah... it seems like these guys are pretty tough to train no matter what. But, is he just taking a long time to level up, or is he just flatout refusing to evolve?

[video]

[grapecape]

Mmmm. Do you know a psychic Pokemon that could ask him?