pokedrifting | The Grand Opening

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event: mingle

The Grand Opening

[A large WELCOME sign is hanging from the buildings when you walk into Levanta Town, but that seems to be the only sign that today is any different than any other day. The villagers are simply going about their daily business. However, if they are approached they are more than happy to explain the region as well as they can to any new arrivals.

Welcome to Levanta Town in The Drifting Land!]

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[Trainers are ridiculous. Does yours walk into people's houses to make friends, too?]

As much as anyone else is, ha. I'm from Nuvema Town, south of Accumula and pretty far away from any of the big cities. I'm guessing you're not either?

[no, but she writes novels about real Gym Leaders from far-off regions. A bit stranger.]

Ah, so you're from the Unova region as well, then! [that would be a 'no, I am not from here, either.']

If you're from Nuvema Town, this sort of village should be rather familiar, shouldn't it? Would you mind describing how you felt upon arriving here?

[That is pretty strange.]

Let's see... I guess it feels kind of like home, except not really? I've met one of my best friends I grew up with here, but we've still got no idea what we could be floating on top of. Our best guess is Unova itself, since this place has a shrine dedicated to Landorus and all. Stouts here doesn't like this place too much though, but he's never been comfortable with new places or meeting new people.

As for the actual landing... I can't really remember it. I was heading down to the Relic Castle in that desert off of Nimbasa City, but I kind of appeared here instead. The locals are really nice though, they even put up a sign for us!

[Trainers talk too much, Stoutland thinks. Shut up Hilbert.]

I figure there might be a ton of strong trainers to battle and make friends with, so this'll be my training place so I can beat N and his friends.

[Writing all of this down! It's kind of... almost illegible, though, since she's writing rather fast. She can read it, that's what matters. And it is totally okay with Shauntal that he talks a lot, it gives her more material to work with (so does seeing how Stoutland is behaving)]

The locals do seem friendly, which is wonderful in this sort of situation. It would be difficult to turn the page on all of our adventures if they were hostile.

[N, though, N is a name she remembers hearing of.]

You plan on training in order to defeat N?

Yeah.

[He's a bit more serious now, a frown in place of his smile, and Stoutland stands strong. One of them's gotta be, since his trainer's kind of hesitant in his duty.]

That guy... I understand his intentions and I agree with some of what he says, but I just can't accept that all Pokémon have to be split from their trainers if they don't want to be. He'd get hurt too, if he did that, since he'd have to leave all the friends he made behind. Last time I saw him, he was heading for the Pokémon League with the intent to beat Alder. So I've got to beat him. If I train with my friends, then I'll get strong enough to show him that his misguided thinking's just going to hurt everyone and no one'll be happy. Not humans, not Pokémon.

[... Some drama for your story, Shauntal?]

[Yes, yes, yes, this is all very good. Especially the part about Pokemon, since Trainers and Pokemon together make the best stories. There is a lot of potential in this! She's silent for a moment after Hilbert is done talking, making sure she's written everything she needed down.]

In other words, clash of ideals: one side favoring separation, the other favoring togetherness, both looking out for the best interests of Pokemon and humans, as well.

I suppose as a Trainer, one would be naturally predisposed against Team Plasma's teachings about releasing Pokemon, but only those that truly care for their partners can admit that they understand Team Plasma's point of view, flawed as the overall picture might be.

[Oooh, what a compliment. He nods, tipping his hat in front of his face in embarrassment at talking so much and so boldly to a lady he doesn't even know.]

Sounds about right, though I think anyone could come to realize that Team Plasma's not all that bad, or at least that they're not doing it to be against anyone. They're just looking out for creatures we don't usually think about in that way, if they really want to be caught and all. And with the Pokédex, filling it up without thought for the ones we capture. [Petting Stouts, he's good now.] I guess. That's what I think about it, anyway.

What're you writing all this down for, if you don't mind me asking?

[Though she does notice Hilbert's embarrassment (and might have noted it down as a character trait: the modest hero, standing up for his Pokemon), Shauntal doesn't comment on it.]

Oh, of course not! I'm a novelist, you see. I find writing about the relationship between Pokemon and their Trainers to be one of the most fascinating subjects there is, and in a place like this, there's bound to be plenty of inspiration for new novels! I would normally obtain this sort of inspiration from challengers, but it doesn't seem as if the epilogue of this new adventure will come anytime soon.

Oh, that's cool! I'm Hil-- [You gotta finish it, Hilbert. You already started it you've got to finish it. So much for having a new name.] Uh, Hilbert. I've never met a novelist before. What sort of challengers do you get?

I tend to get challengers from all sorts of places across Unova. I've never met two Trainers with the same team and story behind their success! Challengers do tend to be few and far between, however, which I suppose is just as well. It gives me time to finish up older novels before starting anew.

It's a pleasure to meet you, though, Hilbert. My name is Shauntal, the Ghost-type specialist of Unova's Elite Four.

[-- Elite Four!?

Sorry Hilbert's kind of floored. Wow. Huh. Talking to one of the most powerful trainers in Unova, yup. Meeting Alder was one thing, but he never thought he'd meet one of the Elite Four outside the League itself. Stoutland's just as shocked. Why didn't you tell him, Chandelure!?]

Scratch what I said, it's an honor to meet you! My mom likes reading your novels a ton, and I'm actually really, you know, what's the word... Stunned! I'm stunned to meet a member of the Elite Four! Excited, too! Though I guess you could probably tell that, huh? Uh, yeah. [Almost makes him want to ask her to battle but no let's not you don't even think you're ready for N, much less the Elite Four.]

[Chandelure thought it didn't matter. Elite Four or not, she will forever take notes on other Trainers. It's nothing to make too big of a deal out of, which also happens to be Shauntal's opinion. This sort of reaction is something she hasn't seen in a while, since most times she's been around other, non-Elite Four Trainers and the like recently, it's either been at book events, or at league challenges. So really, she finds it pretty amusing, in a good way, of course.]

It's rather difficult to miss with that sort of response, I'd say. Your mother reads my novels, though? Does she enjoy them? I don't suppose you've ever read one yourself, have you? [because fans of her writing are just as fun, too, okay.]

[Oh he'll be over it soon, give him a few minutes. Heh. It's just-- Yeah. So exciting. The cream of the crop! It makes him feel giddy and kind of stupid for rambling. He's very much a chatterbox if he gets nervous.]

She orders them the moment she can from Castelia City, since it doesn't exactly come into print in Nuvema Town. I can't say I've ever sat down and read any sort of book, but I wouldn't mind checking out the one you're writing now once you're done.

[One day, you too can be the elite four! Or some sort of encouraging speech like that. If that were Shauntal's thing, anyway, which it isn't.]

That's understandable. Nuvema Town is rather far from the major publishers in Unova. When I've finished with this novel, however, I'll be sure to let you know! I'll even reserve a copy for you, if you would like!

[Well, he wouldn't mind doing that, but he'd rather just live and learn with Pokémon. No big dreams like Cheren.]

That'd be swell! Thanks, Shauntal, just say the word and I'll help out with it too. [Inspirations or otherwise!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The Grand Opening

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