Monster Art Online (IC)

[Retro Bug]

Fara O'Shay
Cherrygove City

Fara looked over her shoulders and saw a Trainer approaching her, which meant she had to think fast. If she was going to work her magic she needed to know if he was a player or a NPC. There was a menu that could be brought up but she didn't really want to because she preferred to take it on herself. On Route 30 there were said to a lot of wild Pokemon that attacked without warning but that was just a rumor. The usefulness of the player/NPC would be determined later on but for now she just needed him as a shield.

"Excuse me, are you going to Mr. Pokémon's house?" The Trainer was far cuter than what she noticed from her earlier glance. He was scrawny, not much of a physical threat and despite his glasses she had the feeling he wasn't much of a intelligent threat either. She quickly came upon the conclusion that he needed a haircut but she doubted it was possible to get one at this point in the game.

"Yeah, but I think I'm lost?" Slowly she tucked her hands into her pockets. "Want to walk together?"

Her Nidoran grew restless in her arms, which meant his poisonous barbs swung every which way almost pricking Fara in the arm. As soon as the hold she had on him loosen he leapt from her arms onto the ground and growled at the Pokemon that fluttered around the other player's shoulder.

"I'm sorry, he's usually not like this! Anyway, we should get going if you know the way?" She voiced another question but this time it came off more confident rather than the innocent tone she used earlier. It was an annoying process to get into this weak, timid persona and sometimes she slipped up or forgot to act in the "right" way. Perhaps if the avatar had blonde hair it might've been easier for her to remember.

[Skymin]

<<BiRDiE>> // Cherrygrove City
"Yeah, but I think I'm lost? Want to walk together?" The girl asked, tucking her hands into her pockets. Now that he could see her face, she was quite... well, beautiful was how he would put it. She seemed around the same age as real-life Sophie but far more attractive, with her dark skin, dark eyes and dark hair. The only thing that confused Birdie was that although her appearance, her clothes (high heels? In a game where you had to do a lot of walking?) and her atmosphere screamed strong, independent and confident, her attitude seemed the opposite. Maybe the person behind the avatar was actually a young girl or something. It didn't matter too much, Birdie would have helped her out regardless.

"Sure," Birdie smiled, nodding politely. Her Nidoran seemed to disagree though, jumping from her arms to growl at Todo. Todo didn't do much but stare (stare? Could he stare? He had no eyes...) back down at the Nidoran. Did he have an aggressive personality? Birdie made a nervous face and stepped back from the Nidoran, afraid it might pounce or attack despite Todo's calm demeanour. He wasn't sure about the PvP rules in this game. Did they have to initiate a battle or did it just... happen? "Uuh... heh?"

"I'm sorry, he's usually not like this! Anyway, we should get going if you know the way?"

"Yeah, I think so," Birdie kept his eyes on the Nidoran, looking back up to the girl, trying his best to keep his smile positive. When he was satisfied the Nidoran was not going to bite his face off, he stepped around it and slowly led the girl into Route 30. She seemed all too happy to follow him. "My name is Birdie, by the way."

It felt pretty weird leading the way for Birdie, being someone who always took orders and never gave them. Actually, something that had never occurred to Sophie was that now that she was a boy, did Birdie have to show the courtesies that Sophie received (or at least wished to receive)? Birdie kept forgetting that, yes, he was not the same gender as Sophie was in the real world, since it didn't really feel all that different. Apart from a slight shift in weight from the torso and something a little different on his lower half, Birdie felt completely normal.

The grass seemed not as far away as last time, though that might have been because Vinny spent his time trying to find those silly Berries. It felt just as scary but Birdie held onto his nerve. Like last time, he had someone with him! He took his first step a little more confidently but it didn't take six or so steps to find a Pokémon, it only took three.

"Gah!" this one was different from last time but at least he didn't fall over it. Instead of an angry Caterpie, a rather placid Hoothoot pecked at Birdie's feet. He took a step back and let Todo off his shoulder. He would try a strategy, like last time. "Okay Todo, use Supersonic!"

Todo let out a squeal at the Hoothoot, those eerie sound waves zipping through the air at the Hoothoot. It wasn't exactly like last time though; the owl lazily dodged it and sent its own waves at Todo. Wait, Hoothoot couldn't learn Supersonic... could it? Oh, wait!!

"Aah! Quick Todo, dodge it, dodge it!" Todo obeyed, darting away from the waves. Yeah, falling asleep right now would be bad. Since Todo was Birdie's only Pokémon, that would probably mean instant death. And instant death made Birdie want to run away very quickly right now. "Bite!!"

Todo attached its mouth onto the Hoothoot, making it cry very loudly in pain. It retaliated with a shake and launched itself at Todo, knocking him back. That must have been a Tackle! Dammit, how much health did Todo have? Birdie quickly brought up his menu to check his Pokémon stats and it seemed... that Todo was down about a third and Hoothoot just a little bit more than that. This was no time to mess around then. Birdie wanted to run away so bad but one, his legs were glued to the grass he stood on and two, if he ran away, maybe the Hoothoot would just follow them.

"Bite again, please!"

The Zubat mimicked his last move and the Hoothoot's health fell to the early red zone. This was when you threw the PokéBall, right? Birdie quickly selected it from his menu as the Hoothoot attacked again, Todo's health just hitting orange. Then, hardly thinking of aim or anything, Birdie pegged the ball at the owl, hitting it square in the chest. With a small hoot, it dissolved into a red light and was sucked into the ball.

Once... twice... three times... caught!

"I... I did it! We did it, Todo!!" Birdie grabbed his partner and hugged him as best as he could. A pop-up menu broke up their victory embrace, showing the stats and level and gender of the Hoothoot.

>>Would you like to give a nickname to your Hoothoot?

"Yes!" Birdie tapped in the first thing that came to his head.

K I M I

"Wow..." Birdie stared at his new Pokémon for a minute before he realised he was meant to be helping someone. "Oh, sorry. Would it... could I ask we go back to heal our Pokémon please... um, sorry, what was your name, miss?"

[Red's Hawt Chibi Pelippers]

K R I S S U
→ Route 30

"I'd be happy to join you... unless I'd weigh you down."

"Not at all," Krissu automatically said. But in reality, she guessed that she would move a lot faster on her own. Still, she would feel guilty to leave Ange all alone on this route. She'd be dead within a day, probably. "Let's go before it gets dark, then."

It was still early in the afternoon as Krissu and Ange walked north on Route 30. The landscape was pretty fascinating; clearly on par with anything she had ever seen before in a video game. To the east, large mountains were towering far away and around them were a rocky landscape with an abundance of forest. Krissu guessed it would only be a matter of time before they met more wild pokémon.

Suddenly, they came to what seemed to be a fork in the road. One way led strictly north still, with a decently walkable road and a few NPC trainers peeking out on the road ahead, probably wanting some battles if you locked eyes with them. The other path led into the forest, being on the wilder side. At least no trainers could be spotted there. But maybe they were just hiding. Why would the game fool the players like this? If you took the wrong turn, maybe you'd have to go all the way back again... sigh.

"Where do you think we should go?" Krissu asked Ange. Tentacool was since long back inside its pokéball and Litwick was out again, wobbling on just ahead of the pink haired trainer. "That path seems a lot more trustworthy." She pointed to the left and north. "But that path might... I don't know, but sometimes paths that look more difficult can be the easier ones. Because that's how some games like to do it. You said you hadn't played much games though?"

[Fuyu]

The Road Less Traveled...

Ange looked between the two paths, smiling at her Caterpie. The Pokemon was sitting rather placidly on her shoulder now, watching Krissu with its beady eyes. She smiled a little faintly, looking between the two paths with a resemblance of curiosity. Her Pokemon made an odd, curious sort of squeak and she giggled, poking what was probably her nose. "What do you think?" she asked the creature. As her partner tilted its head back and forth, Ange pondered the matter. Her Pokemon were rather tired... probably. So...

"Perhaps the rougher path..." she decided after a moment. The more difficult the journey, the more profitable reward. "The road less traveled by makes all the difference after all." She asked about the games again, making Ange hum in thought. As far as she knew, she had never played any game before. "Ah... no... no I have not." Was playing games like these normal for a child? She wondered if her parents had denied her of something... It would not surprise her if they did. Mother was... had been... rather strict on Angel... and had believed she could not do things others were capable of. A vexing event... now that she was here.

What would she be considering in her mind at this moment?

"Rather..." The girl added softly. "It is more that I have never played a game like this of any sort. It was impossible for me." As she said this, she chuckled, thinking of Benjy. Benjy, who thought nothing was impossible, who had given her this. "My friend... was the one who played." Was he up ahead... He probably was long gone really.

[Claire*]

Solomon

“Mr. Pokemon, I presume?” Solomon looked the man up and down, the answer already self evident in all reality. The cottage that housed the NPC had only been a short walk from where he had captured his new companion. His new feisty Hoothoot rested in its pokeball, still securely latched to the lining of his coat. It took him just a few seconds to come up with a name for the deviant. Moriarty, a reference to one of Solomon’s most beloved fictional characters. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous nemesis to the revered hero, Sherlock Holmes. For reasons Solomon couldn’t explain, the wise look of the owl and its malicious intent lent itself to the name.

“Why, yes! I am Mr. Pokemon. You’re the escort the Mayor sent, right?” The lifelike character shifted its weight and seemed almost as if it was uncomfortable. Solomon just really wanted to get this quest over with and move on towards Violet city. He rubbed his temples and ran a quick hand through his hair.

“Yes, I’m here to pick up the delivery. So if we could stop procrastinating, I’d like to get back underway.”

“Oh, of course.” Mr. Pokemon disappeared for a second and came back with the item in question. “Please make sure this gets back to the Mayor toot-sweet.” Handing the item to Solomon, he grabbed it swiftly and it disappeared into his inventory.

[You have received a Mystery Egg!]

Umbra was busy exploring the little abode, her curious nature causing her to stick her nose where it most certainly didn’t belong. She had climbed her way on top of a bookcase and perched in such a way so that she could look longingly at herself in a mirror. Vain little creature.

“Ok, Umbra, time to head back.” The sneasel sighed a little before climbing back down and waiting patiently for Solomon to open the door. Patience was hard for her, but she could use it every once and a while. “Actually, you know what,” Solomon stopped himself mid-sentence and pulled out Umbra’s pokeball. “Return.” Her little body disappeared into the now familiar beam of light, the world inside the pokeball awaited her. If there -was- a world inside a pokeball. Solomon guessed it was just the system’s way of hiding them from view, only to materialize when he recalled her. Stepping outside, he pulled out another identical ball, his new found bird rest inside it. “Moriarty, come.”

With a squawk, the Hoothoot burst forth from the ball, the first time it had been out since capture. Circling above for but a second, it landed a few feet from its new owner. Moriarty cocked his head as he searched Solomon apprasingly. What was he looking for? Solomon didn’t have the foggiest idea. Walking past the Hoothoot, he beckoned for him to follow as he made his way back through the route. “I’ve already had this discussion with Umbra,” he called out towards the Pokemon. “I’m Solomon, your new master. My word is law and expect that law to be upheld.” He knew that the system really prevented any disobedience from his captured Pokemon, but it still felt good to say.

Moriarty gave only a small hoot of acknowledgment, his bulbous eyes watching his owner as he walked. There was something malicious behind those innocent looking eyes, but Solomon had a hard time pegging it. Did each of these Pokemon have randomly generated personalities or were they crafted? He would have killed for a chance to see some of the code that went into making this masterpiece. It was a given that Pokemon received natures in the old games, but they felt so fleshed out here. Just like they were living breathing creatures. A quick check in the menu had revealed little Moriarty to have a “Naughty” nature. Quite fitting to what he had seen him display so far.

“Now, it shouldn’t be too far before we get to the Mayor, what do you say we do some training for you?” Swooping up to him and landing on his shoulder, Moriarty let out an excited screech at the prospect and began to look for his first target. Maybe the Hoothoot wouldn’t be as worthless as previously judged.

[Red's Hawt Chibi Pelippers]

K R I S S U
→ Route 30

"Impossible?" Krissu wondered how that could be so. She glanced carefully at the other girl. Maybe she had been very ill in real life or something. Too weak to hold a gaming control in her hands. Poor thing! Krissu couldn't imagine how boring her life would have been without games. She felt an immense thankfullness towards Monster Art Online all of a sudden, for giving kids like these a chance of experiencing the wonders of gaming... but then she remembered that they were really prisoners here. Malcolm's face floated across her mental lenses for a brief moment. It was not a wonder; it was hell.

"We'll take the rough road, then," she said and started walking. But very soon, she suddenly stepped on something strange. She looked down and saw a very angry, yellow worm stare up at her.

"I just stepped on a Weedle!" she said, backing up towards Ange. But she wasn't really afraid. Even though they were poisonous, she had an Antidote in her bag. And Litwick was fire type. It would be easy to...

The grass behind them was rustling. Krissu turned around to see a dozen more Weedle peek up from the tall grass. All looking angered.

"A... A swarm? Why here? Why now?" She took Ange's hand. "We'd better make a run for it, I only have one Antidote and we don't want to get poisoned ourselves, do we?" The rough path forward only had one Weedle. They should run north. Litwick blew out a flame behind them to slow the swarm of Weedle. "Ready?" Krissu asked the other girl.

((OOC: you can bunny Krissu now for a bit, if you like :) Just don't make her say stuff.))

[Fuyu]

Swarm...

Ange smiled at her companion's surprise. "Yes," she agreed softly. "At least that was what I was told." She wasn't horribly concerned by this notion as Krissu seemed to be. It was her life, as it were. "I could not precisely-" Kii let out a crooning sort of noise as Krissu abruptly ran back beside her. Ange looked to see a lot of angry yellow worms. Weedle, Krissu had called them. Well, she thought, rather huffily. They would be cute if they weren't quite so angry. Kii let out another irritable noise as he was jostled by Krissu grabbing his new trainer's arm.

"Ready," she had asked.

The redhead looked at her companion and nodded slowly, letting herself be lead along by this new friend. Kii screeched again as he was jostled before righting himself to face the Weedle swarm. He fired a String Shot, aiming the sticky thread towards the eye of the nearby Weedle.

"I wonder how profitable... this will be after all," Ange murmured as they ran, her eyes being drawn toward the gleaming horns atop their heads. "My... that will be nasty won't it?" She frowned at the lone Pokemon. "Maybe if we split up... and go around it, it won't know... who first?" It was a technique she knew people used... she knew it worked very well in some cases... like in the alleys.

"Hey come on, help us out!"

"Aw leave him, he's a stiff anyway. Just get the other guy and go."

"Benjy-"

"No way, I'm have fun. Go home you wuss."

She shook her head to clear it, listening behind her for the sound of many pods.

[Red's Hawt Chibi Pelippers]

K R I S S U
→ Route 30

"Split up?" Krissu didn't like the sound of that. Sure, she had decided to go on her own in MAO now, but she would not risk Ange getting a dangerous sting just because she didn't know how to fight the worms off properly. She glanced back at the girl who was just behind her. How could some worms run that fast? Maybe 'run' was the wrong word...

You should not look back when you run through a rough forest road. Krissu's feet suddenly didn't find ground anymore; she had run straight at a slope! Now she tumbled down a few meters and managed to think that she hoped Ange and Litwick had time to stop before they fell too - before she bumped into something that was neither a rock nor a tree. Rather a couple of legs.

"Ouch..." the pink haired girl groaned as she got up and put her hands on some bruises she had gotten. So MAO would even let your body trip and get bruised? Such a real world. Krissu looked up and was surprised to see that it was another trainer rather than a pokémon. A rather tall player with blonde hair and simple enough clothing. This would either mean that she had to battle him now, if it was an NPC. But there was always the chance that it was a player... Krissu had not her HUD turned on at the moment so she couldn't tell.

"I'm sorry!" she blurted out and stood up, hastily brushing some leaves and dirt from her white coat.

[Claire*]

Solomon

Complications. Life has a funny way of throwing complications your way. It wouldn’t have been much longer until he and his companions had reached Cherrygrove, the voyage almost wholly uneventful. Yet, life would never let such a thing be simply uneventful. Solomon and Moriarty had just polished off a battle against quite the spunky Caterpie. Moriarty proved victorious in the end of course, but Solomon would be lying if he didn’t give the little worm credit. It put up quite the fight. Maybe it had been an unusually high level for the area? It wasn’t uncommon for such an occurrence to happen. What followed, that -was- uncommon.

The event blindsided him quite honestly. He was just going his merry way, goal in sight. Suddenly, something rolled into his legs and just about took him down with it. Moriarty gave a startled shriek and took to the skies, circling overhead and looking down in curiosity. It turned out, it wasn’t just something, but someone. A girl, no, young woman? By his best estimation, a beautiful one at that. If one were to go by such a narrow descriptive adjective. Perhaps her most distinguishing feature being long, pink hair. He cocked his head to the side as he sized her up, unsure quite what to make of her.

"I'm sorry!" she blurted out and stood up, hastily brushing some leaves and dirt from her white coat.

Solomon couldn’t help but notice that she missed a few. He stared at the debris that littered her coat. His compulsion to wipe it clean built up where he struggled to fight it. He reached out and plucked a leaf from her shoulder, not out of kindness, but out of sheer compulsion. “Being sorry doesn’t change it from having happened,” He responded to her flatly. His voice betrayed neither aggravation nor forgiveness in tone. It was as if he was talking to somebody about the weather.

Moriarty circled again and landed on the girls hair rather abruptly, his big eyes looking back at Solomon with a confused look. Running into other players wasn’t exactly Solomon’s idea of fun. He let out an exasperated sigh and recalled the Hoothoot to his ball. No use complicating things just because the bird took a liking to the girls hair.

“I’ll be on my way now.”

[Retro Bug]

Fara O'Shay
Route 30

Fara closely watched the other Trainer incase he had any hesitation. It was clear to her now that he wasn't a NPC, which only helped her future schemes. She knew she had to divulge into a more detailed plan otherwise this would be a waste of a trip. The rumors that circulated was that Faulkner had a Pidgeotto and was quite a tough opponent so if she were ever going to beat him she was going to need Geodude. Apparently, if you were brave enough to risk a trip in the cave there were plenty of Geodudes to be caught. Fara couldn't help but openly grimace as she wasn't fond of that particular Pokemon but she'd use it and then release it.

"Yeah, I think so," Fara watched his movements and noticed his eyes were glued to Bandino. She couldn't let his actions jeopardy the mission at hand but she unfortunately she couldn't predict Bandino's actions. "My name is Birdie, by the way."

"Birdie, eh? That's a unusual name," Birdie lead the way and she followed him into Route 30. She wasn't going to take the chance of a wild Pokemon that wanted to white her out.

As if the game had incorporated her thoughts into actions the grass infront of Birdie rustled to life. An angry Hoothoot sprung to life and lunged at Birdie's feet, which caused him to cry out in pain. Quick to action Fara plucked Bandino off the ground and held him firmly in her grasp otherwise he would've joined in the battle. He bucked restlessly in her arms clearly wanted to battle of own Hoothoot but Fara didn't want to risk it just yet. Her eyes turned back to the battle at hand, Birdie was clearly fast on his feet and commanded Todo with some ease. The Zubat bit into the Hoothoot as it avoided a very strategical Hypnosis this battle was surely keeping Birdie on his toes and Fara too. She had yet capture another Pokemon but that would change when they reached Route 31. Distracted by her own thoughts Fara missed the entire capture scene and looked up to Birdie who was asking a question.

"Oh, sorry. Would it... could I ask we go back to heal our Pokémon please... um, sorry, what was your name, miss?"

"My name is Fara, Fara O'Shay!" Her voice came out a little more cheery than Amell meant it to but he wasn't use to a girl's voice, his normal voice didn't do that. Fara patted Birdie on the shoulder before she reversed herself toward Cherrygove City, toward the PokeCenter. "Lead the way, Boss!"

[Miss Doronjo]

Luxanna's Log #1 & a ½

The world that Lux imagined was in was white. Then it was red. Then it was white again because someone spilled white paint on it. Then the person in change of coloring the world became so mad that he created a big bang, making billions and trillions and even gazillions types of colors. And thus, came the world that Lux was in today. The MAO universe. It all started when Lux was busy, trying to eat a rock-hard Magikarp, when that funny little lock down happened. That wasn't to say that everyone panicked. Some people even died. As for Lux, she was still alive and kicking, without a serious care in the world. She just wanted to play the game.

Lux first started in New Bark town, where she encountered good ol' Professor Elm. He of course, was real troubled with the people dying, and the lockdown and all, but he hasn't found a good solution yet. Lux met him about a week ago, around the time she first met with her new best friend - a Growlithe she received when she first signed up. Lux thought that the good Professor had an answer to everything, including a lifelong problem she constantly had.

"Professor, this is serious. Should I eat 10 apple pies, or 12?" she asked. "I mean, what if I eat 10, and I'm still hungry? But what if I eat 12, and I'm just too full? What on earth do I do?"

"Why not just eat 11?" the professor replied that day. "It's the number between 10 and 12, so it should be the right amount?"

"But... I dunno," Luxanna said concerned. "11 is such a bland number, you know? It's like, the number ten and the number twelve are very easy to say, but eleven? That's like, a three syllable word!"

Her question was never truly answered that day. But she'll find the answer in time. Soon she sought her proud self upon Route 29, where... it was pretty bland looking road, but Lux sure enjoyed it! The dirt on the ground seemed to be tampered with when she last visited here; and there are more fresh footprints here now! So something, or someone must of been here! The sun was just as bright as she remembered from yesterday too; and the atmosphere was just as peaceful as before. Lux smiled as she waved 'hello!' to the sun, and a quick 'hello!' to the green grass, the dirt on the road, and the sturdy tree trunks. One week after she first started playing and she still couldn't believe it - she was inside a pokemon video game with her very own pokemon! Very cool indeed!

Soon, she stumbled upon a tree where she heard leaves rustling. Soon, her curious nature encountered a flustered Pidgey, as it cutely flapped it's wings as it roosted upon a nearby tree branch, right in front of Luxanna. Luxanna could easily tell what kind of pokemon it was.

"A Natu!" she smiled. "Oh wait, wait, no it's not - it's a Pidgey! Yeah! Everyone knows what a Pidgey is; it's like, on the first page of pokemon 101! And hey, it's wild! Ohhhhh maaaaaan I get to capture a pokemon! Finally!!" She then took out a familiar pokeball of hers, and threw it in the air. The pokeball opened, and the energy released materialize into her faithful partner - her Growlithe. Growlithe made a joyful bark upon being released outside. "Alright Growlithe! See that Pidgey up there? We're going to battle it, okay?" Growlithe barked in agreement as it prepared itself for combat. The Pidgey sensed the danger immediately, and flew out from the branch in a flight-battle stance.

"Maaan this is so awesome! I'm about to call out an attack!" Luxanna smiled. "Okay! Growlithe, use your - wait for iiiiiiiit - Use your Ember!" Growlithe obeyed immediately as it blew chunks of small ember flames towards the tiny bird. The energetic Pidgey reacted, as it dodged to the left out of the harmful Ember's way. "This AWESOME! A wild pokemon just invaded my pokemon's attack!" Then, the Pidgey dived towards the Growlithe, tackling it on the nose, sending it back as the Pidgey made an ascent back on the sky. "This is AMAZING!! A WILD POKEMON JUST ATTACKED MY POKEMON!" Growlithe was not as thrilled, as it shook of the damage, being able to move again.

"Growlithe, switch to a Leer Attack!" Luxanna then ordered, as her Growlithe then growled as he stared deep enough that Luxanna thought it was staring towards Pidgey's chicken-magnetic soul... Pidgey flinched from the intimidation. "Now, while it's flustered - Bite Attack!" Growlithe then jumped, and swiftly bit upon the wild Pidgey's wing, bringing Pidgey right towards the ground, dealing much expected damage from Lux's Growlithe.

Soon Pidgey rose back on it's feet, as it tried to prepare another tackle attack. "Quick - Ember to finish!" Luxanna ordered, as her Growlithe once again blew his trademark bits of flame, scorching the Pidgey, making it slump on the ground. "Ahhhhh this is it!! I should catch it now! Okay, first take out a pokeball... then um... should I make like, a baseball throw or just a regular throw... REGULAR THROW IT IS! Okay!" She brought out her empty pokeball, and threw it towards the Pidgey. The pokeball opened, and the energy inside sucked in the weak Pidgey, closing the Pokeball and sealing it inside as it dropped down on the ground.

The pokeball shook once. Then twice. Then a third time.

"Come on...!" hoped Luxanna.

To be continued.





















...Right now.

The pokeball stopped moving. As Luxanna and her Growlithe moved in on it closer, they jumped, overreacted, to the 'ping!' sound it chimed, signalling a successful capture. Luxanna and her Grwolithe exhanged glaces, then smiled while nodded as Luxanna moved in closer to pick up her prize: a new Pidgey. "I should say something dramatically now, right?" Lux wondered. Then, she rose the pokeball in the air. "I just caaaaaaaught... a Pidgey!" she hollered, followed up with a triumphant howl from her Growlithe.

"Thanks Growlithe, take a break!" Lux said with a smile, as she took out Growlithe's pokeball, and returned her Growlithe safely inside. This was quite fun for her; she successfully captured a Pidgey! Now it was time for more things, as she set off for her next destination.

[Fuyu]

Who is this?...

They had been running at a pretty good speed about a few seconds until Krissu suddenly tripped and fell. Of course, since she had her hand firmly held, Ange was pulled down with her. It was a very uncoordinated maneuver that was likely going to hurt. Oddly enough, that did not happen. Instead Sia's Pokeball opened and the Solosis glowed pink, lifting her into the air. Kii almost fell though. Ange caught the Caterpie and glanced puzzledly at Sia. The Pokemon hovered in the air, looking almost as though it were smiling.

"Okay Ange?" She froze, looking at her Psychic type as it set her down. Was that... Was that Sia? Just now... The voice persisted, childlike and worried. "Okay?" Ange nodded then. Certainly, she was all right. Sia let out that odd squealing noise he made when he was pleased and abruptly opened Kii's Pokeball, sucking in the little Caterpie all over again. Ange giggled before looking over at Krissu. She seemed okay, if a little bit dirty.

The elder was looking at someone, a rather cold male. Or to Ange at least, he seemed rather cold. Did this person know how to smile? She would feel very bad for him if he did not. Everyone ought to learn how to smile at some point in there lives. Then again... he didn't seem to be able to be angry either. Maybe emotions just weren't his thing. That would be too bad then, since... after all, she wasn't really all that good at them either.

"Is your head okay?" she asked Krissu, realizing that it really must have hurt to have hit the ground like that.

[machomuu]

Fel - Cherrygrove City

The journey to Cherrygrove was uneventful, to say the least. Fel chose the straight and narrow path, as he'd already trained Hama and had no real reason not to progress to the city. He was wasting time, as if he were scared of what awaited him at in Cherrygrove. Granted, his curiosity was piqued, but he still wasn't aware of what this organization was capable of and was a somewhat nervous as to what would happen if he did go to his destination; after all, they did somehow cause him to lose his memory of the first three days in the game, albeit temporarily. That wasn't something normal people should have been able to do...not to his knowledge, at least.

When he arrived at the city, he quickly ran to the shore. However, there was one simple oversight: the shore was pretty big. Specifically, it made up the entire right and lower border of the city. "Crap" was the single word that resounded in Fel's mind. His feelings of nervousness and anxiety were replaced with annoyance as he walked along the shore. He didn't see any especially formal looking men there, not ones that stuck out at least.

What did stick out, however, was a rather attractive looking female clad in a bikini looking out at the see, sitting on the shore with her feet in the water. She caught Fel's attention not because of beauty, but rather because of how out of place she was. It wasn't exactly hot outside, and no one was swimming in the water. She was alone, enjoying the view of the sea in a town of moderately warm temperature. She looked behind her, and Fel immediately looked in another direction. He kept his sight away from her for a few moments, hoping that she didn't see him looking at her and would return her gaze to the sea. When he looked back at her, she was still staring at him, which made him start to sweat.

"Wait...I know you." The girl said, scanning over Fel. "Yeah, you were with me and two others in that room four days ago." Fel tried his hardest to remember her, scanning over her as well, but he didn't remember her, and his face made that known. "It's no surprise that you don't remember me, I look a bit different." She coughed into hand and cleared her throat, promptly saying, "Then why are we tied to these chairs? Are we being punished?" Fel didn't know exactly why she said that, but it sounded familiar for some reason. It wouldn't have been uncommon for lines like those to be in books or movies, but what she said sounded like something he'd heard relatively recently. It didn't take long for a light bulb to go off in Fel's head and figure out who she was.

"Oh, you were the girl sitting on my right, weren't you?" If so, she did indeed look different. Her hair had been changed to a surreal blue color, and her outfit changed from a dress to a bikini, revealing a slender figure.

"Yeah, I'm surprised that you remember," she responded. Fel was a little shocked at this, because she had even less reason to remember who he was as he didn't do anything significant in the short time that he was there. He surmised that it was the cap he was wearing, it probably acted as the distinguishing feature of his person. "Name's Mercedes, nice to meetcha'," she said with a smile.

"I'm Fel, likewise." He looked around and said, "Has anyone else dropped by yet, or are we the only ones?"

"So far you and I are the only ones here," Mercedes responded. "Though, I'd surmise that the others will come. They definitely will." Fel turned to Mercedes with a question mark on his face. "There's a reason they picked us for this, and it's not because we're special. The reason they picked the four of us is because our we each have an inclination to fall victim to our curiosity." Fel was a little shocked at how the girl's personality did a complete 180, but he wasn't quick to interrupt her. "This game has a dynamic system, the experience will not be 100% or even 70% the same for one person as it would be for the other, and in those first 3 days of this game that shone through." She stopped and looked at the ground below her. She seemed as if she was going to continue, but minutes passed and she never did.

"...How do you know this?" Fel asked the rather informed coed.

"I don't. This is all mere theory...or maybe it's conjecture. Either way, I feel that this is the case because what they asked of us is almost impossible; the average person would simply forget what happened in the room either out of fear or disinterest...and the organization definitely knew that. The mere fact that you are here and I'm here proves it. We may be normal people, but we must have warped judgment to come to the destination set by our kidnappers without even being given any sort of incentive, and the letters they gave us even said something similar to this. They know that the four of us cannot control our curiosity once it's been piqued. In a sense, the only time we had a choice of coming here was when we decided if we were going to open the letter or not."

Fel didn't refute what she was saying, because all of it was true- at least, in his case it was. He was astounded at her deduction, though. It was something he'd never have considered, nor would he have. He could see that she was done with the subject, so he decided to change the subject. "You realize it's not that hot out here, right? Why are you in a bikini?"

"That's actually related to all this, as silly as it may sound. I was the first one here, and the letter didn't pinpoint a specific location, so I decided that I would make this the location we would wait. After all, who wouldn't notice a girl in a bikini in this city? You sure did." Fel blushed; he had no real way of denying that, either. Mercedes looked back to the sea and said, "Anyway, nothin' left to do but wait for the others. Sit down, the water's fine."

Fel didn't really have any reason not to sit; after all, there was no telling when the others would show up. He took off his shoes and set down next to Mercedes, placing his feet in the cool water and looking to the horizon.

[Miss Doronjo]

Luxanna's Log #2 & a ½

Along with her successful captured pokemon, Luxanna continued her travels through Route 29. The road was quite long, but soon, the town was soon going to be in Luxanna's sights. Soon, there was an important matter to be dealt with first.

"I have won the battle!" shouted Luxanna with great success. She was speaking with a young lad who was in blue shorts, had a yellow t-shirt, and had a blue base-ball cap. More so, the young man seemed to be puzzled. "Aw man, that was awesome!"

"But... we haven't even battled yet?" the lad said in a puzzled look. "I mean, I just said 'hello', and then challenged you, and then you immediately said, 'I have won the battle!' for some reason."

"Exactly!" Luxanna said with a smile. "Aren't battles supposed to be, 'whoever says a word that starts with the letter 'c' first is the loser'? And correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't challenge begin with a 'c'?"

"Yes, but, I'm talking about pokemon battles!" corrected the youngster. "Look, my name is Joey, and someday, I'm going to be the greatest trainer in the universe! So if you know what's good for you, you'll accept my challenge, and acknowledge that you are just a stepping stone on my staircase to the stars!"

"That's quite the staircase then," replied Luxanna in thought. "Alrighty, I accept your challenge! Oh, but a bit of warning to you - I've came up with a master secret plan, guaranteeing 100% victories!"

"You're bluffing," Joey said with a quick chuckle. "There's no such plan like that!"

"You'd be surprised!" said Luxanna. "You see, first, I'll distract your pokemon, and then, I'll return my pokemon back into it's pokeball and switch it out for another one! Genius, huh? You wouldn't know the difference!"

"Except that you're allowed to do that during battles," replied Joey with a sigh. "Haven't you heard of switching a pokemon during battle, when your current one is tired? And by the way! You're plan wouldn't work as a secret anymore because you just told me it!"

"Oh, but I don't like being to secretive," replied Luxanna. "It's... just too boring keeping something without telling someone that's in a 30 feet proximity."

"Oh whatever," Joey replied as he took out a pokeball. "Not that I'd switch my pokemon anyway. My Rattata here is the best! Better than any other Rattata! It's like, its at the top percentage of Rattata! And that's a very big percentage if I do say so myself!"

"Well, my Growlithe is so awesome, that it's awesome, even if it wasn't awesome!" boasted Luxanna as she then took out Growlithe's pokeball, and held it. "So, we accept the challenge!"

"Then goooooo Rattata!" shouted Joey, upon throwing his pokeball, revealing his prized and proud Rattata. His Rattata swished it's tail and let out a small battle cry, preparing itself for combat. "Want some of this?!"

"Oh yes please!" replied Lux, throwing her pokeball, sending out her own prized pokemon, her loyal Growlithe. Growlithe barked and howled upon getting outside, as it gazed upon it's righteous foe, Joey's Rattata. "We'll start things off! Growlithe - Ember!" As instructed, Growlithe howled as it released it's fearsome chunks of flame towards the battle-ready purple rat.

"Rattata - dodge with Quick Attack!" ordered Joey. Rattata then used blinding speed to dodge the small charred ember swarms, then it ran right towards the Growlithe, hitting it right on the nose, staggering it for a bit. Then the purple rat swiftly swat it with it's tail, after Joey commanded it to perform a Tail Attack move. "And that's the combo way!" Joey announced, followed up with a proud laugh.

"How about this! Growlithe - Leer, followed up with Bite!" Lux ordered as a response. Growlithe shook of his head in order to regain it's stance, as it followed up with a soulful stare upon Rattata's flea-bidden prospect, then it comboed the stare with a swift bite attack on Rattata's ear, causing the purple rat to run around in pain frustrations, trying to shake off the Growlithe from biting.

"Grrr, darn you, that wasn't too bad!" the younger growled. "Rattata, hit that Growlithe against that tree with a Tackle, and--" but the boy was stopped, upon watching the air headed Lux stare into space. "Uh, hello? I'm about to win this battle? You might want to pay attention to this?!"

"Sorry, I'm just thinking," Lux apologized. "Sometimes I get lost in serious thought."

"About what?" Joey asked.

"About how I can think more seriously about things," Lux replied. "It's seriously frustrating, ya know?"

"Anyways..." Joey said after pondering. "Rattata, hit that Growlithe against that tree with a Tackle and shake it off!"

"Ha! Saw that comin'!" said Luxanna. "Growlithe, let go and use Ember!" Of course, as instructed, Rattata ran head first towards the nearby tree, only for Growlithe to let go of the Rattata's ear on the last second, leaving the Rattata to crash to the nearby tree. Bumped, and bruised, Rattata was left in a staggered state as it can only wait as Growlithe released a painful Ember attack towards it, leaving Rattata as burned as Lux's brother was when Lux teased him that she had seen better dance steps on a ladder. "Ah yes, a Rattata well done! It must be a new delicious treat, ya know?"

"I... I lost..." Joey cried in remorse as he fell to his knees in disappointment. "But my Rattata... was top percentage...!"

"Well, I guess so is my Growlithe!" replied Lux. "It's like... at the top - very top percentage, ya know? When it's scorchin' all the enemies... it's quite relaxin'! Sort of like a... spa version of a pokemon battle!"

"Please... just... stop talking," Joey begged. "Here; you get prize money."

"Oh sweet, thanks!" Lux thanked, as she happily accepted her award. "Money, money, money... How I love you so~ money, money, money... I sure don't want to let you go!"

Soon after 5 minutes of signing about her prize money, Lux was on the road again, until she soon saw a city. It was Cherrygrove City, right on her sights. With a cheerful wave to the city, she raced towards the city, almost tripping on a rock, but she's okay!

[Red's Hawt Chibi Pelippers]

K R I S S U
→ Route 30

“Being sorry doesn’t change it from having happened,” the guy said simply as he plucked a leaf away from Krissu's shoulder. The unexpectedly deep reply and the gesture made Krissu's mind halt for a moment, misinterpreting the gesture as being out of kindness. She just looked at the guy without knowing what to say. Somehow, him almost touching her shoulder had felt really strange. MAO was a very realistic game and not even Malcolm had even bothered touching her in any way; that just wasn't part of their friendship. Since Christina in real life never really had even been looked at by boys, this guy now made her feel very confused. Instead of just replying in Krissu's depressed manner as she probably would have if it had been a girl standing before her, she now just blushed.

Suddenly, something sat down on top of her head and Krissu gasped and looked up. It was a Hoothoot! Belonging to this guy, from the looks of it.

"Is your head okay?" Ange's voice suddenly came from behind. The other girl had apparently not tumbled down the hill like Krissu had. The Weedle didn't seem to follow either. Thank Arceus.

"Yeah, um," Krissu said, not really knowing what to say to that either as an owl currently sat on it. "I didn't hurt myself much..."

The guy quickly recalled the Hoothoot to its pokéball though and Krissu let out a breath. Then he turned to leave without further ado. Krissu got a strange urge.

“I’ll be on my way now," he said.

"Wait!"

One second flew by. Stupid girl. Why did she call out that? She shouldn't be Christina now. She had abandoned that personality to be a better person here. More suited for the harsh life of MAO. Krissu, with determination and bravery. Hm. She quickly turned on her HUD. Yes, this guy was another player.

"My name is Krissu and this is Ange." She pointed at Ange and her Solosis. "Do you know what lies up ahead?" she then asked, just to say something to not make things even more awkward. "Is it Violet City?"

[Miss Doronjo]

Luxanna's Log #3 & a ½

Cherrygrove City looked even bigger in a first person view, rather than looking overhead on a video game. There were buildings, active people, a vast sea, and there was even a pokémon center, and a pokémart. The local pokémon center was pretty busy; after all, a couple of inexperienced trainer players have just gotten their pokemon injured from battling wild pokemon, and they would rather not risk them to be so injured that they would lose battles and cause them to die. The nurse of the pokémon center was busy with her helper pokemon, a Chansey, lookinng about as joyful as ever. Soon, the front automatic doors opened, as Luxanna arrived inside.

"Hi-ya doc!" Luxanna greeted with an open smile. "Are ya all done zappin' my pokémon?"

"Yes, of course!" The nurse said with a smile. The Chansey then brought a tray of two pokéballs, which of course was Lux's two only pokemon, her Growlithe and her Pidgey. The Chansey then brought the tray to the counter, where Lux happily retrieved them. "Your pokemon are now fighting fit! I hope we see you again!"

"Thank you very much! You too, Chansey!" Lux thanked brightly. "By the way doc, do you have a name? After all you've done for lil'ol me, I'd like to thank ya properly, ya know?"

"It's not very necessary," the nurse explained. "Just a thanks and the satisfaction that pokémon are bright and healthy are just enough for me!"

"I know, but... what if I just give ya a nickname?" Lux suggested. "Every time pokémon are all healthy and stuff, you look all joyful and stuff... I know! How about I call ya... Nurse Joy!"

"I think that's a nice nickname, hehe," the nurse complemented with a giggle. "Well, my name is technically not 'Joy', but, whatever is comfortable for you!"

"Heeeeey, Nurse Joy!" said Lux, getting used to the new nickname already. She was goggled-eyeing the healing machine that the nurse used. "Woooooow I've seen that type of machine before, but not like this! Maaaan I love the colors and the little 'beep, beep, beepbobeep!' sounds it makes from here! Amazing!"

"Well, when it comes to pokémon health, pokémon are only deserving on the best technology to provide it!" the nurse explained. "However, none of this is possible without Chansey here; she does as much work as I do!" The Chansey made a delightful cry in recognition.

"Anyway, thank ya Nurse Joy! You too Chansey!" Lux thanked again as she tucked her pokémon in her pockets safely. She waved 'goodbye' to them as the joyful nurse and her beloved Chansey waved 'goodbye' back. Then the nurse got to thinking.

"Nurse Joy, huh?" the nurse inquired as she turned to her Chansey. "It does have a nice ring to it..."

Exiting out of the pokémon center, Lux soon encountered a crowd. But most of them started to back off from extreme boredom. Trying to figure out what was going on, Lux had to swivel and squirm her way through the walking townspeople, until she was finally near the front. There, she saw what it looked like an elder woman, who had some sort of transmitter device, and a microphone. She seemed to have trouble.

"Oh.. how do I work this blasted thing..." she grumbled as she tapped and blew on it, just to make sure it was functioning. Finally, she got it working, but there was a loud screeching sound that emitted from the transmitter, causing everyone, including Lux, to cover their ears. Soon the noise stopped, leaving the place quiet. "Here we go! Ahem. As you young trainers know, Mr. Pokemon is quite the oddball. Quite the airhead indeed."

"...Excuse me, miss?" a younger voice whispered, grabbing Lux's attention. She was tugging on to Lux's belt. "...Do you know what an airhead is?"

"Someone who's so smart, they can control the air with their mind!" replied Lux with a smile.

"That's amazing..." the young girl complemented.

"...and so I'm offering this brand new PokéGear for anyone who brings back the pokémon egg that the dingbat refused to send without an escort of some kind. Can anyone volunteer--"

"I want to volunteer!" shouted Lux as she quickly approached the elderly woman. "My name is Lux, and I'm a pokémon trainer! I can totally bring you back the egg in 5 seconds flat! Well, maybe 5 minutes because it's a long trip, but... yeah! It'll be no problem wrinkly old lady!"

"Ahem, yes... the mayor of Cherrygrove is an 'old lady'... it's nice to see that I'm reminded," gagged the woman with a unjoyous cough. "In any case, that's very generous of you. He doesn't live too far away - he's in Route 30. But please remember to bring it back and -- huh... where did you...?"

"HOOOOOOLLYYYY MILKTANK!" shouted Lux from a few feet away. She was looking through an old garbage can. For some reason. "A 75BH5 itemfinder!! I've only seen it in catalouges, but wooooooow! Who would throw away something like this?! Let's see... aw, it doesn't work... maybe I can take it apart later!"

"She's quite the spirited one," the mayor said softly with a smile. "That reminds me of someone I know.."

[jasonwolf]

Jercio Shade (Jason)
Cherrygrove

By the time Jercio arrived in the second town he was in the mood to punch someone in the face. Specifically the game designers. He had gone the entire rest of the route encountering six random Pokemon. Despite the battles being very early game and extremely easy they kept Jason's mind taxed. Even if the chance of losing was very low it was always there. For the designers to have made the first route this stressful they must have enjoyed other's pain. Yohi was on very low HP, and so was Jercio's second Pokemon.

The final encounter Jercio had was with a Pidgey who refused to stop using sand attack. The only good news was that it wasn't using gust. Jercio knew he needed to get his numbers up, and made sure to catch the Pidgey. The fight had taken at least half an hour. Yohi was fighting blind by the end, and would just lunge in a random direction trying to tackle the Pidgey. Eventually Jerico felt the battle had gone on too long, and simply gave up on trying to weaken the Pidgey anymore. He found it funny that a trend he saw in all the other pokemon games was repeating itself here. no matter what he did Jercio always found the first Pokeball he used would always catch a Pokemon. He knew it wasn't in the code, but it always seemed to happen.

Like any good trainer he headed to the Pokemon center first and healed up his team. Then like any good RPG player picked up all the quests in town. The mayor apparently felt like omelets this morning because she kept asking trainers to get a delivery from Mr. Pokemon, and a number of other trainers were handing in eggs to her. Jercio skipped through most of her dialogue as he knew how to pick out the important parts of NPC text, and it wasn't hard to pick it out vocally either. He really couldn't have cared less about these NPCs. Later ones like the gym leaders and other story crucial ones probably would have a lot better AI programming and be a lot more interesting for it. The second job Jercio picked up was to gather berries for a fishermen. The guy wasn't specific about why he needed them, but once again Jercio didn't care.

Another half an hour later Jercio had finished prepping for Route Thirty. He picked up four Fresh Water from vending machines, two more Pokeballs giving him six total, and traded an Awakening to another trainer for an Antidote. Unlike going out onto Route Twenty-Nine Jercio got going immediately, and was ready to go up against wild Pokemon and maybe even a trainer or two. He kept his new Pidgey, Hurek, in front as its gust attack was able to one hit the lowest level bug types. Speaking of those, Jercio was rather excited when he came across a Spinarak about half way up the route after having only run into Ledyba. The small spider Pokemon was one of his early game favorites. He was mortified when his Pidgey almost knocked it out in one hit. He was lucky there, but that luck ran out quickly. The wild Spinarak poisoned Hurek, and it took both of Jercio's new Pokeballs to catch him. Despite being half way to Mr. Pokemon's house Jercio turned around and went back to Cherrygrove rather than using his Antidote. The walk wasn't an issue, but Jercio did hate falling behind. In a normal game by now he could have been past the first gym by now. Instead he had to spend nearly an hour hiking up the routes. Sure it did give him time to train his new Pidgey, and Caterpies and the Ledyba did make easy targets for both Yohi and Witor, the Spinarak, but that did not make up for slow the pace was right now.

Jercio arrived at Mr.Pokemon's house two and a half hours after he left New Bark Town, or about hour and a half from leaving Cherrygrove the first time. The egg Jercio picked up from the fanatic was obviously a Togepi how stereotypical. Either way Jercio rushed it back to the city the only thing delaying him was a short stop where Jercio collected some assorted berries he spotted by Mr.Pokemon's house. The way back was much faster as a lot less wild Pokemon seemed to pop up. Maybe the developers did it this way since the tiny ledges wouldn't quite work in this format. Jercio's apathy to the virtual world faded as he began to think about how they had programmed all of this. So many little details that made up this amazing place. Jercio was extremely curious to see what these guys had added to the game. After all this was the game of the century it had too have some amazing hidden content. Those thoughts filled Jason's mind all the way back to the city.

Jercio was very excited to receive a Pokegear with a radio so early. The device would help give him a connection to the things he liked in the real world. Music was always something Jason felt had influence on him. It could change his mood or help keep focused on something. He instantly turned on the device and put in the earbuds that came with it. He tuned in to a random station and the song "The Boys are Back in Town" came on. Jercio slightly nodded to the rhythm as he went to hand in his other quest. With both of them done he did feel slightly caught up, but he knew this was only the second town.

[Miss Doronjo]

Luxanna's Log #4 & a ½

Route 30, bathed in a luscious green color of vegetation, was more than just a simple pixel green forest on a game boy - at least to the first person viewed eye. Luxanna had a blast travelling through here; from the river on the side, to the cute Caterpies and Weedles that lived near the trees. She traveled eats past a couple of trees and vines, until she was upon a small cottage. There was only one man who was sure to be there.

"No, my name is not Mr. Tortellini, it's Mr. Pokémon," the man known as Mr. Pokémon addressed to Lux, upon her meeting the strange man. "I fail to see how the two are related."

"Huh, it's the same to me..." Lux said while shrugging. "But Mr. Pokémon, if that's really your last name, does that mean you're related to a pokémon?"

"Not quite," replied Mr. Pokémon. "I suppose that's more of a nickname than anything. You see, people often refer me to that because I often find extraordinary pokémon related findings and report them to my acquaintance. Surely you've heard about Professor Elm, correct?"

"Oh yeah, sure I know the guy," said Lux. "He suggested that I should eat 11 apple pies as apposed to 10 or 12, but... I dunno, 11 being a weird number n' all."

"I see," said Mr. Pokémon with a nod. "I respect him dearly you know; he's still quite the genius. Along side him and my friend, Professor Oak, well, I dear say we are quite the trio. Now then, what has brought you to see me today? You are a trainer, yes?"

"Yeah, the wrinkly ol' mayor sent me to see ya," replied Lux. "Said you had some sort of... egg?"

"Wrinkly old mayor..." Mr. Pokémon tried to comprehend. "I assume you're referring to the mayor of Cherrygrove. Hm, she's supposedly not too happy with me right now from this whole mess; but I do have great reason. Which I'm not at liberty to uh, say at the moment, hence why I needed an escort. And so, thank you for coming to help today! Now, about that egg..."

"Herr Pokémon!" interrupted by a voice, knocking on the cottage door. The front door then swung open, revealing a girl who seemed to be around the same age as Luxanna. The most notable thing about her was the clean white laboratory-esque coat she was wearing. "Herr Pokémon, I deeply apologize with the intrusion," the girl apologized as she then made a curtsy. "My name is Katharina von Kurnase, and I am not only a pokémon trainer, but a proud subject of the science of life."

"I see," said Mr. Pokémon. "Very nice to meet you, Katharina. What brings you here today?"

"Herr Pokémon, I have heard delightful rumors that you have a pokémon egg on your personage," explained Katharina. "As a follower of science, I would definitely like to know more about it, yes?"

"Yes, the young lady next to you asked about it as well," said Mr. Pokémon. "It's in the back; just wait here, okay?" He then went off past the back room, leaving Luxanna and the sciencey Katharina behind.

"Ah, you're here for it too, eh, Kathy?" asked Lux. "So am I!"

"I see, but if I may ask, who are you, Fräulein?" asked Katharina. "And... why have you just called me 'Kathy' when we have just met only a mere moment ago?"

"I'm Luxanna!" introduced Lux. "And hm, you don't like 'Kathy', huh? How about... Kitty Kat? Or, 'Have break! I want a piece of that Kit Kat bar!' Katharina is just a little long, ya know?"

"I suppose 'Kathy' will have to do then," sighed the unimpressed Katharina. "Although it is rather... 'uncool' as Americans have called it."

"Ah, here it is!" called out Mr. Pokémon, as he returned from the back room. He did indeed brought the pokémon egg in question in a glass case for protection. "I've discovered this pokémon egg a long time ago; it's quite the marvel indeed."

"I concur!!" burst out Kathy, as she moved in closer to inspect the egg. "Ah, yes... yes, yes, YES! THE COLOR! THE SHAPE! THE TEXTURE! THE SMELL! THE THOUGHT OF AN ATOMIC CARAMEL TASTE! Herr Pokémon, this is quite the discovery indeed!!"

"I never knew it was that exciting!" smiled Luxanna. "It does look pretty cool!"

"ONLY PRETTY COOL?!" snapped the furious Katharina. "THIS EGG IS A MARVEL OF SCIENCE!! Just as the great ones who discovered that salt is solvable to water, like a gem, this egg must be polished and treated like the fictionous divinity!!"

"Well, I'm glad you're enjoying it!" said Lux with her trademark smile. "Heeeey Mr. Pokémon, I'm sure that big ol' egg is taking too much space in here; mind if I take it off your hands now?"

"Yes, yes," agreed Mr. Pokémon, handing the glass-case protected egg to Lux. "But please do take care of it! The mayor will have my head if this is damaged... not to mention I might cry like a sad Whismur."

"Okie Dokie, Arrochockie!"

Finally outside from Mr. Pokémon's cottage and back on Route 30, Lux was holding the glass-cased egg over hear head. It was her style of holding semi-heavy things. Kathy stopped and looked upon Lux.

"Fräulein... Luxanna, was it not?" Kathy tried to remember. "You are a fellow pokémon trainer, yes? But you certainly did not strike me as a NPC... that must mean you are a fellow player."

"Yup!" Lux answered. "Started this game a little under a week ago! I got a Growlithe, and a Pidgey! I wanted my username to be 'Rainbow Monkeys are EVIL' but... I ran outta room, so I had ta' go with Luxanna."

"I see," said Kathy. "You.. are quite an interesting young lady you know. So full of ambition and promise... so please, be careful in this world, yeah? A lot of players have indeed met their end here, and I do fret that you might be next."

"Dooooon't worry!" said Lux. "As long as my pokémon are with me, no way I'd lose! It's sorta fate, you know?"

"There's no such thing as 'fate' Fräulein," explained Kathy. "I'm sure someone as smart as you can understand that. In any case, you are heading back to Cherrygrove, yes? I'm heading towards Violet City. With the aid of science, I am sure to get my first badge there."

"Gooood luck!" Lux wished. "I heard that the gym leader there is a real toughie to battle against! I'll head there next! Maybe we'll meet again?"

"Perhaps," Kathy said. "After all, all science has a hypothesis, and ends with sightful conclusions. I think our encounters will reflect that." With that, Kathy put on her pink science googles, and walked doff towards the west. Lux thought she was like Wu Kong, but... that's silly.

[Claire*]

Solomon

Solomon’s feet stopped dead in their tracks at the girls request. He payed little mind to the newcomer who bumbled onto the scene, the girls friend that is. She was a fairly young thing by the looks of her. The one called Ange spoke not a word to him, something he typically preferred, all things considered. Her pokemon on the other hand, it was a bit more interesting. A Solosis, one of the few he had spied since starting this game. It would eventually evolve into the incredibly useful Reuniclus. Even without a Pokedex, he remembered that Pokemon well. Incredible special attack, but a tad slow. It would be a fearsome partner indeed as the girl progressed.

Why had he stopped? Solomon owed these people nothing. No time of day, even a passing glance. Perhaps it was the abruptness of it all. Her voice seemed to lodge itself in his head for a full second, as if the sound lingered. Turning to face her, he couldn’t help but notice the redness of her face. It almost looked like she had taken ill, could that even happen in this game? Why else would her face been ripe with the signs of blushing? Slowly, he slid his glasses back up the bridge of his nose. From his experience, it was always the pretty girls who were the meanest. The ones who beat the drum of his persecution alongside of whatever tormentor bested him that day. It wasn’t unlike the gladiators being spurred on by harlots on the sideline. He was the caged animal being led to the slaughter, his tormentors always having the physical advantage. What could this girl possibly want from him?

Without even realizing it, he braced himself for what was to come. Too nerdy, too quiet, too bland, he had even heard a girl refer to him as simply “meh”. If there was anything he resented more than being labeled as “meh” or uninspired, he could not think of it. Just because he didn’t cherish these shallow social constructs did not mean he was uninspired. As beautiful as the girl that stood before him was, it was never physical attraction that got him. He had never really felt attracted to any'body' before. There had been one who came as close as any. An anonymous writer on the internet, someone who had to put thought to type and expressed one of the most breathtaking thoughts on the human condition. It wasn’t the person he fell in love with, it was the words, the brain that spurred such thought, that he for once felt attraction. These devoid husks that people called bodies were simply an analog for what weighed roughly two pounds.

The question that came, however, was not what he had expected. It was mundane, almost simple in nature. In all reality, it was something she probably should have known. What was it he was supposed to do here? Didn’t social conventions dictate that one was to give their name also?

“My name is Solomon,” he looked at the older girl, completely ignoring the other one. Was it a trap? Surely it had to be. Such a simple question had to be a precursor to ridicule. “Technically, route 31 and then Violet City,” Solomon answered her hesitantly. “Supposedly Falkner is waiting there to be defeated. I’m on my way to oblige him.”

[Skymin]

Birdie and Fara O'Shay // Cherrygrove City / Route 30
Almost instinctly Fara took the lead despite her previous words to Birdie. He was more than happy to let the girl lead the way, his eyes stuck to the newly caught Pokémon encased in its PokéBall in his hands. She threw a quick glance over her shoulder in order to make sure he kept up with her fast pace only to notice the he wasn't paying attention to her. A deflated Fara stopped for a moment before she regained herself and hurried to the Pokémon Center. It took Birdie several more moments to notice he had lost his companion and hastily shoved the ball into his pocket, scurrying after Fara.

"S-sorry," he stuttered as they reached the Centre. "Sorry... I was distracted."

"What? No, no it's my fault! I'm just a fast walker!" She whirled around to face her acquantince. "You should get Hoothoot healed, I'll be on the bench."

"Sure," Birdie didn't waste any time making his way to the nurse, handing over two PokéBalls this time. It wouldn't take too much longer, he hoped. He gave a hopeful to Fara, hoping he wasn't taking up too much of her time like this.

As she approached the bench she took one last look at Birdie who seemed a bit too happy when he handed over his Pokéballs to the nurse. An uninterested Bandino began his daily burdance with his movements in her tired arms. Fara bent over to wipe off the place where she would sit when her partner leapt from her arms and snuggled himself into a ball there. A tirade of strong words were on the tip of tongue eager to make themselves be heard. She made herself comfortable, which meant she crossed her legs, right over left, as she sat next to her sleepy Pokémon instead then gave him a pat on the head. A few moments later, Birdie returned to Fara's side, his two PokéBalls in his hand with a goofy smile on his face.

"Done," Birdie let Todo out of his PokéBall and pushed Kimi's into his pocket. The Zubat flapped his wings a few times to stretch then landed on his trainer's shoulder. "Did you need anything else?"

"No, we can go!" Fara stood up as Birdie came to a stop in front of her. She plucked up Bandino who became quite upset at the fact that his nap was interrupted. "You want to lead the way or should I?"

"Um..." Birdie bit his lip. "Let's just go together, I guess."

* * *

Mr. Pokémon's House was just as Sophie remembered it except that... well, it wasn't 2D sprites. Birdie was all too happy to see the house; he was sick of carefully picking off the four or five Caterpies and Weedles he had encountered in the grass that he and Fara had passed through. So far the plan was working perflectly for Fara as she had yet to battle a single Pokémon Battle with Birdie around. Amell didn't really remember the second generation so all the details of Mr. Pokémon's house was more vivid through Fara's eyes or were they his own or perhaps it was both. She gently knocked on the wooden door that was in front of them and waited beside Birdie for it to be answered. It took a few seconds for the door to swing violently open and a strange man to be smiling stupidly on the other side.

"H-hello," Birdie said, feeling quite nervous and out of place. "Are y-you Mr. Pokémon?"

"Indeed, hello!!" the man boomed loudly. It didn't take a genius to work out this guy was a little bit weird. "I am Mr. Pokémon! I have been expecting you!"

"You have?"

Fara and Birdie were practically forced inside by Mr. Pokémon who yammered on for a few minutes about the importance of a Pokémon Egg. He was speaking so fast, it was hard for Birdie to actually understand what he was saying. Before he knew it, he was accepting a quest to take it to the mayor of Cherrygrove and an egg was being thrusted into his chest. Then, the strange man turned to Fara. With an explanation told as fast if not faster than Mr. Pokemon's speech Fara told the man about her quest from the mayor. She too was shoved an egg and it shocked her how much strength the older man had. When he turned around to look through papers that were scattered along his desk Fara noticed a Pokedex on a nearby leather chair. If she was careful enough neither Birdie nor Mr. Pokémon would notice he swipe it. Fara feigned soreness in her legs and sat in the same chair where the Pokedex was located at with the egg in hand. With then egg placed in her lap and as slowly as she could she slipped the Pokedex into her black pursue.

"Well, thanks for your time! We better get back to Cherrygove before these things hatch," Fara voiced nervously while she kept her eyes on the egg that rested in her shaky hands.

In a strange turn of events all Pokemon avoided both Birdie and Fara. It definitely helped that they took shortcuts which avoided parts of the grass altogether. Bandino was obviously quite upset at the fact that he was made to walk beside Fara since his previous spot was now occupied by the egg. They both walked in sync wihile they chatted about the small stuff but nothing about their lives in reality. How could have their real life brought up without it being extremely awkward for both parties involved? Fara took the lead once they hit Cherrygove City to the mayor's house.

"Hellooooo?" With eggs in both of their hands neither of them could knock on the door. To prove his worthiness Bandino walked up to the door and gave it a weaker than normal double kick with his hind legs. After a few moments the door swung open to reveal an elderly lady that had given Fara the quest in the first place. The mayor's smile brighten up at the sight of the egg in each of their hands yet was puzzled at the sight of Birdie.

"Please, please come on in, why don't you?" The mayor stepped back a coupled of steps and waved the couple in. She guided them to a nearby couch where they sat as she scurried off into a nearby den.

Fara liked the pink outfit that she had on but she would much prefer a darker shade. Once she sat down Bandino simultaneously leapt into her lap. When she came back to the area where she left the two players she now carried two glass containers. The mayor came by to each of them and took their eggs from them and carefully placed them inside the glass containers. In Fara's case she exchanged the egg for an electronic contraption, which was one of the things Amell loved from the second generation, the Pokégear.

"We better be off," Fara shook hands with the mayor as she stood up to leave.

"S-sure," Birdie, though a little confused, followed suite and left with Fara. So now, they (well, he specifically) had to go back to Mr. Pokémon so that he could fetch his PokéDex or whatever the man had said. These quests felt like a whole lot of going back and forth but hopefully it would all be worth it in the end. With a quick heal at the Pokémon Centre, they both set off again.

* * *

This time to Mr. Pokémon's, Birdie led the way. He encountered more Pokémon than last time (a Ledyba and a Spinarak thrown in amongst the abundance of Caterpie and Weedle) but they seemed to go down easier. Perhaps those small amounts of weak Pokémon they both had encountered before had toughened up his own. All caught up in the moment, Birdie didn't even realise that Fara had not fought a single wild Pokémon along the way.

Birdie knocked on the door this time, and Mr. Pokémon was as energetic as last time. He spoke even faster after hearing that Birdie had completed the quest successfuly and before he knew it, Mr. Pokémon thrust a strange device into Birdie's hands. It was red in colour and with a press of the blue button on top, the handheld snapped open, revealing screens which said all kinds of data. He thanked the man and put his PokéDex into his pocket; he would get excited about it later.

"Thank-you so much for your time and efforts!" was all Birdie could make out in the end.

"No problem. And thank-you."

With the quest completed, Birdie saw no other reason to stay and left the house, Fara and Bandino close behind.

"Thank-you, Fara," Birdie said with a genuine smile on his face. "I don't think I could have done it without you."

"Of course you couldn't!" Fara teased, even though she wouldn't admit outright her plan wouldn't have succeeded without Birdie.

"Did you..." he felt himself go red. "Are you going to Violet City?"

"Route 31, actually," she raised an eyebrow at the shade his face turned. "You?"

"I'm not sure," he shook his head, his eyes had returned to his feet. "Would it be alright if I could c-come with you? Until I know where I'm going, that is..." In her life, Sophie had never gone out of her way to ask much of anyone. She did not feel embarrased, but anxious of what someone like Fara would say. She seemed nice enough, but had Birdie been annoying or felt like a third wheel during their small walk together? Of course, then the previously mentioned embarrasment set in when Birdie remembered that he was a boy and Fara was a girl. Did it sound like he was asking her out? Because that wasn't it at all!

"Let's go to Route 31 then, I hope you're not afraid of the dark!" Fara felt it was best not to dwell on how Birdie presented his question. Beside that she felt a bit safer with him around as she wouldn't be in a scary cave all by herself. Amell had always avoided the cave when he played the games he wasn't fond of caves even in a 2D way.

"Th-thank-you," he said, his heart returning to normal speed and his spirits lifting. With Fara by his side, even if he wasn't afraid of the dark, maybe all of Monster Art Online wouldn't seem so scary. "Let's go."

[jasonwolf]

Jercio Shade (Jason):

Mr. Pokemon's yard

With cherrygrove cleared out Jercio headed back up theroute. He chose to grind some levels for Yohi and Witor as they had the biggestdisadvantage in the next gym. Jercio didn’t want to use them much in the battle,but he wanted to have them ready at least. With any luck he could pick up aghastly in sprout town. It would be immune to Falkner’s normal type birds.Until then Jercio’s current trio was his focus.

He headed to the very edge of the route to train. There hekept Yohi training on the local low level pokemon. Yohi was already in the lowteens, but the battles were becoming less and less worthwhile. Yohi barely got any exp from the random encounters. Jercio knew he couldn’t waste time here. He swapped out to Witor and kept training. All of his pokemon were gaining levels fast, but every now and then Jercio would sprint back into town and get his pokemon healed. In the games this was perfectally acceptable, but here it feltvery wrong. Jercio saw his pokemon actually fighting, growing tired, and being knocked out once or twice (that being some of them not all). After the fourth trip or so Jercio couldn’t stand it anymore. In the games this was both necessaryand the pokemon had no issue with it. Here, though none of them complained,they all seemed to dislike this constant running back and forth fighting until they couldn’t anymore and then having to go back again. Jercio stopped right in the middle of the grass, and sent out all three of his pokemon.

“This is wrong. It’s all wrong. This is the most in depthand downright amazing feat of technology ever. You guys are better than what I’ve treated you as. This is only the start of my journey, and I hope to have you all along with me. From this point forward I’m not playing pokemon. I’m livingit. Yohi, Hurek, Witor, we’re gonna do this and do this like a real trainer.”Jercio preached to his party.

The trio seemed a bit confused by their trainer’s remarks,but they did pick up on his positivity and energy. All three made energetic cries to show their agreement. Jercio brought his pokemon up farther along theroute to Mr. Pokemon’s house where he began to train them in the open area nearby it. He had them practicing drills rather than battling to gain exp. Herethere was a lot more than just turn by turn rock paper scissors. Each pokemon needed to be in top physical condition, prepped for the battles ahead, and beas strong mentally as physically. Jercio had his Tyrogue keeping a steady rythem as it punched away at a tree. Yohi’s determination was plain on his face,and in the grunts he made as he struck the trunk. When Jercio called for him tostop he couldn’t help but smirk. Exactly where Yohi had been striking were obvious depressions from the force of the blows.

“Yohi, remind me to never judge by size.” Jercio chuckled.

[Red's Hawt Chibi Pelippers]

K R I S S U
→ Route 30

“My name is Solomon,” the guy said, looking at Krissu with his rich hazel eyes as he spoke. What an unusual name, Krissu thought, but then remembered that inside MAO, there were many even stranger names around.

“Technically, route 31 and then Violet City,” he answered her, seemingly hesitantly. “Supposedly Falkner is waiting there to be defeated. I’m on my way to oblige him.”

The gym leader. Yes, Krissu had heard of people going there and she remembered the leader from her old Gold version. He was one of her favorite gym leaders, even though his pokémon had been really boring. But in MAO, he had already gotten several challengers killed... Things were so different in this world than when this was all just a game.

"Are you strong enough for that?" she said without thinking. "You'll probably need many pokémon, and well trained ones too, to beat him. From the Johto news updates at the pokémon centers, I heard the few people who have challenged him so far have all... you know... failed."

Died, was the right word. A bit too devastating to use, though.

"Uh... anyways. Ange, maybe we should keep moving north before those Weedle come back." She turned back to her companion. Solomon might be the type to prefer wandering alone, and Krissu had told herself that she should do so too. But she didn't feel like leaving Ange and her Solosis and Caterpie just yet. Not yet.

"Right, watch out for swarms up ahead," she added with a glance at Solomon again. "Maybe there's a bug in the game. Literally." She almost gave herself a little smile at her own pun. Silly Christina, surfacing when Krissu needed to be Krissu.


((OOC: After Claire has posted too, Fuyu is allowed to bunny Krissu up until we find Mr Pokémon's house or something, if you like :3 ))

[Claire*]

Solomon

Was he strong enough? Surely she must have asked in jest. Or, was this the thinly veiled insult he had been expecting? An attack on his character and abilities as if to cast aspersions and doubt as to his fitness as a trainer. He was not like those other trainers who had died to the lowly first gym leader. Those birds stood nary a chance against him and Umbra. His face betrayed nothing as he looked at the beautiful young woman. Not a flinch, or even a blink. It was like his face had been cast in stone or frozen in carbonite.

“I’ll be quite alright,” he replied to her mildly. His voice not elevated or strained as if to hint at his growing frustration. “Your concern is...touching,” he lied as if he had spoken nothing but truth. “Falkner and his birds will be nothing but a down comforter with which I tuck my Pokemon into bed at night. This, I promise you.” He reached into his coat and pulled out Umbra’s pokeball, loosing her from its confines with one practiced move.

She leapt out with a cheer and looked up gleefully at the new humans, quite the contrary to her master. The little Sneasel ran up to Krissu and began to play with her hair. Why did both of his Pokemon seem enthralled with the girls unique coloring? Solomon simply loosed a semi-agitated sigh and snapped for Umbra to fall back into place. She came trotting back and stood next to him just as she had been trained to.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me.” He looked from Krissu to Ange and back again. “I must make my departure with upmost haste. I have a quest from the Mayor to turn in. I’ll be sure to be vigilant for these...bugs.”

He walked past the two girls unceremoniously. Not rudely, just in his own manner of etiquette ignorance and bluntness. Umbra lingered behind just for a second and began to gesture at the two women, almost as if she was apologizing for her Master’s behavior. The Pokemon smiled at them both and bolted after Solomon, his brisk pace quickly carrying him farther away from the duo, his coat rustling in the generated breeze. Umbra, stopping one last time, turned and waved to Krissu, a large smile plastered on her face before she jumped back around and disappeared with her master around the bend.

[Fuyu]

What a Strange Soul...

"Ange..."

Ange ignored this for a moment, looking between the now-named Solomon and Krissu with interest. She didn't attempt to hide this in the slightest, taking an only minor note of interest when Solomon stared at Sia. Was Sia special? Why had Benjy chosen it for her? Did he know something she could not? Then again, he had known quite a lot. Benjy always knew a lot, didn't he?

Wait... something about this... it didn't feel right.

She then shrugged it off, watching the interactions rather curiously. Solomon was... well, he didn't seem nice exactly, but he couldn't be that bad. He simply appeared a bit harsh, at least that was how Ange saw it. He had been polite to Krissu, so he couldn't have been all bad. Or maybe... maybe for some reason, it hurt his mouth to talk so he didn't like to. But that would be odd... and he sounded okay. Huh. Ange would have no idea how to explain that then... except for the possibility of him not being nice. That couldn't be though... could it?

How odd....

Oh... Krissu was talking to her... right...

"Sure," she replied cheerfully, getting up to move next to her temporary partner. She was happy to go north... she just didn't know which way North was. Ange almost said something as they walked, but when Sia bounced onto her red head she forgot quickly, giggling at her starter's cheer and nonchalance. "Is my team... bad for the Gym?" She knew next to nothing about Falkner and Flying-type Pokemon. Heck, she barely knew a thing about Pokemon.

Mister Solomon sure seemed to know a lot, having been staring like that at Sia. Was Sia special somehow? Hm...

[Red's Hawt Chibi Pelippers]

K R I S S U
→ Route 30

“I’ll be quite alright,” Solomon replied to Krissu mildly. “Your concern is...touching. Falkner and his birds will be nothing but a down comforter with which I tuck my Pokemon into bed at night. This, I promise you.” He reached into his coat and pulled out a pokeball, loosing the pokémon from its confines with one practiced move. What took place on the ground was an elegant Sneasel.

Krissu had always liked that pokémon, but before she could even say anything about it now, the Sneasel jumped up and tried to touch her pink hair. It didn't scare her, but surprised her enough to make her let out a little whelp and take a few steps backwards. Solomon put a verbal leash on his pokémon soon enough though, making it fall back to his side.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me.” The male trainer looked from Krissu to Ange and back again. “I must make my departure with upmost haste. I have a quest from the Mayor to turn in. I’ll be sure to be vigilant for these...bugs.”

"Oh," Krissu said. Solomon began walking away and she couldn't find better words, cursing herself for it as she followed him with her gaze. What a... different guy. Not at all cheerful and annoying like most of the players in Cherrygrove. Just... confident and alone. At least she thought he seemed pretty alone. But he did have his Sneasel. Krissu furrowed her brow; she would like to capture a Sneasel one day as well.

Together, Ange and Krissu walked on north, almost crawling through the thick vegetation at times. This maybe had not been the right path to choose after all... Then again, at least they met another player rather than NPC trainers forcing battles upon them.

"Is my team... bad for the Gym?"

The sudden question made Krissu halt and look back at the other girl. She looked up at Krissu with a face that told her that Ange had just been thinking about something that worried her. The pink haired girl hesitated; she had never been a good friend who cared a lot about the feelings of others. Mostly she had been engrossed in her own thoughts and interests and been bored by the problems of others. But now she wasn't Christina. Maybe she could change. She now knew that she had herself to blame for her rather lonely childhood. With a sigh that she hoped that Ange didn't take note on, she replied.

"Solosis is definitely not a bad pokémon when it comes to fighting flying-types. Since it's flying, or levitating, on its own, it can hopefully be agile enough to not evade some of Falkner's attacks. As for Caterpie..." She scratched her head hesitantly. She knew she would never go up against a deadly bird trainer with a bug up front. "If you train it diligently before you challenge the gym, it can turn into a beautiful Butterfree. They should have many trixy moves, sleep powders and things, that you can maybe use."

She hoped that she had gotten the girls' hopes up at least a little bit with that. Turning back and looking up front, she then noticed something between the trees that was definitely not a rock or a tree. It was a house. Could they have reached Violet City already?

"Ange, look! Come on!" she said and started running. She came to a stop in front of a small house on a lawn, in the middle of nowhere in the forest. Some berry trees grew in the yard, but Krissu couldn't harvest them without much effort since she was not an Alchemist.

"Who lives here?" she could not remember this from the games. No, wait, there was something here... Some quest or something. She did remember trekking up and down this route a couple of times in the old games. But not why.

((OOC: did Ange not take the Mayor's quest in Cherrygrove?))