Featured: Ch. 35 - The Unnecessarily Surreal City - Pokémon Choice Quest 2

Chapter 18: Mantine

Location: Shanama Town

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At one side you are encouraged to go somewhere, whether by self-volition or guided by an unknown somebody. At one point, you also want to challenge the Gym of this town and earn your first badge.

However, the rumors circulating about a Mantine living in this very pond tempts you to stay longer to fish out this aquatic Pok?mon out of its hiding. With great perseverance, you keep on waiting to watch the line. Not long after, you feel something pulling out the line of your rod, which you fight off by holding the rod tight and imitate the same.

True to their words, you can see the twin navy antennae popping out from the water. Then, it hoists itself up high from the water, looking above you with its expressionless stare, then flies off without letting go of the hook. Because of this, you also find yourself being lifted up, grounds becoming smaller in view as you hang about on the Kite Pok?mon.

Wheee- you're now flying under a Mantine! What do?

1. Tell Mantine to get down!
2. Let go of the fishing rod!
3. Keep on hanging onto it! Maybe it will lead you to somewhere.
4. Alternatively, eat your leftovers Casteliacone!

Chapter 19: Dangling About...

Location: Shanama Town -> Volmia City Ruins

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You find yourself ascending even higher, up until where the clouds begin to enshroud the snowy surface of the upper world you traipsed upon. Not wishing to let go of the grip, you let yourself carried away by the Mantine. Everything looks so tiny from up here, and Mantine shows no sign of stopping either. Uncertainty fills you with anxiety, you're not sure where you're heading at as you just keep on getting more lost than before.

Eventually, Mantine slows down in speed and altitudes itself lower, toward another series of floating islands that must've elevated themselves by an unknown force. That's reassuring for being able to touch the ground again, after gathering too much sweat in both palms and feeling weak in spines, but where on earth are you now? Your first thought comes as Mantine lets the hook off its mouth before flying somewhere else, taking your steps forward to discern your new surroundings.

In front of you, is a blue-hued road of glass cracked like a fissure, decorated with paper wastes, leading to a selective set of dilapidated concrete structures with flickering neon lights. Most of them were quite mossy and serene, if not for the cheery chirping coming from a flock of Starly perching above the electrical poles. Onward, is a wide circular park with a statue depicting a Sandshrew in the middle of a dry fountain. Wiping off the dust, an unknown but familiar name reads out from the carved plaque just before it.

Looking around, it's not like you're not welcome to linger about, but this Pok?mon-infested place seems unfitting for a night, nor there is a place of interest as you've never been here before. Still, the question remains, what should you do?

1. Investigate this place. There might be clues of...something.
2. Return to where you should be. This place is boring.
3. Eat the Casteliacone and do acrobatic moves.

Chapter 20: Pok?mon Nest

Location: Volmia City Ruins

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There might be something around here, you thought, deciding to indulge your curiosity around these ruins. There isn't much to stand on the spot you are currently at, therefore you move to the west, heading to a district that seems to be packed with... things that are just bizarre.

Large, oddly spherical vehicles scattered across the glass road, hovering still. Tree roots jutting outward from the windows, extending to the grassy sidewalks. A heap of stacked junks stood tall in the center of the crossroad. As far as the eye can see, there are no other human other than wild Pok?mon roam free in the ruins without worry, and many Parasect picking up man-made litters as if they're cleaning the place.

When you approach the area, they don't seem to be alerted by your appearance. Rather, they even wave you a sincere gesture of greeting which you respond by spontaneously mirroring the act. You have no idea what they are saying, nor do you think there might be a way to interact with them, though it's apparent that they aren't as bad as you thought. Feeling relieved, you try to inspect one of the several places of this deserted city.

What should you do?

1. Visit the Department Store for freebies! It's not stealing if they leave it there, right?
2. Inspect one of the tall buildings. There might be something in there.
3. Take a ride through the Caterpie Terminal. It would be a quick way to move from places to places.
4. Search the heap of junk and trash. There might be something in there.
5. Try to catch one of the Parasect. Maybe they won't notice, or perhaps would be glad to.