C0D13
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Bug Maniac
Administrator
Posts: 2,009
Trainer Class: 
Player Name: C0D13
OOC Username: Ladybug
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Post by C0D13 on Jul 8, 2022 7:11:36 GMT 9
ENTERING THE TALL GRASS!
loading... When a Wild PKMN appears, reply using the ATTACK button to weaken it! You may reply as many times in a row as it takes to knock out the Wild PKMN. But watch out— it may fight back! If your PKMN faints, you must go to the closest SHRINE to restore your PKMN. When the Wild PKMN's HP reaches 10% or below, up to two players may choose to capture it for -25 BYTES. Please post in Automatic Deduction (-25) to complete your capture and close the thread!
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Momo
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Retired
Posts: 127
Trainer Class: 
Player Name: Momo Matsushita
OOC Username: M00K
Arena Points: 0
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Post by Momo on Jul 8, 2022 22:03:17 GMT 9
The open plains spread out before her, waves of rippling yellow-green passing across its surface like a great sea.
Momo had never seen anything like it. It was like looking down at the whole world from someplace just above, seeing from horizon to horizon for the first time. Momo had never been on a plane, but she imagined this must be what it felt like to fly. To get a birds-eye view.
I've never seen anything like this. Maybe only in movies, though Momo took pride in not wasting her time with such self-indulgence. Not while anyone was watching, anyway.
She picked her way down one of the grassy slopes, loose rock skittering beneath her feet. Huge as the steppes were, they were not unbroken-- spires of bright metal jutted from the ground at periodic points like cell towers, stretching towards the swirling gray sky. It was surreal. Something out of a fantasy world.
<Uhunf.> A muffled sob came from her backpack.
She just wished she could experience it in silence.
The Treecko, who she'd named Kusa, had been given to her by Professor Ash. She was determined to help it make something useful of itself, but it didn't do much good when the lizard wouldn't even commit to the simplest form of discipline. She'd hoped for something strong or cute and received neither, but that fact only strengthened her resolve.
The wind, smelling of ozone, ruffled her hair.
Here, they would put themselves to the test.
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Momo
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Retired
Posts: 127
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Momo Matsushita
OOC Username: M00K
Arena Points: 0
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Post by Momo on Jul 27, 2022 14:13:45 GMT 9
Wind ruffled her hair as she stared down the wild Doduo.
Its beady black eyes blinked at her as she dropped automatically into a guard stance, planting her feet a shoulder-length apart for maximum stability. The bird looked like it had incredible balance—trying to throw it would probably be like trying to throw a shopping cart. The girl's eyes roved over it, searching for weak points. Necks? No... They might be thin, but they had the look of something strong and sinewy. They would have to be, to hold up those heads.
Two heads.
Momo knew how to deal with an opponent of divided mind. Take advantage of their distraction.
Mentally, she formed a plan. Feint, strike, feint again. She readied herself on the balls of her feet, trying to ignore Kusa's sniveling from her backpack.
Then the Doduo spoke.
<U-um. Hello...?>
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Momo
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Retired
Posts: 127
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Momo Matsushita
OOC Username: M00K
Arena Points: 0
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Post by Momo on Jul 27, 2022 14:22:52 GMT 9
It surprised her, but it wasn't about to lower her guard.
"Hello," Momo said back guardedly, a little flustered despite herself. She couldn't help but be surprised by the voice— it sounded just like a teenage girl. If not for the obvious mismatch visually, this could just be another one of the girls in her class.
...Weak girls, she reminded herself. Not like her.
She scowled, forcing her expression into something fierce. "Don't think I'll take it easy on you j-just because you talk."
<O-oh, are we fighting?> the Doduo asked, taking a step back. Its four eyes darted around. <I'm not really good at that, so I'll just...>
She saw the weight shift in its legs and immediately lunged forward herself as if to seize a handful of its fluff. In response, the Doduo thrashed. Momo was barely able to guard against the rain of blows that came down on her from the two flailing heads, as wild as someone flailing both arms. <I think it's working!> she heard one of the heads congratulate the other excitedly as the girl brought up both hands to guard her face, leaping backwards.
Momo breathed heavily, rattled by the ferocity of the exchange. A strand of hair fell into her eyes and she blew it out.
"Not bad," she said grimly. "But I won't underestimate you again."
<Eek!>
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Momo
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Retired
Posts: 127
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Momo Matsushita
OOC Username: M00K
Arena Points: 0
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Post by Momo on Jul 27, 2022 14:29:44 GMT 9
As expected— given the opportunity— the Doduo fled.
Momo chased after it. It outmatched her in speed, but she knew humans were endurance hunters. She ran for an hour every day during training and her natural endurance helped make up the difference, even with her energy meters blinking dangerously low. Still, her body burned. Sweat poured down her forehead and neck. Momo wondered what her real-life body looked like right now—cool and composed where she lay in the family tatami room, or looking like it had just done a five-kilometer sprint?
As she chased the distant shape of the Doduo, she frequently saw it stop and look around, notice her, then when she got too close— take off again. But it was slowing.
I can do this, she thought as her energy meters bottomed. She was coming close to a huge metal spire, larger than all the others. The Doduo had led her here.
I can do this, she thought as her feet slipped out from under her. She felt the impact dully, like crashing into a training mat.
As she lay on her side, looking up at the sky, she saw static crackle along the face of the Giant Shrine.
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Momo
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Retired
Posts: 127
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Momo Matsushita
OOC Username: M00K
Arena Points: 0
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Post by Momo on Jul 27, 2022 14:38:54 GMT 9
Lightning jolted through her veins. Her eyes snapped open.
She seemed to have been healed.
Her body still ached from running, but when she checked her meters, they were all back to full. "I'm fine," she said suddenly, almost throwing Kusa off her shoulder as she suddenly jerked. Color flooded her face as she realized how foolish she must have looked—collapsed on the ground, looking like she couldn't take care of herself.
<Thank goodness!> Kusa exclaimed. It seemed his unwillingness to leave the Lab had been tempered slightly by her near-death experience.
Momo looked around. "That Doduo probably got away, didn't it..."
<Which one? That one?>
A few meters away was the Doduo, its feathers on end from all the static. It seemed like it had crept back here too once she'd appeared to have fainted, seeking the healing of the shrine. It jumped as she looked at it.
<...Can't we just be friends?> it asked weakly, making a token attempt to rise back to its feet.
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Momo
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Retired
Posts: 127
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Momo Matsushita
OOC Username: M00K
Arena Points: 0
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Post by Momo on Jul 27, 2022 14:44:05 GMT 9
<Aw man, I don't wanna race again,> moaned Kusa, despite the fact he'd been riding in the backpack the whole time.
Momo threw him a fierce glance. "Maybe it would be good for you," she said darkly, but the Treecko was still complaining, now clinging to her arm. <What are you gonna do with it when you catch up to it, anyway? Just fight again? That's so boring. It's just gonna beat you again, just like it would beat me. Flying vs. grass, yada yada, where's the artistry?>
She had no idea how to respond to that, so she spoke to the Doduo.
"Why did you run away?"
<Because you're scary?>
Momo was quiet. Some part of her didn't like to hear that.
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Momo
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Retired
Posts: 127
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Momo Matsushita
OOC Username: M00K
Arena Points: 0
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Post by Momo on Jul 27, 2022 14:51:38 GMT 9
Nobody liked being told they were scary. Perhaps 'intimidating'. Or 'you look strong.'
Momo finally found her tongue. "W-well what would you know about it? I can't be any scarier than the other monsters out in these plains!" she said, hoping she was right. She'd started playing this game to fight monsters, not terrify sentient birds that sounded like her classmates.
<I barely ever see those,> said the Doduo plaintively. It had gotten to its feet, apparently not assured that Momo was going to leave it alone. <I only see people these days. Like those hunters catching all the rare Pokemon.>
<Nooooo, not a quest. We're barely out of the lab,> Kusa moaned, which Momo ignored. She was intrigued.
"...What hunters?"
Doduo scratched its left head, cowed by the directness of her question. <There's three of them. Their dogs and bugs are always chasing us around. Us Doduo are too fast and smart because we have like, double brains, but other Pokemon get snapped up all the time.>
As if Kusa had predicted it, a QUEST (!) notification appeared on her minimap. Momo nodded, expression stoic.
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Momo
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Retired
Posts: 127
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Momo Matsushita
OOC Username: M00K
Arena Points: 0
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Post by Momo on Jul 27, 2022 15:04:41 GMT 9
As the nearby shrine's power electrified her bones with healing energy, Momo considered what to do.
Despite Kusa's nagging, the lizard was right. She didn't want to fight this Doduo. Didn't need to, considering what else was out here. Bounty Hunters sounded like better training partners than a wild animal that didn't even want to stand its ground against her technique.
At the same time, this now put her into an awkward social situation. She had a... girl, who she'd assaulted, who she now no longer wanted to fight.
It called for an apology.
"I'm sorry for chasing you," Momo said, bowing. The Doduo looked startled. "I see it was wrong to try and initiate combat with someone who hadn't agreed to it. Next time, I'll make sure to get confirmation." Her cheeks colored slightly, which she hoped her bow would disguise. "I don't know why, but I didn't expect you to talk."
<O-oh, it's okay,> the Doduo said. <I was kind of taken aback too... I think trainers usually use Pokemon to fight Pokemon.>
"But my Pokemon is weak."
<Why is everyone so mean to me?>
"True until proven otherwise. Doduo, when you've rested, could you take us to where the Bounty Hunters are?"
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Momo
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Retired
Posts: 127
Trainer Class:
Player Name: Momo Matsushita
OOC Username: M00K
Arena Points: 0
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Post by Momo on Jul 27, 2022 15:08:23 GMT 9
The two-headed bird Pokemon was quiet for a moment. "It might be hard for you to keep up. But if you had a saddle, you could ride me..."
Momo tried to picture herself riding the bird Pokemon and found it bizarre. "Do they sell those?" she asked skeptically, checking her user interface. It looked like she could buy one from the main menu. "I guess so." There was a 50 BYTE surcharge, but typing in the name 'doduo' produced a saddle of the appropriate size and shape for the creature's back.
<Ye-es, I think that's it,> the Doduo said, eying the saddle with trepidation (she had just pulled it out of nowhere. Momo wondered what the Pokemon saw when she did game actions like that.) <If you're ready... we can go. I feel better after resting here.>
It seemed they had a Quest - and a guide.
<Noooo! What are you thinking? You know you're a newbie, right? And these Bounty Hunters will probably have super strong, scary Pokemon, right?> Kusa was back in her backpack as Momo saddled up the Doduo.
"Then it's a good thing you're going to get strong, too."
<Yeeeeeek!>
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System Admin
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Administrator
Posts: 1,405
Player Name: System
OOC Username: M00K
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Post by System Admin on Jul 27, 2022 22:57:09 GMT 9
CAPTURE COMPLETE! Riding off into the sunset...
DODUO has been added to Momo's box!
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