Grass Continent ~ Treasure Town Beach

[IFBench]

"Huh. That's really weird," Saltriv said, swaying their leaf to the side. "What do Pokemon do in your world, then?"

"And yeah! I just focused on that empathy, and bam! It happened," they said, looking back down at Koa. "I could probably do it again right now if you wanted me to show you."

 

[Flyg0n]

Koa took a moment to ponder their question. "Well obviously a lot of wild pokemon love to battle for sport. They'll challenge trainers and sometimes trainers catch them and they travel together. And other wild Pokemon just do whatever they want. Play or explore or eat. Depends on the mon," he said with a shrug.

He wasn't sure if seeing another transformation would help but he doubted it could hurt either. Maybe this time he'd finally get it.

Finally stop being a step behind the whole team.

"Yeah sure, if you think you can do it," he said finally.

 

[IFBench]

Huh. Pokemon in Koa's world were really weird.

Either way, they had to see if they could pull off that transformation again. Just focus on their empathy, and their friends...

They thought of their family back home, and Acacia, and Lidequir, and Leon. How much they all cared about Saltriv, and how much they cared for all of them in return.

They thought of Burhalla, their best friend, how they'd always do everything together. How they always believed in each other, no matter what.

The tip of their tail caught alit in flame.

They thought of Gen, the anxious Oshawott they woke up next to, and their new roommate back home. How he wanted to support Team Searchlights, despite his situation.

A ball of light appeared on the base of their neck, just above their petals. They felt an odd sensation there, as the light receded, revealing a scalchop.

They thought about Brisa, always working hard for the team. They thought about Starr, guiding them and Shiron to pull off devastating attacks together. They thought about Shiron, their first friend here. They thought about Koa, their new friend. They thought about Icetales, who helped them evolve. They thought about Vix, who was always fun to be around, despite her tendencies. They thought about Dill, who helped them recover after they exploded.

Lines of light shot out from their petals. One connected itself to Koa. One went straight for Sharpedo Bluff. Most of the rest went across the ocean, towards the Mystery Continent, to connect with the rest of their teammates.

Saltriv had Unleashed.

"There! I did it!" they said, puffing out their chest in pride.

 

[Flyg0n]

Koa watched as Saltrivs body changed and transformed, an odd mix of awe and envy tugging at him. How?

What am I missing?

Stifling a growl he instead offered a grin. "That's sick!" It was true. The flame on the tale, the shell on the chest... It was odd, discordant even, yet cool. "Is there anything else that triggers it?" he prodded. "Like... Some kind of power or... Aura or something?"

Rascal hadn't been able to master Ice Fang until he'd understood it better. Was this similar? Was there something he wasn't understanding?

 

[IFBench]

"Nope! Just focusing on my emotions! It's a lot like how moves work in my world, just channeling a certain emotion. For this, it was empathy!" Saltriv said, prodding with a vine at the scalchop on their neck.

 

[Flyg0n]

Koa sighed a little. he was no expert but he had picked up scraps from his talks with Professor Rowan, and he wasn't sure moves worked like that, at least on his world. "So you use moves in your world by focusing on emotions?" he asked curiously. That was one he'd never heard before.

 

[IFBench]

"Yep!" they said, their flaming tail beginning to wag again as they talked. "Grass is wonder, water is calm, fire is desire for change, bug is fear, rock is determination, and so on!"

 

[Flyg0n]

How strange, Koa mused to himself. Yet fascinating too. "So what's electric-type? And do you have to feel that emotion every time you want to use a move, or does it become subconscious after awhile?"

 

[IFBench]

"Electric is shock and surprise!" they said, forming a vine into a lightning-bolt shape. "And you always have to feel at least a little bit of the emotion to use the move, though with practice the amount needed is less and less."

 

[Flyg0n]

"Huh, interesting. Does it ever get hard to use certain moves if you're feeling like... upset or something?" It was hard to imagine having to use his moves like that. He already had a hard enough time with other things, much less worrying about tapping into emotions. Although... how did he use moves? After getting here it had started to become second nature. Maybe something to do with being a Pokemon he guessed.

 

[IFBench]

"Yep. Feeling the opposite of a move's emotion makes it hard to use that move. One of my friends back home, Gen, is having trouble with his water moves since he has anxiety, and can't calm down enough to use water moves," Saltriv said, looking down at their scalchop. "I hope he's doing ok..."

 

[Flyg0n]

"That's rough," he murmured with a frown. He was glad he never had to think much to use moves. Saltriv seemed kind of down about their friend too. Not that he blamed her. He missed his team a lot, although knowing he'd get to see them again helped. "Were you and Gen close?" he asked.

 

[IFBench]

"Yep! We're teammates!" Saltriv said, perking up a bit. "We woke up next to each other in the middle of Twig Woodland a while before I came here. He has amnesia, and can't remember almost anything, so he's been staying with my family."

I wish I could check up on him and make sure he's doing ok...

 

[Flyg0n]

Woke up in a strange place with no memories...

"Huh, that kinda sounds like what happens with humans, doesn't it? Maybe he's like the Omen heroes here on Cibus," Koa mused out loud. He paused. Icetales had been able to visit his family. And Dave had tried to talk to Soda, if he wasn't mistaken. "Hey, maybe you could pay Gen a visit? Can't you do that at Spirit's Edge or whatever?"

 

[IFBench]

"He said he wasn't human, though..." Saltriv said, prodding at their scalchop some more, before perking up as Koa mentioned Spirit's Edge. "You're right! I should do that!"

 

[Flyg0n]

"Maybe he just doesn't remember being human," Koa said with a shrug. "But yeah, I guess as long as you have a strong connection with someone you can find them there, so you should be good. Family or good friends." That's what Buffet had said, at least. He briefly wondered about how much Blake would freak out if he saw him now.

 

[IFBench]

"Hm, maybe...all of the other humans remembered being human, though..." Saltriv said, tugging at the scalchop, feeling it beginning to come loose. "And I think I'll probably find him there, then!"

 

[Flyg0n]

"Yeah, well good luck with that," he said with grin. He stood up and stretched. He'd hoped to get insight about the new forms everyone seemed to have but it seemed he wasn't much closer. Still, the conversation had been a pleasant distraction. "I'll see you around, Saltriv."

 

[IFBench]

"Thanks! I'll see you around, too!" Saltriv said as they waved their leaf, before turning back towards the ocean, watching the waves crash against the shore, and the lines of their connections stretching across the expanse.

They missed their home...but they were happy to meet all the people here.

<><><><><>​

 

[Adamhuarts]

"Here we are at the beach!" Cynthian said as she stretched her arm out.

With how much she frequently treasure town's beach, the changes caused by the cataclysm didn't go unnoticed. Most of it had been restored to form, but little details like rocks on the shore being in places they weren't before, new crevices on the far off bluff stuck out to her.

"It feels nice to be back here again." Cynthian felt the sand crunch beneath her hooves and sighed in satisfaction, then she glanced over at the blue serpent beside her.

"I'm guessing you're already familiar with this place huh, Alice?"