Mun, if music be the food of love, play on.

[beauty_and_harmony]

I wish to inspire other Trainers and Coordinators in the beauty of music and Pokemon. Combine, the two are inseperable. Don't you agree, mun? I see I am slowly showing you the way. My Pokemon and I seek new climbs of late. Perhaps another contest or perhaps a battle with an unknown Trainer? New heights is what I am seeking to climb.

The music guides me.

Comments

[much_rejoicing]

Ah, a fellow connoisseur of music! Yes, we must always seek to broaden our horizons, improve our skills, and find new stories wherever they may be!

[After all that flowery flamboyance, Bard laughs and shakes his head.]

Nope, I can't do it. The hell's a Pokémon?

[beauty_and_harmony]

Ah, a fellow minstrel. It is good to meet someone with similar views to mine. [He nodded.] I am guessing you are not from my world, friend. Pokemon are creatures which live around our world and we can become friends and train them. All sorts of oppertunities exist with them.

[He smiled and pulled out a Pokeball. It became bigger in his palm as he threw it into the air. Out popped Sunflora, a golden sunflower Pokemon.]

[much_rejoicing]

[Bard may be a minstrel (it's even in his name!), but he's not a very good one. He's a great singer-- that's not the issue-- it's just that his personality leaves much to be desired. He takes one look at the Pokémon, and subtly reaches behind himself in case he needs to get out his crossbow.]

That... looks suspiciously like some of the things I've had to kill in the labyrinth.

[beauty_and_harmony]

Please, no. [Nando looked shocked.] We do not kill Pokemon. Only bad organisations such as Team Galactic use or hurt Pokemon for their own gains. We Trainers and Coordinators take pride in our Pokemon.

[Sunflora looked a little scared at the new stranger but he looked up at him anyway.] Sunflora is curious of you. He would never hurt anyone.

[much_rejoicing]

[That's the difference between Pokémon and most JRPGs, buddy. What you guys capture and train, everyone else is beating to death with swords and magic lest they get eaten.

Bard's arm visibly relaxes and he plasters a big ol' grin on his face.]

Well in that case, it's fine! But man, in my world? Something like that would gleefully tear your face off~ Same with butterflies, moles, deer, eldritch abominations... Point is, I'm sorry I was so quick to judge your dear flower monster... thing.

[beauty_and_harmony]

It'a alright. No harm done. [He gave the other man a smile.] How about an introduction? I am Nando. I come from Sinnoh but travel around, bringing music wherever I go. I am a Pokemon Trainer and Coordinator.

[unlockeing]

Music and pokemon....?

[beauty_and_harmony]

Yes. Don't you agree?

[unlockeing]

[His expression says yes, but..]

Never really heard of anyone combining the two, outside of a few people I met in places like this.

[beauty_and_harmony]

Oh, but the two are beautiful together. Pokemon and music go together like water and the wind. [He smiled.] What is your name, friend? I am Nando.

[unlockeing]

'm Samson. [Grinning ear to ear, now.]

So... you and your pokemon perform, together? Can I see?

[beauty_and_harmony]

Nice to meet you, Samsom.

Yes, we perform together as one. Whether it be in battle or in a contest, we work together.

[unlockeing]

...Oh. [Battles, too? He thought you were different, Nando. He thought you were better than that.]

We don't have anything but battles where I'm from.

[much_rejoicing]

[He gets what a 'trainer' is from Nando's explanation, but he has no clue what that 'coordinator' business is all about.]

Bard DeMinsrel, [Probably not his real name.] troubadour, adventurer, and local hero [That last one is a lie.]. I hail from the grand duchy of High Lagaard. [At the moment, at least. He's also con-man, did he mention con-man? Of course not.]

A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Nando. Though I have to ask... I think I understand the 'trainer' bit, but what's a coordinator?

[beauty_and_harmony]

A coordinator is someone who competes in Pokemon contests. You face a panel of judges who judge Pokemon in their beauty and their moves when out in front of the audience.

Trainers and coordinators compete within an arena and show off their prize Pokemon to win points, usually competing against other opponents.

I compete regularly to try and earn my place in being a Pokemon coordinator.

[beauty_and_harmony]

Really? Do you not enjoy Pokemon battles? I believe they strengthen the bond between Pokemon and trainer.

prickly nuzlocke protag is prickly

[unlockeing]

Do you? [He looks away, half in customary not-seeking-battle gesture, half in shame. He and his team have drawn closer as a result of what they've been through, but...]

Don't treat something like that if you have a bond with it. Not just for fun and games, at least. Not just for entertainment.

[beauty_and_harmony]

I do, yes. I believe what the Pokemon wants is what I want. They want to achieve and become stronger, so I help them achieve that.

It isn't just for fun and games. Pokemon battles are an important part of a Pokemon's life. Growing stronger and finding new moves, strengths and weaknesses. It's all about life.

[unlockeing]

[Whatever goodwill Samson had left from the earlier mention of music is rapidly ebbing away. The battles in his world are bloody, brutal affairs, and to his ears Nando's words sound sickeningly callous. ]

'All about life'? About death is more like it!

[The alternate possibility- that it's not like that for everyone- hasn't even occured to him.]

[beauty_and_harmony]

[The battles in Wallace's world were far different. Friendly battles with no bloodshed or gore. Pokemon enjoyed them. He noticed the man's face and frowned.]

Death? No, my friend. None of the Pokemon get hurt or die. Are battles different from where you are from? Where I come from, they exist like a training platform for Pokemon. Perhaps I can show you.

[He closed his eyes for a moment before picking a Pokeball from his belt. Opening his eyes and throwing the little ball into the sky. Out popped his Sunflora, waving its head and smiling as it did. He threw another ball into the air and outpopped his Altaria, flying gracefully on cloud-like wings.]

A battle, my friend. Each Pokemon takes turns to use a move on the other. I shall demonstrate if you like.

[unlockeing]

None of.... really?

[Still reeling from this information, Samson just nods.]

[beauty_and_harmony]

[He nodded and smiled silently as he waved his hand in the air. It was a command which Sunflora knew well. He used his Grasswhistle attack, which sent other Pokemon asleep.

Altaria felt the Grasswhistle flow over it's body as it fell asleep. It couldn't fight the song as it slumbered peacefully.]

That is an example of a sleep attack. No one gets hurt, see?

[unlockeing]

..Well, yeah. Would that be a win for you, then?

[If harmless effects like sleep and paralysis are all that's used, then of course there'd be no harm done- but he's pretty sure not all pokemon can learn moves like that. Do they just not train those?]

[beauty_and_harmony]

If the Altaria was another Trainer's Pokemon then yes. Since I caused a sleep effect for their Pokemon, they lose that round. [He nodded.]

Do you understand a little better at how we battle in my world?

[unlockeing]

A little. So... most attacks you just don't use?

[That's even stranger than his tactic of having his team pull punches. As glad as he is to see both parties come away completely unscathed, he doesn't think something like this could ever catch on in his world.]

[beauty_and_harmony]

Some we use and some we don't. It depends on what type of Pokemon is in use also. Such as a fire type against a water type. If I were the water type, I'd use water against fire and so on. There is a lot to learn when it comes to battling.

[unlockeing]

[Oh, now that's just getting condescending.]

Thought you said you only use moves that don't hurt? Types shouldn't matter much if you're just putting the opponent to sleep.

[beauty_and_harmony]

We have got moves that inflict damage but the Pokemon are trained so that the damage isn't severe. We don't hurt each other's Pokemon. [He snapped his fingers as his Altaria opened it's eyes and looked at Nando.]

Altaria can use Wing Attack on Sunflora, since Sunflora is weak to Flying attacks.

[unlockeing]

[But that sounds just like-]

You... You fight like I do.

[Staring in wonderment, now.]

[beauty_and_harmony]

Fight like you do? How else would you conduct a Pokemon battle? I am curious.

[unlockeing]

...To the death, or close to it.

Both sides coming out with no permanent harm, usually happens only by accident or with rookie trainers.

[beauty_and_harmony]

[Nando looked appauled at that. Death?]

That is unacceptable. The trainer should know better than to let his Pokemon become so weak that they die. It is never the case in my world. Only criminals and evil people do that. I am not among that.

I treat my Pokemon with love and care which all trainers should.