bottlecaplogs | APRIL CATCH-ALL

Ah! Yes, quite far indeed! Though I have a friend who traveled there from Galar - I think he has mentioned the species, actually!

[Ingo knows a fair amount of Galar trivia, considering that he spent a while thinking that he might have come from there.]

Bravo! I am a fire and ghost type! Ghost and dark do often share rather similar aesthetics, and both that and the fire typing are far more visible when I am in battle!

[He ignites his collar, not as fully as he might if he were in a real battle but certainly enough to be visible.]

[ His eyes light up at getting the answer partially right, but it's nothing compared to the look on his face when he sees Ingo's collar ignite. ]

That's why you had the right scent! Your flames look different than others I've seen, too. Dual-types express their abilities just a bit differently, then. [ He tilts his head a little in thought. ] I'm still wrapping my head around ghosts, though. Some look undead, but others... not exactly. [ Case in point, Ingo! ]

Indeed! Usually, ghosts who are not particularly...hm, phantasmal have another type as well...though that is certainly not to say that a dual-typed ghost could not be that way! There are really very few hard-and-fast rules like that, when it comes to Pokemon forms and typings!

Phantasmal. That's a good way to put it. I'll have to remember all of this.

Adopting ghost traits without actually being ghosts... Pokémon really are unique creatures. Dual-typings must lead to a lot of interesting combinations. Even opposite types aren't exactly off the table, then?

They're not! It's not the most common, but it certainly happens! There are grass-and-water Pokemon, and ghost-and-dark - that sort of thing! Emmet, my brother, is a ghost-and-normal type! It's a particularly interesting combination, ghost types are usually completely immune to all normal-type moves, and vice versa!

That is interesting! Almost like a special kind of adaptation to their weaknesses, with extra resistances, too. That kind of coverage would be perfect for battling... [ His eyes are practically sparkling at the idea. A boy can certainly dream.]

What Pokémon is he? Are they rare where you're from?

It is very strong defensively! He is only extra vulnerable to dark-type moves, outside of certain very specific conditions! There are fighting-types that learn a move which allows them to strike ghosts, but they must use that successfully first, and Emmet's quite fast! He could get in some good hits while they set up!

[Of course it can be a viable strategy anyway in the right conditions - but it's complex! That's what makes it fun!]

[ Strategy too? Oh, now they're talking. ] That's right! Types are one thing, but moves can be just as unique. Enough to give even a fighting-type a chance... maybe if one coupled that move with a speed boost of some sort. That might give your brother some trouble, don't you think? [ Hypothetically of course.]

It certainly could! He cannot take many hits - or, well, his species typically cannot! I have not seen him in such a serious fight since we got here.

[Serious in tone, certainly, but the Swoobat didn't come that close to knocking Emmet out!]

There are also some Pokemon that have special abilities that can allow them to strike a ghost! In battle, things are rarely entirely clean-cut - there are always strategies one can employ to counter even significant advantages!

Hmm. Their speed works as their defense. That does make sense, but I wonder... [ He glances over at the vendor's assortment of berries again. ] There isn't a berry to help with that, is there? I know most can help with recovery, but it would be nice to get a boost.

—oh, and that's right! Abilities, too! So much to keep track of, and all during a battle... [ The admiration keeps growing. He can only imagine how cool Ingo must've looked with his whole Pokémon team. ] Do you know what ability you have...?

[ Laios trails off, realizing he hasn't gotten Ingo's name quite yet. The horror! ]

There are berries that can affect things like that, yes! Though they typically only work when consumed in a pinch, and they're rather rare! There are also some that weaken certain specific types of damage, but only when it is super-effective!

[Ingo. Does not pick up on this! He'll be mortified when he realizes his own failure to introduce himself, but just now he's too interested in the conversation.]

Ah, well - it is a bit difficult to test, considering, but Emmet believes - and I agree - that it is most likely Blaze! It means that my flames will burn hotter when I am hurt!

Berry farming must be quite the science with all these varieties. [ They're almost as interesting to him as Pokémon at this point, which is a little surprising. ] I've noticed abilities are little trickier to pin down... but that's incredibly useful! It'll help in a pinch during a dangerous situation. How cool...

[ A pause. ] N-not that I hope you have to use it anytime soon or anything! Just that it's a cool ability to maybe have!

It certainly can be! Sometimes it helps turn the tide of what seemed to be a losing battle!

[And just about here is where he has his realization about their total lack of introductions.]

Ah! But I have been terribly rude! My name is Ingo! I was a Warden, at home, but I suppose that doesn't matter very much here...

Ingo! [ He sounds absolutely relieved. The vendor nearby is probably shaking their head. ] I'm Laios. It's really nice to meet you.

[ He smiles, but tilts his head just slightly. ] Ah... a warden? [ That means something very different for him back home! ] Well, titles might not mean much around here [ A good thing, for him personally. ] but your Pokémon knowledge certainly does. Especially for newcomers like me!

It is good to meet you as well!

Yes, my brother Emmet and I are both from a world with Pokemon in it! We are the only ones, as far as I know...it certainly does provide an advantage! That is why we have both been trying to help everyone else! Much of this would be difficult to learn through trial and error! The local Pokemon are doing a great deal as well, of course, but we ought to pitch in as we can!

I'm sure the local Pokémon appreciate it, too! It must be hard explaining things that come naturally to them. You and your brother can bring a different unique perspective to all of this.

[ His smile wanes just a bit, thinking over a few of Ingo's words again. ]

There's... there might be another person, actually. From Alola? [ He pauses, trying to see if there's any hint of recognition on Ingo's face. ] She's the one who told me about Boltund behavior from her—um, your world. But I haven't seen her since I arrived. [ Concerning, now that he thinks about it. ]

Well, now there is Miss Akari as well...

[But, Alola? That's nothing to do with her. Ingo's facial expression doesn't change at all - it really hasn't done much beyond a resting frown the entire time they've been speaking, in spite of his apparent interest - but he does sound concerned.]

Ah, but. When I first arrived, that same day, there was a fellow from Alola there as well. But I only got to speak with him once, quite briefly, and then he vanished again. That has happened sometimes - once or twice they have returned, sometimes with a different form, but mostly not.

[A concerning topic. Though, that was a man, and this new person sounds to be a woman...]

I had not heard another had arrived! What sort of Pokemon is she?

Oh... [ Ever the stoic one, Ingo. At least it's adding to his cool factor, in Laios's book. ]

So someone else from Alola disappeared, too? [ He frowns a little, not sure what to make of it all. ] I guess there's been a few other people who I haven't seen around either. I'll just have to be on the lookout, then. [ His tone leaves off quieter than before, but it picks up again with Ingo's next question. ]

B-but, she was a Yungoos! The ones with the really sharp fangs? Do you have those where you're from?

We do not! Alola's quite far away, though, and a series of islands besides! It is quite interesting - I met a traveler from there once, and he had a number of Vulpix with him! They live in Hisui as well, but ours are red and fire-types, while his were white and ice-and-fairy type! He said that there, they live on a snowy mountain!

Oh, well, they’re not really native to Alola, either. I don’t think she said where they’re from, though... [ He pauses for a moment, trying hard to remember, but the mention of Vulpixes easily draws his attention. ] The same Pokemon can be different types?

[ Somehow, he hadn’t even considered this. ] How did I not—that’s so obvious! There’s evolution, but also actual adaptations. I wonder why they settled in the mountains. That’s... such a drastic change!

I'm afraid he did not know much about it! As far as he was concerned, Vulpix had always lived in that mountain, and our fire-types were the strange ones!

[Ingo imagines someone brought them to Alola on a boat, ages and ages ago, but who knows how they ended up in the mountains, doing all that?]

APRIL CATCH-ALL

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