[Video]

[whateveryoueatliveitspart]

[The video comes on to show an adult Vespiquen and Combee, along with 54 baby Combee, slowly flying over the surface of the Lake of Rage. Now and then one falters in the air, but quickly recovers and returns to its position in the flight. Fearow and Archeops (who has been thoroughly instructed that she's not allowed to attack any of the baby Combee) are escorting the swarm on the sides, wings spread to glide and only occasionally flapping in slow, graceful arcs. Apollo's following behind on the shoulder of his Golurk, as evidenced by the sound of thrusters in the background. The sun has begun to set, casting a golden red light over the scene and reflecting off of the lake's surface. Several Magikarp poke their heads out of the water briefly to watch the swarm fly overhead, and several Gyrados surface to watch as well, the roar of one off-screen echoing across the lake. Just before the feed ends, a Milotic leaps out of the water, sending droplets flying to catch the light and glitter, forming a faint rainbow in the air for an instant.

Apollo remains silent. He has nothing to add to this scene.]

Comments

[whateveryoueatliveitspart]

[He'll respond with the camera pointed at the Combee instead of himself.]

It is.

[autumnharvest]

Are those all wild, or are they yours?

[whateveryoueatliveitspart]

Their parents were with me, if that's what you mean. I released them all after everyone hatched.

[autumnharvest]

I see. I can imagine it would have been difficult to care for so many.

[whateveryoueatliveitspart]

Probably, but Vespiquen doesn't seem worried about it, so maybe it's easier than it seems.

[Or Vespiquen will just have papa!Combee do most of the heavy work.]

[autumnharvest]

Perhaps. You're the first person I know of who's released their pokémon into the wild.

[whateveryoueatliveitspart]

Really?

...I guess that that doesn't really surprise me. Most people here seem to think that the Pokémon who are with them belong to them. I don't leave the things that belong to me behind, so I guess if they think that a Pokémon is theirs then they won't either.

[autumnharvest]

I would not force my partners to come with me if they didn't wish to do so. Of course, I would be happier if they remained with me, but it's ultimately their choice.

[whateveryoueatliveitspart]

That's right. I wonder how many other people here think that way too?

[autumnharvest]

It's a good question. I would hope there are plenty of others who think the same way. Perhaps I will have to ask over this...network.

[whateveryoueatliveitspart]

I hope so too, but I know that there are some people here who don't. It might be worth asking everyone.

[autumnharvest]

I'll be sure to do so, then. Whether they are given to us or not, these creatures are still sentient beings with free will. They deserve to be treated as we would each other.

[whateveryoueatliveitspart]

That's right, they do.

[He likes that they're in agreement on that.]

[autumnharvest]

[As does she. A lot of these trainers make their pokemon fight, and for what? Renown? Minoriko had no interest in that, forcing other creatures to work for her.]

Indeed. I don't believe I got your name. I'm Minoriko Aki.

[whateveryoueatliveitspart]

Apollo.

[autumnharvest]

It's a pleasure to meet you, Apollo.

[whateveryoueatliveitspart]

[It still doesn't occur to him to respond with "it's nice to meet you too", even if he's thinking it. When she doesn't continue right away he at least gives an acknowledgement, in a "go on" kind of way.]

Mmhm.

[autumnharvest]

How long have you been in this world?

[whateveryoueatliveitspart]

Over a year.

What about you?

[autumnharvest]

That's quite some time away from home.

I've only been here for a couple of weeks.

[whateveryoueatliveitspart]

I was worried at first about what might be happening at home while I was gone, but a bunch of people here have told me that when we leave here we'll go back to when we left, so it will be like we never left at all.

There are still things that I miss from home though, even if this world is interesting.

[autumnharvest]

As was I. I am still slightly worried, but there's nothing I can do to change the fact that I am stuck in this world. I'll simply have to wait until a way back is found.

Mm. I agree. There are precious things in our own worlds that cannot be found here.