[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

[naive_nature]

Oh, did you release them...or just maybe found them in the wild then?

[whateveryoueatliveitspart]

I released them. They wanted to start a hive and they were storing their eggs in my PC box over the winter and spring. We brought all of the eggs out a few days ago and they all finished hatching today.

[naive_nature]

That's amazing! What dedication to your Pokemon! I'll definitely keep that in mind if mine start having more eggs like that.

[whateveryoueatliveitspart]

[The video wobbles slightly and Apollo sounds a little awkward or embarrassed when he responds.]

I just did what they wanted me to. I make sure that all of the Pokémon who are with me know that they can leave whenever they want. Vespiquen and Combee wanted to, so I didn't stop them.

[naive_nature]

Are you able to understand them that much? I'm trying to learn...but it's kind of difficult.

[whateveryoueatliveitspart]

Yeah, I can talk to them well enough that I can understand something like that. I don't know if you can learn telepathy, but if you keep watching them I'm sure that you'll be able to understand most of what they're trying to say eventually.

[naive_nature]

I really would like to. Would you maybe...be willing to teach me how to recognize some things?

[whateveryoueatliveitspart]

I've never tried to teach anyone before, so I'm not sure what to do, but I can try.

[naive_nature]

I'd really appreciate it!

[whateveryoueatliveitspart]

Hm. What do you want to know first then?

[naive_nature]

Well, probably how to gauge their emotions.

[whateveryoueatliveitspart]

It's different for different animals, but some things are the same for a lot of them. For example, if an animal shows their teeth to you it's a threat, and if you show your teeth to them they'll usually think you're threatening them. [Insert a reasonably well-worded summary of more common ways that animals display their emotions, because the mun doesn't know enough about the topic to make the kind of generalizations that Apollo can. He ends by pointing out again that not all animals are exactly the same and that he's seen some Pokémon who don't follow these kinds of animal behaviors. He's definitely enjoying the chance to talk about this kind of thing.]