I'm still playing around with this and editing as I go. Thank you to everyone who leaves reviews, because they make my week 3
Chapter 5: Moving On
The first grey fingers of dawn were pulling across s the sky by the time police finally got around to interviewing me. Serena had pulled Shauna and the boys into the pokéball shop, which was one of the many stores that had opened to take in the dozens of trainers and other travellers running from the inn, muttering about prices. Since Serena had only used her froakie last night, I could only guess that none of them had caught any pokémon yet.
I sighed, and stretched as best I could. I was hunkered in the corner of the small clinic with about a dozen other trainers, waiting for my pokémon to be returned. The scatterbug had been singed pretty bad when I caught it, and both birds had been on their last legs fighting Team Flare for me. Even Loxley had taken a few shots last night, and the drenching from the sprinklers hadn't done him any good either. Luckily, he didn't have an open flame to his body, or the water would have seriously hurt him. As it was, I had been advised by the nurse, after a sound lecture about taking care of my pokémon, that his fire attacks would be muted a few days before his inner flame recharged. I wasn't doing too well myself. I had gotten maybe two hours of sleep last night, not nearly enough to recover from yesterday, and my status bar was still pulsing in warning. My whole body throbbed and I just wanted to sleep.
"Pokémon Trainer Gryffin Gabena?" called a blond ranger from the front entrance.
I blinked sleepily and raised my hand with a yawn.
The red uniformed man waded through the crowded floor stand in front of me. "A moment of your time … mademoiselle."
It wasn't really a request, and the way he said the last word twisted my lips something awful, but I was honestly too tired to care for more than a brief moment. I yawned again, and nodded.
"You were the first awake last night in the inn?" he asked stiffly.
The question honestly baffled me. "Uh, no," I hesitated. "I'm afraid I really don't think I was. What with Team Flare-"
"How do you know who attacked you?" he interrupted sharply.
"Uh…" My mind raced for a quick excuse. "One of the men in the stairwell? He said they were Team Flare?" I hadn't meant for it to come out with such little confidence. But it's not like I could tell them I knew from playing a video game in my previous life… Or that my current life actually was one. Luckily, the ranger just scribbled on a pad.
"And you were the first one awake," he tried again. And this was honestly starting to feel like an interrogation. The sick realization pulled me firmly into the waking world.
"No," I repeated. "Obviously Team Flare was awake first. And whoever they woke up before I did. There was screaming coming from the lower floors."
The ranger stared at me expressionless. "And the screams woke you up."
"Well, no," I admitted. "Loxley, my fennekin, woke me up. Snarling something awful."
The ranger frowned. "You have a fennekin?" He almost sounded bitter.
"Got him yesterday afternoon," I said carefully, unable to understand why the man was so obviously unhappy with me. "From Professor Sycamore. I was with Shauna Rayne and Serena Lapointe; they got pokémon too. I think they're in the ball shop across the plaza if you need to ask them."
"I will," he drawled. "And after your pokémon woke you up?"
"I realized the door was locked, that there was screaming from below and that I was locked in," I explained. "I knew I needed to get out. I wasn't getting through a solid wood door so I went through the wall instead."
"Through … the wall?" Honestly this man sounded like nothing ever made him happy.
"Gypsum drywall is pretty easy to break," I yawned. "My walking stick went through it easy enough." I tried to shrug, but ended up rubbing my shoulder when it popped mulishly. "After that I went up to find my friends."
"Up," clarified the ranger, "Why not down?"
I desperately hoped the look on my face conveyed the sheer stupidity I considered that question to be. "Down? Towards the screaming? Sound like a fast way to die, no thank you," I snarked. "Up, to my friends, because safety in numbers is common sense."
He clearly didn't appreciate my sarcasm in the slightest. "And you took the time to attack three people in the stairs on your way?"
Ignoring the pain, I stomped up, my nose not even a hands-width from his neck, and glared. He leaned back at the sudden proximity, and every head in the clinic turned to watch us as I lost the last shreds of my temper. "They attacked me," I articulated with a snarl. "First two at once, then a third came up after. They all attacked me. One of their pokémon attacked me. Speaking of which!" I took a moment to rustle in my bag, to hide calling up my inventory. "These are for you, sir. It's the pokémon I took from them after I knocked them out."
The ranger fumbled, dropping his notepad as I shoved five pokéballs into his hands.
"After that," I continued without allowing him to say anything, "I went up to my friends' room, cut through the drywall again to get them, and kept cutting until I got several people free and we decided to go out a window. At which point we were attacked, again, trying to leave the rooms, and then a third time after several people had gone down a fire escape by an absolutely ridiculous woman and damn houndoom intent on murder. Do you need to know anything else, sir?"
At this point the distinct sound of someone clearing their throat cut through the air. A taller, darker skinned man in the same red uniform frowned from the clinic's counter.
The man in front of me stuttered at the sight of his fellow ranger, and was suddenly aware of all the eyes in the room watching, muttering, low and angry. Several of the trainers I'd rescued alongside my friends were still there, and they openly glared at the man, muttering darkly. I raised an eyebrow at him. A garbled apology might have been mumbled as he marched from the clinic with the Team Flare pokémon still haphazardly in his arms.
"I apologize for him," the new ranger said as he came over. "Detective Berger can be … enthusiastic about his job."
I slumped against the wall, too tired to remain properly angry, no matter how awful the departing ranger was. "Do you need anything else sir?" I just wanted to sit back down. Check that, I wanted to go back to bed. Too bad it was currently a crime scene.
"Lieutenant Moreau," he introduced, ignoring my attitude and extending a hand that I shook limply, "and non, miss, we were just wanting to confirm who you were. We've actually already spoken to Mademoiselle Lapointe." He smiled sadly. "You probably saved quite a few lives this morning. If not for the alarme incendie you set off, they might have gotten away before we even knew they'd attacked. It is good to see a young lady with such a level head on her shoulders, even if I wish you'd never been in a situation where you needed to use it."
He left after another handshake, and I slid back down into the corner with a moan. Still too stressed, not to mention uncomfortable, to sleep, I spent time silently using [Observe] on the various people and pokémon shifting through the crowded clinic. No one was even vaguely interesting, but I managed to level the skill up twice after repeated use.
I sniffed and shifted my head on my knees. I was so sore. I was so tired.
And I wanted to go home so badly.
XYXYXY
I bailed on the clinic just as soon as they gave me back my pokémon. I hadn't seen Serena or the others again, but honestly, I wasn't too worried. Aquacorde was currently crawling in cops. I'd run into Lt. Moreau again, and managed to get directions to a small sporting goods store the ranger recommended. It didn't open until 11 am, and since it was barely past 10 when I got there I decided to finally go through all the game alerts. I tucked myself onto a bench next to the building and clicked on my HUD.
[Quest Update!]
Off We Go! Part 4: Complete! +100 EXP, 500, +500 to all Relationships
Hidden Objective 1/3: Catch more Pokémon (+100 EXP per pokémon): +200 EXP
Hidden Objective 2/3: N/A
Hidden Objective 3/3: Make it back to Aquacorde before midnight: +50 EXP
[Quest Update!]
You're Inn Trouble! Complete! +500 EXP, +5 AP, €5000
Hidden Objective 1/5: Escape with all your friends and pokémon together: +400 EXP
Hidden Objective 2/5: Defeat (3) Team Flare Grunts (+100 EXP, +€500 per grunt): +500 EXP, €2500
Hidden Objective 3/5: Rescue (3) pokémon from Team Flare (+100 EXP per Pokémon, +500 REL with [Kalos]): + 500 EXP, +500 REL with [Kalos]
Hidden Objective 4/5: Rescue (3) other trainers (+100 EXP per Trainer, special item granted): +600 EXP, unlocked! Special Item Drop!
Hidden Objective 5/5: NA
Congratulations! You have leveled up!
My head swam from all the numbers, and I had to read through the updates a second time. I poked around the hidden objectives again.
"What the …" I mumbled, looking at Inn Trouble, "What's 'special item drop'?"
As soon as I said it, my game screens blurred and I felt frozen in place.
"Oh! Mademoiselle Gabena! There you are, Mademoiselle Gabena!"
I looked over to see one the trainers from the Inn, the older teen who had been with her little sister, running up the street toward me. Still stuck on the bench, I could only raise an arm to wave at her. She rushed over, babbling a long stream of Kalais I couldn't understand before thrusting a small gift bag toward me.
"I simply insist!" she nearly bawled as I took the bag. "Without you, ma petite soeur could have been…"
"I'm glad you're both alright," I told the girl as she broke off sniffling. What else could I say? Last night had been terrifying, and I at least had the Gamer's Mind perk. The girl nodded and thanked me again before turning around the way she came. I was left with the distinct feeling of having been through a cut-scene.
I sat awkwardly on the bench as my HUD reformed around me.
Acquired! Special Item: Sky Plate: +20% to Flying type moves when equipped
I sucked in a low breath as I peeked into the bag. Sure enough, laying inside the tissue paper was a pale blue enamel plate fitted on a matching strap, clearly meant to be fastened around a pokémon's neck. The hold item was one heck of a booster to get so soon.
Turning back to my screens, I goggled at the numbers again. I'd gotten over three thousand experience points and seven levels since yesterday afternoon.
Gryffin Gabena lvl 10, 216/730 EXP to next level, €10500
HP: 16/113
MP: 8/9
ED: 2/7
STR: 7
DEF: 7
VIT: 7
DEX: 6
INT: 6
WIS: 6
CSM: 3
LUK: 5
AP: 40
New Perks Available!
I winced, finally seeing why my status bar was still blinking crimson, but was somewhat pleased to see that my dexterity and charisma had gone up a little; it meant that my [Magic Fingers] perk was working. I decided to look at the new perks available before distributing any AP. The new choices were a little overwhelming.
[Birds of a Feather] Flying pokémon are more likely to appear! +10% EXP gains for all flying pokémon. -10% PP usage for all flying type moves.
[Bug Out] Bug pokémon are more likely to appear! +10% EXP gains for all bug pokémon. -10% PP usage for all bug type moves.
[Coming Through] Nothing can slow you down! +1 to DEF, unlocks [Speed] skill
[Ball Buster] Hit them where it hurts girl! +1 to STR, +1 to DEF, one time -10% to all REL with male characters except [Patrick Higashi]
[Bat Shit Crazy] Where do you come up with these wild ideas? +1 INT, +1 WIS, one time -10% CSM
[Undercover] You're (mostly) successful at sneaking around. +1 to WIS, +1 to LUK, unlocks [Stealth] skill
[Sleight of Hand] You can pull anything out of that 'hat'! +1 to INT, +1 to DEX, unlocks [Deception] skill
[Knock On Wood] You're getting pretty good with that tree branch, but how about a real weapon? +1 STR, gain (1) Oak Staff, unlocks [Staves] in [Equip]
[By the Skin of your Teeth] How are you even alive? + 50 HP, unlocks [Light Armor] in [Equip]
[Over-Achiever] You've completed +10 Hidden Objectives! +250 to all [REL], +1 CSM, unlocks [Faith] skill
[Flare Despair] You're Team Flare's new nightmare! +10% to all STATS when fighting Team Flare, +10% to REL gains for defeating Team Flare
[Winning Streak] You've beaten (5) enemies in a row! +€5000
[Together We Stand] You've proven yourself a reliable companion! +1 CSM +500 to all REL, +10% to all STATS when in a [PARTY]
[Un Peu Plus] You can understand just a little bit more! +10% to [Kalais]
[Karmic Choices] You've had to make some tough decisions. +1 to WIS, unlocks [Alignment] menu in [Status]
I scanned the list carefully; I could pick seven, one for each level. The older perks like [Firestarter] and [Daddy's Girl] were still available, but I remained uninterested. The other type specific perks were also put to the side, as I didn't want a specialized team. After earning so many levels so quickly, I was actually feeling … pretty accomplished about my abilities. It was certainly helping me warm up to being a Gamer, even though I knew I'd still have issues adjusting.
There were several skills I could unlock with these perks, and my RPG nerdiness was raging to get them all. But what I was most interested in was actually the Alignment option. Add in the additional point to wisdom, and [Karmic Choices] was my first option. I had to see what the new menu feature had to offer.
[Alignment] is a method of forging your own identity. You can choose an initial alignment based on the grid of Good-Evil and Lawful-Chaotic. Reputation gains with other people of corresponding alignments will be boosted, while those with opposing alignments will be diminished
Please note that your initial choice is not permanent. Your actions in life will affect your alignment, for better or worse, so choose carefully.
[Alignment Reset] is currently unavailable.
I wasted no time setting my alignment to Neutral Good. Truthfully, I was probably more of a true neutral kind of person. I didn't really believe in some Greater Good (TM), and being deliberately cruel definitely wasn't something I enjoyed, but I wasn't very self-sacrificing. I'd had some truly horrible experiences growing up with people taking advantage of the expectations placed on women to help no matter what, and I was well and truly over it. Nice had limits. And if that messed up my alignment down the road, I could burn those bridges when I got to them.
Moving on to the other perks, I decided that [Bat Shit Crazy] was better to take now, when the hit to my charisma would be non-existent. I also couldn't resist the lure of a proper weapon, since I'd never gotten that knife back from Serena, or the ability to wear armor when and if I ever found it (hopefully soon), especially since it came with a desperately needed boost to HP. [Ball Buster] also got chosen for the stats bonuses.
I agonized over the final three for nearly half an hour, and the staff for the sporting goods store actually arrived to start opening before I decided to bit the bullet and make my final decisions. I knew I needed to improve my language skills, but I wasn't wasting a perk on it. Taking my newly minted alignment into consideration, and my previous promise to myself not to ignore my charisma stats, the Faith and Speed skills were my best options.
With all my perks chosen, my HP was up to 162 and my MP and ED were both at 10. I decided to hold off on distributing the main chunk of my AP until after shopping, as I hoped that unlocking Light Armor meant that the store would have something I could use. It wouldn't do to finally have access to equipment only to be stalled by stat requirements. I went over my newly chosen abilities while I waited the final minutes for the store to open.
[Speed] lvl 1, 0%
Somewhat affected by Dexterity, this skill allows you to move more quickly in battle and across terrain. Uses (1) ED per five minutes. The length of time in use can be extended as you improve.
I sneered at the screen. Speed was basically what I'd been using yesterday to jog back and forth from Vaniville, but I hadn't gained any experience from those trips. I wasn't looking forward to training this particular skill. I hoped Faith was better.
[Faith] lvl 1, 0%
Creates a temporary buff to MP and mental stats for all Team and Party members. Uses (5) MP per use. Lasts 30 seconds. Buff percentage and length of time in effect go up as you improve.
I sighed in relief, a smile on my face for the first time that morning. Faith sounded very similar to the White Magic spell in Final Fantasy by the same name and I really hoped that meant other spells might become available later. My friends had often lamented my obsession with the mage classes whenever we played games, but I could never resist. Once a witch, always a witch. I would still try to keep my stats even, as I believed in well-rounded characters, but I was really looking forward to this skill. I closed all my Game windows with a grin still on my face.
They'd finally unlocked the front door.
XYXYXY
Tour La Mount was small, only a few dozen square meters, but made up for it by being stuffed to the rafters. A sturdy looking clerk in the neatest pressed plaid shirt I'd ever seen assured me there was even more in the back if I needed it. He looked about twenty, and despite being obviously pleased to have a girl in the store was very professional and polite. If I knew the Kalos version of Yelp, I'd have given the place a five-star review. It wasn't every day a male associate could show you to sports bras with a straight face and a healthy respect for personal space.
Luckily, they had high impact bras, but it took trying on a few sizes to find the right fit. Getting shrunk back to a teenage body had already meant my sizes were different, but the way Kalos sized their clothing was strange. 85/4 was completely different from the bra sizes I was used to. But they had 2 in stock and at only €3000 each there was no way I wasn't getting both. Better yet, I found a leather vest on clearance that my Gamer Ability identified as my newly unlocked Light Armor, offering +5 DEF, even though it required 10 DEF to wear first. It was €3500, which was … fair, even if it devoured most of my remaining funds. A heavy-duty water bottle topped off my limited purchases. I wasn't broke, not quite, but I really hoped I could get some more prize money from battles or quests soon or I'd be in trouble.
The clerk happily rang me up, only pausing to question whether I really wanted the vest because it was apparently men's clothing. I assured him I did; I honestly hadn't cared beyond making sure it fit. Nothing else in the store had been labeled as armor. I used the fitting room to change bras before I left, stuffing the other one and the gear in my purse with a sad frown. The camping backpacks had been out of my price range considering it would really just be a cover for the Game's inventory feature. I also had to consider other equipment, like tents and sleeping bags. Ugh, sleeping bag. So tired.
Sighing at my logistical problems, I left the store with my new vest tucked into my elbow. I intended to put it on as soon as I could. I sat back down on the bench and called up the Status Menu again.
I grit my teeth briefly before spending 15 points to bring my lowest stats: dexterity, charisma, and luck all up to 10 each. I fiddled around a bit before deciding to spend another 19 AP to bring all the other stats up to 12 each. I might specialize later, but until I knew if there was a job system or what special skills might become available, even growth seemed to be the safest decision. In the end I was very happy with my final stats.
Gryffin Gabena lvl 10, 216/730 EXP to next level, €500
HP: 66/242
MP: 8/13
ED: 2/11
STR: 12
DEF: 12 (+5)
VIT: 12
DEX: 10
INT: 12
WIS: 12
CSM: 10
LUK: 10
AP:6
Perks:
[Magic Fingers]
[Punctual]
[Coming Through]
[Ball Buster]
[Bat Shit Crazy]
[Knock On Wood]
[By the Skin of your Teeth]
[Over-Achiever]
[Karmic Choices]
I closed the windows with a groan, rubbing my shoulder again. I eyed the green space along the river walk in the distance, noting several trees peaking above the walled walkway from the bank below. I was still utterly exhausted, and completely done with people for a while. What I needed, more than anything else in the world right now, was a NAP.
XYXYXY
"Gryffin-chan!"
Nyeh.
"Hey, Gryffin-chan!"
I cracked one gummy eye open at Shauna's distinct calls only to be greeted with another HUD pop-up.
You have rested on soft grass! HP, MP, and ED 25% restored!
I waived it away with a groan and stretched out to pop my back and neck. Loxley mewled in protest from my lap. I had let him out as extra protection during my nap, figuring the sunshine would only help him. His paws curled into my shirt as he nuzzled under one side of my unzipped vest. He clearly didn't want to get up either.
"So cute!" Shauna gushed at as she hopped over. "And hey! We've been looking everywhere for you!"
"Eh?" was my intelligent reply as I woke up enough to realize that Serena, Trevor, and Tierno were coming down the stone steps to the bank as well. I sat up from the willow tree I was tucked under, getting a sleepy grumble from Loxley as he was dislodged from my abdomen. "What's up guys?"
"You're alright!" Tierno cheered as he jogged over.
"We were worried when we couldn't find you at the clinic!" Shauna added, with such a sad puppy expression I genuinely felt bad for leaving like I did.
"Have you been here all morning?" Serena asked as she came over, and the stoic girl actually looked concerned herself. It was kind of touching after the rough start I'd had with her.
"Since a little before noon," I told her. "I'm not sure what time it is now."
"Almost 2," she responded. "We were worried we wouldn't find you in time."
"For Santalune!" Shauna jumped in when I gave Serena a baffled expression. "We want to go through the forest together!"
"It should only take a couple hours to reach the city," Trevor explained with a soft smile. "We wanted to go through the forest path. You'll come with us, won't you?"
"Sure," I grinned, surprisingly happy to be invited. "When did you want to go?"
Serena pulled out her phone to check something. "We should leave by four if we want to make it to Santalune City before it gets dark. That leaves us time to get lunch and buy supplies … if you want to join us, of course. Our treat." She offered with a small, sad smile.
"Well, sure, bribe me with food," I snorted. "Meet you at the café in an hour?"
The megawatt smiles I got could probably light up Paris … Oh, no wait. Lumiose City. I waved the four of them goodbye with a smile before turning to frown at my HUD.
XYXYXY
"That is complete and utter bullshit," I snapped at the offending blue screen.
Skill not available
"It's a standard Gamer skill!" I insisted. "How can you not have it?!"
Skill not available
My fingers clawed the air as I tried not to shriek in fury. The Riverwalk was technically a public park, and even if I was tucked into the bushes, someone could still hear me. I didn't want my Gamer abilities discovered or for someone to think I was crazy. Although, if the Game kept being uncooperative, I might get there.
"Look," I took a deep breath, "It's really quite simple. Instant. Dungeon. Create."
Skill not available
I shivered as I suppressed my growing temper. "Then how do I make it available?!"
Skills become available only when certain levels and achievements have been accomplished. Some skills become available automatically once the requirements have been met. Others must be chosen from Perks made available during Level Up. Do you need further clarification?
"You know what," I grit out, "Yes. Please clarify."
There are two ways to replace skills. Some skills are not compatible. Choosing a new skill that is incompatible with an old skill will negate the old skill. The obsolete skill will have progress halved and the skill set frozen, though still available in its reduced form. Another way to replace a Skill is with an advanced Skill. Advanced Skills only become available after a Skill has been mastered. Some advanced skills are granted automatically upon mastery of a lesser Skill. Some advanced Skills become available only when certain levels and achievements have been accomplished, but mastery of previous levels is still required.
"Lovely," I sighed. "That explains a lot, but still not what I was hoping for. When, exactly, does Instant Dungeon Creation become available?"
Skill not available
I pinched the bridge of my nose, hoping to ward off the impending headache. I'd barely slept, I'd had little to no personal time, and the Game was being extremely frustrating.
"What," I tried again, "are the requirements for Instant Dungeon Creation? Is it even something I can do in this damn Game of yours?"
Instant Dungeon Creation, also known as [ID Create] and its accompanying skill, Instant Dungeon Escape, [ID Escape], are listed skills in Pokémon XY The Game.
'Finally,' I rolled my eyes. At least it had answered one question. "What are the requirements to use ID Create?"
Requirements to unlock [ID Create] and [ID Escape] are (1) reach level 5 and (2) [?].
I planted my face into my palms and tried not to sob. "Look on the bright side," I told myself. "At least we've got the level down. Now we just have to figure out what else I get to do."
"Is the skill at least automatic?" I whined to the Game.
The Skills [ID Create] and [ID Escape] are awarded automatically once all requirements have been met.
At least they weren't perk skills. Not that I'd mind if they were; they'd be my first choice for sure. But with the last batch of perks available, I was starting to think I should hold off on immediately choosing perks as soon as I leveled. I wanted to be able to choose complimentary perks that built on each other, like if they offered a perk that increased my Mana while also offering new magick Skills. Luckily, the Game was at least nice enough to allow me to save Perk Points [PP] as they were called during level ups. Also fun, now that I was level ten, I got 2 PP a level, and once I got to level 20 I'd get 3. It made me highly suspicious that better perks were going to cost me more PP and that the whole Perk thing was going to pan out like the License Boards in FFXII. Now if only I knew whether or not I'd get trapped in a job system.
I sighed and closed the various windows on my HUD. The remaining bar, that I still didn't know how to dismiss, gave me my basic HP, MP, and ED alongside the time. I'd spent almost forty minutes trying to navigate the Game, and I needed to get going if I wanted to be on time.
XYXYXY
"-de nombreux criminels ont été appréhendés grâce aux efforts de plusiers jeunes dresseurs, mais il est consiellé aux citoyens de rester vigilants car plusiers dirigeants restent en fuite."
I frowned at the news bulletin playing in Kalais above the café counter. I got criminals, trainers, citizens, and remain vigilant but despite knowing several new words, I just couldn't understand the announcement.
"They're saying the leaders got away," Trevor translated softly. I nodded solemnly, muttering my thanks. "You really did save us," the boy continued, "And they caught several of them because of you."
"It will only be the lowest level criminals," I groused, swirling my straw in my lemonade. I'd needed the HP boost so badly. "No one important enough to actually matter." Team Flare was only beginning to menace the Kalos region, and it felt like for all the fuss around town, no one was taking it seriously. But I remembered the supposedly ultimate weapon, and the damage it could and would do.
"You're really worried, aren't you?" Trevor ventured, and shuddered at the grimace I gave him. It kind of blew my mind that my new friends weren't worried about Team Flare. They had seemed to bounce back from the night's events fairly quickly. I played with my straw as I considered how to answer him.
"I'm from Kanto," I eventually explained, having spent enough time playing the Pokémon games to come up with reasons I actually would be concerned. "And we had Team Rocket." That name sent shivers around the table. "Everyone thought they were a joke at first too. My dad is a cop though. He never said anything at home, but you could tell." I left the explanation vague, letting their imaginations fill in the blanks. Hopefully the warning would keep them away from danger at least a little longer. In my head, I was still older, and felt responsible for the teenagers I had befriended. Luckily, they finally seemed appropriately wary.
The food Serena ordered arrived soon after that, and the grim mood was alleviated by chewing through odd but hearty ham and butter sandwiches that gave me another 25 HP and a thirty-minute strength buff. Eventually Shauna started bouncing in her seat, with Tierno tapping his feet not long after. Serena dragged them off with a growl, and Trevor trailed behind shortly after. I took the time to wrap the remaining sandwiches in napkins, tucking them into my purse before leaving a small pile of coins on the table as a tip and sprinting off after my friends.
As expected, I ended up having to go through a catching tutorial with Shauna and Serena as we got to the edge of the forest. I didn't mind the extra point to dexterity, or the new [Basic Toss] skill that added an extra percentage point to captures for every level I improved it, but the whole thing felt … coerced. I'd basically been trapped in another cut scene with no way out.
It was making me seriously question the concept of Free Will and I did not like it.
But Trevor was happy, Shauna was ecstatic, Tierno was adding the occasional twirl to his skips, and Serena was smiling as she dodged my question about her parents since she'd made the odd comment. She had a map. Shauna had potions. Trevor was smiling as Tierno's dancing got more blatant. Into the forest we went, and if I played with my braid in wide silly gestures, well, no one would ever guess that I was spinning a Pokéstop icon.
You know when you get a new game and you spend a whole day just grinding and mucking about so you can ditch your startup gear? That's what this was.