usedlaserbeam | 007 | Outskirts of Goldenrod City

[It's late afternoon on the outskirts of Goldenrod City, where Yagyuu has evidently been out training his team; it's a somewhat unusual sight to see them all out of their Pokeballs at once, but at the moment the full roster has been released to roam around the open expanse of field chosen for today's practice grounds.

Or at least, most of the full roster is: there's an Absol staked out relatively near his trainer, seemingly on high alert as he surveys the other Pokemon in his midst. Farther back from the camera, a Rapidash is roaming with a stately air as a very small Vulpix trots along beside him, bounding four steps for every one of his own. And even Yagyuu's Ditto seems to be present— if the occasional glimpse of purple molecular goo seeping over the edges of the camera lens is any indication.

Yagyuu himself is visible, too; he's crouching down to administer his Eevee's usual meticulous grooming— an activity she clearly seems to enjoy, given the way her tail is flicking with pleasure at the attention— and speaking quietly to her while he's at it.]

Now that Vampa's evolved, that only leaves you to go, doesn't it?

[And she coos, pushing her head against his hand insistently.]

You're certainly growing strong enough for it. And the necessary stones aren't particularly difficult to come by, either; a quick trip to the department store will easily take care of that. So it's just a matter of deciding which type suits you best, isn't it?

[He glances over, surveying his team as they roam and remarking almost absently:]

An electric type, perhaps, might—

[But he never gets the chance to finish the sentence, as the Eevee lets out one last emphatic trill before taking one step back and beginning to glow with bright, almost blinding light—

— and when it clears, there's an Espeon in her place, just as perfectly well-groomed and somehow managing to look twice as haughty for it.

Yagyuu, for his part, just stares for a few seconds before shaking his head in what is probably half amusement and half disbelief.]

...Ah.

[And he keeps staring, up until a Pidgeot comes flapping down from overhead a few minutes later, drawing his attention up and away from the Espeon and toward this latest arrival.]

Irene, another excellent job, but I see we'll have to work at perfecting your aim—

[And on that fairly cryptic note, purple goo oozes completely over the lens, and the Gear switches off.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ah, how willful of her.

It's her nature. And one I certainly don't mind encouraging.

It certain made her happy-- that's a very fetching shade of purple.

I agree, though I do hope the trend won't continue among my roster. Two purple members will be more than enough.

I didn't know you were so color-conscious.

It's not the color, it's the method. The only way any further members of my roster should be turning purple is if they have an unfortunate incident with a bottle of dye, and that's something I'd like to avoid at all costs.

Ah, you've been researching their evolutions. How many more to go?

Lady was the last, I believe. Unless the information at my disposal is incorrect, they should've all reached their final state of evolution by now.

On the other hand, the musical isn't over until the small fox sings.

That one is something of a special case. Wouldn't you agree?

Is it? I suppose she'd appreciate the special treatment.

It's a matter of simple practicality. She's outclassed by the others, but not yet at the point where a crushing defeat would encourage her to seek to overcome them. Pressure may turn coal into diamonds, but if not applied with care, it can also reduce it to dust.