22nd Spell: [Video/Action for Route 38]

[friendyousohard]

[The video clicks on with a view of a Magnezone hovering over the long grass, peering around as though looking for something. After several moments, it turns back to the gear and shakes its body back and forth, looking remarkably like a shaking head.]

Well, it's not surprising. I did have to search for weeks to find you, after all.

[The Magnezone bleeps unintelligibly at the gear. Even those who can understand Pokemon (and other Pokemon themselves) will only hear noises that sound oddly like R2-D2.]

Maybe someone else has one you can talk to. [The gear turns around to show Twilight's face.] A question. Well, two. First off, who out there has a Pokemon from the Magnemite line? And second, does anyone else have... trouble communicating with them? Of course most of us can't understand Pokemon when they talk, but even my other Pokemon can't seem to understand anything Tesla has to say. Are there other Magnemites who seem to have that issue? For that matter, other Pokemon in general? It's something I've never even heard of before.

Hmmm... and on a more general topic, here's something I've been wondering about for a while. If you were to take six Pokemon, start them at level one, and try to train them together as a coherent team, which ones would you pick? I've been considering the idea for a while now, and while I'm not certain it's practical to start right now I'd like to start gathering input.

Comments

[loveisabattlefield]

So perhaps another Magnemite would be best with trying to communicate with him...but then the problem becomes how to communicate with them. Assuming others are like him, of course.

(But it's that shounen-level directness that makes him so adorable! You kinda want to pat him on the head or hug him.)

That's true. I think the others and I can provide a few eggs to get you started, if you really want to go through with it. I would almost suggest a control group, but that would be your team up until now, wouldn't it?

[friendyousohard]

Which is why I was hoping someone else might have one, but I've gotten no answers on that subject. It's very odd, I wouldn't have thought their line would be that unpopular.

[Hugs would be very easy with him, but maybe a bit dangerous when he decides to hug back. Those arms are big.]

Precisely. And I appreciate the offer, though I was really hoping to get some ideas of specific species to try before I started the experiment. Maybe I should have just asked for recommendations on uncommonly seen Pokemon species...

[loveisabattlefield]

It is strange...they're not very difficult to find, are they? It might just be personal preference, otherwise.

(Maybe a little. It'll take some trust to make sure you'd still have a spine after that.

Cadence takes a moment to ponder.)

Well, what about Pokemon that have several different forms and evolutions? It'll let them branch out into different paths while not needing to search for six different species.

[friendyousohard]

I can't believe so few people would want a Magenezone. I mean, look at it!

[Bzzzt. Beep. I am a spaceship with eyes. Gaze upon my glory.]

That's an interesting idea, though... Someone did suggest six Eevees.

[loveisabattlefield]

(Cadence giggles.) I can't imagine why...but that means all the Magnezones are there are that much more special, aren't they?

(Of course Cadence is going to spin this into something positive. She always does.)

Six Eevees sound like they'll take on the job just fine. It'll also come with the benefit of working with six adorable little Eevees at the same time.

[friendyousohard]

Well, that's true... [She does look a little mollified by the thought.]

Hmmm, it's an interesting thought. There's only too real problems. One, they'd all be the same until they evolved, and two, I wouldn't know which evolutions to choose.

[loveisabattlefield]

You're definitely right about that first part...but I think after some time, they'd decide the second part for themselves. They'll know what they're good at while they're working together.

[friendyousohard]

There is that, yes. But what if two of them decide they want to be the same evolution?

[loveisabattlefield]

That will be difficult, yes. In that case, you'll have to decide whether you want them both to have the same evolution or choose between them. Maybe you won't want either of them to have that evolution. I'm sure if you spoke with them about it, you'll reach an understanding. You're their trainer, Twilight; they'll trust your judgment.