>>36798452
>That dream you had; the mysterious voice returned, its words as cryptic as ever.

Damn those mysterious dreams!

>>36798452

Hey again everyone, and welcome to Tuesday's thread! Hoping to get through Friday's date night today so that we can get to the gym on Thursday, but now rush. Plenty to do in a city.

>>>>

Twitter: @TheHeraldQm
Archive: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=herald
Document link: http://pastebin.com/wPmrDbds

>>36798452
>>Your mom. Why does she have to be so difficult?

>>36798452
>That dream you had; the mysterious voice returned, its words as cryptic as ever.

>>36798452
Mom's a bitch and at this rate she'll always be one but she's right, Dani and I might be moving a wee bit faster than we should. Hormones and emotions running high and all. Still love Dani though. That dream isn't helping my concentration either. When did life get so complicated?

>>36798701
>When did life get so complicated?
"All I wanted was to be the very best..."

>>36798452

>I will try to touch on the other options; not ignoring them, we're just establishing priorities here.

It must be that dream.

You move to sit against the cold fiber-and-brick wall. You tuck your jacket around your body more snugly and roll your head around in your hands. That dream, that dream… You’ve never been one to dream much, so why have you been having such odd, vivid ones lately? And always that same voice.

You let the memories wash over you like a dark, creeping wave. You turn your mind’s eye inwards, focusing on as many details as you can muster.

You’re in a room: white, sterile, empty save for a table and two chairs. You are situated at one end of the table in one of the chairs. Your hooded friend, owner of the Voice, is situated at the other. The edge of your consciousness registers confusion, anxiety, and disbelief: why are you here? What is this, a dream? Who is this person? The voice speaks, and you listen. You are compelled to listen, perhaps.

“A choice; life is infinite choices. You shall choose, Grey.” The Voice gestures to your left, and a gold coin has appeared – no, has it always been there? – And now rests on the table. “The people and creatures that you hold dear are in mortal danger. First, your Pokémon: artificial, powerful, yet mortal.” The Voice picks up the coin; it rusts before your eyes. Gold patina gives way to chalky, smoky red and you feel a horror creep through your soul. The voice replaces the coin onto the table, however, and its visage is instantly restored. How strange.

The voice gestures to your right this time, and you spy a small, delicate flower. “Or, alternatively, humanity: your mother, Dani, Erica, Nick, Erwin, and your mentor, James.”

The flower is picked up and, mirroring the coin, rapidly decays and dies. The voice replaces it, restoring its life. “You shall choose here and now, Grey. You may save one: your Pokemon or your friends and family. Which do you choose?”

>cont.

>>36798452
>Your mom. Why does she have to be so difficult?
>Your relationship with Dani. The two of you made love last night. Are you moving too fast?

>>36798733

Life or death; two options, one choice. What? What the hell kind of dream is this? Where's the sex, the boner, the inability to run away from the masked murd-

“What?" It seems your words have finally found you. It feels as if you are speaking through water, though. "What are you talking about?”

“I know you understand, Grey. Choose one to die, the other to live. You have but one choice.”

>Choose the coin, forsake the flower
>Choose the flower, forsake the coin
>Write-in!

>>36798762
>Combine the flower and the coin into one object.

>>36798762
>Choose the coin, forsake the flower
Mittens is love. Mittens is life.
Dani would understand

>>36798762
Grab both, forsake neither. You will not forsake what defines you nor what gives you the will to continue on. If the voice has an issue with that you're more than willing to fight for you and yours.

>>36798762
>grab both
if thats not an option
>Table flip is my favorite game

>>36798452
>Give players a choice
BOTH OR NEITHER

>>36798884
seriously, what did you think we were going to do

>>36798884
To be fair this is sadistic choice one oh one. We have enough players who played paladins to know with appropriate thought a third answer can be found.

>>36798912
Exactly that.

>>36798918
Indeed, there's a write in option for a reason.

Analysing the text, the mysterious voice says "You have but one choice" and "one to die, the other to live"

So our response should be to solely pick one to live and say we didn't pick any to die. Lawyery at it's finest.

>>36798762
I honestly think this is just a dream and has no real purpose other then to fuck with us and with grey. that being said, this is a dream so I say we just start making out with Dani who is wearing a hood for some reason. And has esprr ears....

Oh Harold I forgot to tell you
FUCK YEAH, POKEMON: SSQ!!!

>>36798762
>You have but one choice
>Write in
"You're right, I do only have one choice"
choose both

>>36798762
Attack the hoodie in order to protect both?

>>36799033
indeed I was looking forward to this.

>>36798983
That would convince us to see a shrink, like asap. Shit ain't normal.

>>36798762
punch the voice in its throat.

>>36799080
A catgirl is fine too.

>>36799098
or an espurr

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>>36799098
"Yes."

>>36798983
Mittens was Dani all along, Erica is just a ghastly fucking with our head and Nick was, well okay Nick was always a dick

>>36799098
Still I don't think that'd work and i'd prefer Dani to stay Dani and Mittens to stay Mittens. Can you imagine them as the same person?

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>>36799098
stupid sexy pokemon

>>36799080
hah, My original plan was to suggest we have sex infront of this mystery guy with Dani but where her head was is a sign saying "yur mum"

>>36799142
Honestly just punch it in the throat, flip the table or pick both. Odds are its us in the hoodie anyways. Or prof maybe.

>>36799140
That gif name.

>>36798762

There are flashes, images of Mittens, Apollo, Nereid, Bonnie, Phoenicia, and Sheldon… They all come to mind, and they all need you. You briefly reach for the coin; you don’t mean to “forsake” Dani, Erwin, or Erica… But your team relies on you. They need you.

Need. Don’t you need your team? Don’t you need Dani?

What kind of game is this, anyways? Why do you have to forsake anything? You retract your hand and address the two options once more. “One choice, two options, right?” You mull it over in your head, unable to come up with an answer. An answer. No answer? What is your answer? Can you even find one? This is, what, morality and philosophy 101?

Well, he wasn't your Classics instructor but James always told you that if you’re unable to answer a question, maybe you need a different question.

“Why?”

The Voice tilts its head ever so slightly in your direction. A slight movement, but enough to tell you that it has heard you. “This was expected, yes. You question. You doubt." The voice nods once before looking at the table once more.

"You falter. Yes, you falter. It is the walk of those who live, but you must choose nonetheless; your inability to choose does not constitute a choice, Grey.”

Inability to choose…? What, no. You’re not unable to choose, you refuse to and you tell the voice as such. “Why must I make a choice at all? I refuse, and your distinction is an arbitrary one.” You reach for both objects, “I don’t fail to see the choice between Pokemon and humans, I deny it!” Your fingers curl around each object and, Instead of bringing them into you as you are compelled, you bring them together. There is a flash of light, leaving you with a…

>cont.

>>36799191
horrible abomination?

>>36799191
Golden rose?

>>36799191
Gs Ball

>>36799191

“A Pokeball? What?” You have the feeling you’ll be asking that a lot…

“There is a distinction, Grey.” The table and chairs evaporate underneath you; you don’t notice or feel this so much as know it in your core. Perhaps they never were in the first place. What the hell is up with this place, anyways...?

The hooded figure seems to rise. It gestures, or points (you're not sure if it can point, really) with a shadowy limb. “Look, now, and see.” You follow its gesture out into the darkness of what was once the white room. A lift flickers into existence, revealing a scene more in tune of a Charmeleon standing over the form of a young woman.

“Holy…” you try to fight back the urge to scream, to gag. You try to tell yourself it’s just a dream. “Shit…!” The woman is charred and bleeding. She offers up a hand, a feeble resistance in the face of the approaching Monster.

“Address this situation, Grey.”
>Catch the Charmeleon?
>Fight it off?
>Write-in!

>>36799246
>scene more in tune of
more in tune with a nightmare, of a charmeleon*

Stupid boss has to come round and look over my shoulder so I can't proofread...

>>36799246
>Release Mittens from the pokeball in your hand

>>36799246
Release Mittens and step between the Charmeleon and the woman.

>>36799266
>>36799273
this, fuck you voice. You can't tell me what to do, you're not our real dad

>>36799266
>>36799273
I like this writein

>>36799246
What? catch it we have the ball tame the beast...
We tamed a Scyther with chainsaw...

>>36799314
Oh wait I think I see what you guys are geting at...never mind
>>36799266
>>36799273
these are good...

>>36799246
>>36799273
This is nice

>>36799273
Going with this. Everyone okay with that?

>>36799344
I don't really have anything particular in mind with >>36799266
I just want more Mittens.

>>36799246
Release mittens and have her summon chainsaws.

>>36799362
well you don't have to say that now...still let's go with...our heart...yeah...
>>36799361

>>36799362
But this is pokemon! the power of FRIENDSHIP can over come anything!

>>36799380
Failing that have Mittens trigger unlimited chainsaw works.

>open pokeball
>BVTVTVTVVTVTVTVTVTVTVTVTVV Onii chan~
>its a chainsaw

>>36799387
My motor is revving on its own!

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>>36799387

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Can someone make this into a pokemon?

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>>36799487
>Rotom possessed chainsaw
this must happen

>>36799361

“’Address this situation?’ You sound like old James, now…”

Well, you’ve got a Pokeball. Finally, something you’re familiar with! You thumb the release and toss, smacking the Charmeleon in the shoulder. It pauses and then turns as you shout, “Go, Mittens!” and head into the fray yourself. Fuck this Voice and its philosophical dilemmas; you’re not one to forsake people or Pokemon.

To the dream’s credit, you suppose, Mittens actually does appear. You command her to confuse the beast and move towards the woman, hoping to help or at least protect her-

The scene is erased, leaving only dark emptiness. Okay, time to talk again? You move around, searching the bleak landscape: nothing. No figure, nothing anywhere. You wonder if it is over, but then you once more hear the Voice.

“You consider catching the beast, protecting the woman, and sending out your Pocket Monster to fight; you refuse to what is plain. You do not consider capturing the woman or fighting yourself, Grey. Why? Why are humans not captured and traded in containers?”

“Quit the bullshit!” You’re not sure if you’re just shouting at yourself, fighting against emptiness, or what at this point.

“I care about my Pokemon and treat them like teammates: that’s what they are! There’s no… moral dilemma in capturing Pokemon as long as I don’t disregard their wills!”

This is getting nowhere fast. Time to...

>Fight fire with fire. Conjure up a scene of Pokemon fighting in the wild.
>Question the design and nature of the situation: Pokemon want to fight. You asked your team this as soon as you caught each of them!
>Artificial or natural, both are made of the same stuff.
>Without Pokemon humans would be sitting ducks.
>Write-in!

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>>36799487

>>36799637
Way to steal my thunder ;__;

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>>36799669
FANTASTIC!

>>36799638
>Fight fire with fire. Conjure up a scene of Pokemon fighting in the wild.
>>Question the design and nature of the situation: Pokemon want to fight. You asked your team this as soon as you caught each of them!
>>Artificial or natural, both are made of the same stuff.
>>Write-in!
"Its not about what's right and what's wrong, a pokemon that was nice one day could hurt someone the next. Just like a human can use the same pokemon to help or hurt others. There's no right answer, no one choice."

>>36799638
>Question the design and nature of the situation: Pokemon want to fight. You asked your team this as soon as you caught each of them!
Pokémon quite literally live to fight, they were made for it. They desire strength. I do not fault them for it. I've fought pokemon myself, and I dare say even then i'd be outmatched. Pokémon without a human are aimless and hollow. A human without a pokemon is shallow and weak we help each other become more than what we were. Even as pokemon live together form a family as do humans.

>>36799638
>"Why were my first thoughts to send my pokemon to fight? And not to capture the woman?"
>"Because pokeballs have never been developed to hold people. Because tradition has been for pokemon to fight for trainers. Because that is the most familiar course of action to me and in a split decision I react by reflex, not by careful judgement."
>"You tell me I do not consider fighting myself, yet only a day ago I faced down a wild scyther BESIDE my pokemon! In a situation that was deadly I chose not to flee and leave my pokemon to cover me, but to join them in the fray! You tell me who I am but you are wrong."
>"I bid you sir, good DAY."

>>36799638
>Chainsaw duel

>>36799669
we'll name him Buzzsaw

>>36799638
>Question the design and nature of the situation: Pokemon want to fight. You asked your team this as soon as you caught each of them!
You mean besides the (possible, I don't in this world, have we tried) fact that it doesn't work on humans...
Also this>>36799727 very much so...

>>36799669
>walk into pokemon center
>excuse me miss, but could you take a look at my pokemon?
>sure, where is the little guy
>BBVTTVTVTVRRRRRR

>>36799748
What, you think all saws are the same? Is that what you are saying? Cause Chainy is a CHAINSAW. Buzz saws are different! Racist.

I need you guys to be clear on this one:

If given the choice/option, would Grey imprison a human in a pokeball in the real world?

>Y
>N

>>36799802
>Y
Catch people for pranks, register them as ours. Make them our bitches

>>36799802
>If it was the right call to make, sure.

>>36799802
only if it was Dani
and only if she agreed to to wear pokemon lingerie

>>36799802
To save a life yes, if they were ok with it yes. Vice versa if any of his pokemon wanted out or to leave. He'd do it without a moment's hesitation.

>>36799802
Depends on the situation.

>>36799802
>N
I'm not to sure it's imprisonment with us...I assume we would let one of our 'mons go if it really wanted that...

I think I get how you guys feel / would feel about it.

Hope this is stirring a bit of thought in everyone.

>writing

>>36799802
>Do pokeballs even work on humans?

>>36799911
>Hope this is stirring a bit of thought in everyone.
Damn right it is, we need to find pokeballs that can catch people! I can't believe we've made is this far without...

>>36799921
Not natively but there's no fundamental difference between humans and pokemon that would prevent the technology to work on people.

One day we discover Prof's humaball dungeon

>>36799911
It is. Why do you think Grey told Nick off after he pushed Salem that far? Why do you think he tries to spend time with all his mons? To him they are thinking beings and worthy of respect. Having mittens talk to us a lot helped us come to that conclusion. They are partners not slaves. If they want to leave or stay somewhere else they have that right.

>>36799911
Defiantly me...I keep thinking back to the show where pokemon did have purposes beyond fighting, but there I think they are more natural than ours here...you did say that some do take care of the environment around them becoming part of the ecosystem...but also what we've been lead to believe is that they we're originally made for battle...

>>36799911
Just want to let you know I am absolutely loving this thread, Herald!

>>36799911
Dude, if someone is dying of injuries or something, we could catch them to put them in cryostasis or something

>>36799911
We should definitely have a talk about this with our 'mons...like how comfortable they are with their situation...what do they really want...

>>36800045
Do they know? Doesn't the pokeball reprogram their personalities? and what effect would this have on a human?

>>36800106
Thats probably going to be one of the main themes of this quest

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTdUhb13bzM

>>36800106
I was thinking the same thing...but even if it is programed for them to want it...why not give it to them...I mean Humans are programed to want companionship and whatever...it's all just programing man...

>>36800175
Do they want it, or is their urge to battle and protect their trainer a side affect of the pokeball algorithm?

>>36800210
or the main affect

>>36799911

“This is bullshit,” you begin. “You try to label or claim an understanding of me, but you fail to know me at all! I don’t let my team fight alone, I respect them. I don’t arbitrarily treat humans and Monsters differently, I respect where they are different and work with them according to their natures.”
“Natures?” The voice asks, still unseen. “So you see the nature of a thing as its destiny to be fulfilled? A route to be followed? The end to the beginning?”
“What? No!” You run both hands through your hair, teeth gritted and muscles tensed. If you can’t explain, then you’ll show. You conjure up a scene of two Pokemon, fighting and devouring one another. “This is nature, and there’s nothing wrong with it! Pokemon want to fight, to be strong. I know because I ask them!”
The Voice responds with variety of tiny images: wars, battlefields, people having sex, and… bacteria?

“You only begin to understand what you speak of, and you know naught the conclusions of what posit, Grey.”
Yeah, well, you’ve had enough of this. “Why am I here, and what is your game? Why are you in my head? What do you want?” You grunt out a “fuck!” before looking up, expecting to stare into the silent, desolate darkness once more. Instead, the figure has returned. You are both sitting at the table once more. The same chair, the same table. A continuation of the previous moment, or perhaps the same moment. A reflection, and yet different. This time? The figure has removed its hood.

You stare at a sleek, ovular “face,” if it can be called that. It is featureless and, yet, so complex. You stare into a sort of clear, ethereal “void” in the space before you; but also at an opaque, white and gold object. Angular, yet smooth. Round and yet flat. Just trying to look into or AT this thing is giving you a headache.

“What the fuck,” you start, eyes squinted and fingers shielding you from an intense brightness emanating from an unknown source,” what the fuck are you?”

>cont.

>>36800106
>>36800175
>>36800210
oh wait shit...no that's different I forgot the pokeballs do that, I was thinking that they we're programed like that from the beginning...well shit this might be bad...should we release our pokemon and then ask...I mean if it's done then is it done?...

>>36800235

“Calm yourself, Grey. We are,” the Voice starts in its usual tone but seems to split off “One made many, and many made One.” True to its words, the Voice becomes “many.” the wisps and angles of its form begin to shift and disperse, ethereal form after ethereal form escaping from the singular point you were referencing into a crowd of figures, all identical.

“We are not here to antagonize; we are here to challenge,” the forms all begin into different words spoken by different voices, “Challenge; test; explain; investigate; reason; train” a chorus, dissonant and yet... harmonizing, they converge on one final word “you.”

>What? What do you want me for? Why me?
>Let me go. I’m done.
>You still haven’t told me what you are. Are you in my mind?
>Write-in

>>36800249
[sarcastic] "Oh is that all? HAHA, and here I was thinking you had some sinister purpose! My bad I guess."

>>36800249
>You still haven’t told me what you are. Are you in my mind?
>What do you want me for?
Asking a constant stream of whys is pointless...

>>36800317
second

>>36800249
>What? What do you want me for? Why me?

>>36800249
>What? What do you want me for? Why me?
Wait this has to do with the Professor's research and this shit storm following doesn't it? You chose me because I already had some training and I was already knee deep in it. Ok hit me strange mind creature thing.

>>36800249
>what is it you want me for?

>>36800249
>>You still haven’t told me what you are. Are you in my mind?

>>36800317
third

>>36800249

“You still haven’t told me what you are, Voice. Many. One.” You stop here, hesitating. “Do you have a name?” Silence. You shift about in the seat a bit, with no reaction from... "Them."

You try again, voice slightly wavering but resolute nonetheless. “What do you want me for? Are you a figment of my imagination? Are you real? Why is this happening?” You're desperate to understand. Is this psychosis? Is this just fantasy? Is there no escape from this reality? (Caught in a landslide...)

The figures all seem to… dim? All except one, which speaks to you in a more “feminine” voice, or variety of the “original” Voice. “We are Many, my child." Okay, right. You knew that. "I, however, am Veda. I am a part of the Whole, but also a Whole in part.” You nod in understanding. Yeah, "understanding."

“We do not Want anything for you, child. You are simply part of an answer arrived at logically to the Question.” You ask after this “Question,” and Veda responds that it is a question of “futures and the Future.” For fuck’s sake, this is cryptic.

“For now, know that we will be watching and, on occasion, visiting. Also,” Veda leans in to you, face bowed slightly. “I personally was pleased with the Spirit you exhibited in your reactions to our questioning, Child. It is rare to find one that can recognize value in things openly and without discrimination. This is something we will continue to explore with you in dreams to come.”

>Wake up?
>Ask some more questions? (If so, write-in question)

>>36800704
>Wake up

>>36800704
>Wake up?

>>36800704
Wake up!

>>36800704
>Ant criticisms?
if not
>WAKE ME UP
>wake me up inside
>CANT WAKE UP

>>36800704
>Wake up?
We should talk to our 'mons if we get a chance once we wake up...like about there feelings before we captured them and what the feel now...do they feel different...like they've changed...on the inside...

>>36800704
>>Wake up?
with our face nestled between Dani's rockin' tits

>>36800797
Starting with Mittens, showing her the scenes from the dream. Maybe she knows a thing or two about mystical shenanigans

>>36800863
But that is where Driver is!

>>36800901
we staked our claim, he knows what'll happen if he violates bro code so blatantly

>>36800704

“So, this is a dream…?”

“Yes, Child. You are currently dreaming; you now awaken.”

And so you did.

>>>>

Back in the present and having escaped from your thoughts momentarily, you wipe again at the condensation lining your body. You're cold, tired, and overall... Restless, you suppose.

You sigh, and then check your watch: just barely 5:00 AM. Nobody will be awake yet; you have run of the place, really. You go through a mental checklist as you are are

>Check on team? (Who?)
>Call someone (Who?)
>Go climb back into bed with Dani?
>Eat / read / check on something? (What?)
>Timeskip? (Will trigger another vote)
>Write-in, as always

>>36800895
We should definitely start with Mittens...she seemed to remember things like taking care of Erica, which means she is still similar in that sense...but she is young so I'm not sure how much she would know about our situation...but it's worth a shot...let's not push her to much in that regard though...

>>36800967
>Check on team, ALL OF THEM!

>>36800967
>Check on team? (Who?)
Mittens first...then the whole team collectively...

Is plug.dj down for everyone else? Anyone have an alternative chat service we could use? (Other than IRC client which I can't get to work)

>>36801037
Still down for me, No idea what to use.

>>36801037
>Is plug.dj down for everyone else?
yah...
>Anyone have an alternative chat service we could use?
nah...

>>36800967
>>Check on team? (Who?)
Everyone

>>36801037
They are currently doing maintenance, and are a couple hours over when they were supposed to be done.

>>36800967
>Check on team? (Who?)
Mittens first as usual, then the rest.

>>36801037
chat step is one. Just made a room called Pokemon Southern Shores.

>>36801200
https://chatstep.com/#Pokemon Southern Shores

Sitting in the rain and getting soaked isn’t going to help you; you’re tired and confused, yes, but you at least have enough sense to realize that simple fact. You bring out Mittens.

She comes out stretching and yawning: it was a bit rude but you quietly withdrew her and the rest of the team before you slipped out of the room while most of them were still sleeping. As a result, your Espurr is a bit sleepy and groggy when you first address her.

The two of you hug, Mittens commenting on the rain and how you’re “So wet. Why?” That's a good question: why are you out here, moodily, getting soaked by the rain?

You can’t find words to sufficiently explain everything so you let your mind do the talking. With a bit of minor effort on your part you run through the dream, your feelings, your confusion, and your questions.

You kneel before a standing Mittens, forehead pressed against hers, with your eyes closed. Mittens quietly accepts and reviews your thoughts, small paws coming to rest on the sides of your head. She finishes, eyes popping open and, then…

“Mittens? What’s wrong?” She’s in some sort of discomfort, and you reach for her. She paws at you, pushing aside your hands before going back to clenching at her ears. You watch as your little Starter continues to feel pain: you can feel a bit of it through the connection, and you’re confused. Afraid.

You don’t know what to do. You bring her into an embrace, opening your mind to her and trying to take or otherwise resolve this pain of hers. You have to do something...

>Dive into the heart (or dive into the Espurr. Whatever; will trigger scene)
>Skip scene for now, get Mittens to the MedCenter
>Write-in

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>>36801511
>Dive into the heart (or dive into the Espurr. Whatever; will trigger scene)

>>36801511
>Dive into the heart

>>36801511
>Dive into the heart (or dive into the Espurr. Whatever; will trigger scene)
Duh...hittin' me with that nostalgia...
Damn this is thread is intense...are we still playing pokemon...

>>36801588
>Are we still playing Pokemon

No. We're playing a different game entirely. Which one?

Only Kubo knows.

>>36801609
who?

>>36801511
>Skip scene for now, get Mittens to the MedCenter

>>36801511
>>Dive into the heart (or dive into the Espurr. Whatever; will trigger scene)

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>>36801511
>>Dive into the heart (or dive into the Espurr. Whatever; will trigger scene)
>>36801645
>who?
pic related

>>36801728
Calm yo tits.

>>36801511

The familiar tendril that connects your mind to Mittens’s is there: pulsing, warm, comforting. You’d grown so used to it lately that you hardly noticed it anymore. You push bits of your consciousness through while simultaneously trying to draw Mittens in: to understand her pain and what, exactly, is wrong. Another push, another pull…

You’re drawn in. As if through some straw or down a black hole, your consciousness is sucked in. A familiar darkness envelops you. Silence.

When it finally lifts you are with Mittens; better to say, perhaps, that you can see a projection of Mittens. But she isn’t alone: Veda, or… the Voice, of which Veda is a part, is with her. Speaking to her. You’re not sure of when this is happening, or how.

“Look, Child. There is the Trainer now.” You watch as the Voice gestures to you and Mittens turns to look at you. You stare into the eyes of a Mittens as young as when you first met her mere days ago. You smile, but she doesn’t seem to recognize you. She briefly smiles back before turning to the Voice. “You shall call him Grey, Mittens, and he shall be your trainer. You will be guided to him.”

Mittens nods once before hopping in place a bit. “Grey! GreygreyGreyGREY!”

Your hand goes to your head; your heart beats, but the blood that rolls through your veins is cold, icy with anxiety. “Guided… to… me?” You look to the Espurr, and then to the Voice. The void-like face stares back. "... Mittens?"

Your friend and dear Starter turns to face you, perhaps hearing your voice. "Mittens! Don't you recognize me?"

The little Espurr frowns at this and cocks her head.

"It's ME, Mittens!" You turn back to the voice. "What did you DO TO HER?!"

"No yell at Mittens!" The purple 'Mon cowers a bit, burying her face in her hands. "Mittens sorry!"

>What?
>Escape
>Wut!
>Fuck you!
>….What?
>Cuddles?
>Write-in?

>>36801953
comfort mittens

>>36801953
>….What?

>>36801953
Comforting mittens is still our priority. we entered her mind because we were worried about her, and to see what we triggered.

>>36801953
>Comfort mittens
>then and only then do we demand to know what they did to our partner.

>>36801953
>Stop Yelling
Just calm down...wait for a minute, then
>Cuddles

>>36802045
whoops thought that said comfort don't just run at her...like they said comfort her...call out to her gently...

>>36801953
Comfort her
Then ask what the hell they did to our friend.

>>36801953
>>….What?
>>Cuddles?
>>Write-in?
"No Mittens, YOU didn't do anything wrong."
to the Voice, as cold as possible
"You however have done something unforgivable if you hurt her in ANY way"

>>36802027
>>36802091
Why does everyone always immediately assume the worst...we don't no what's going on here...we could have done this to her trying to ask her the question and show her the dream in the first place...trying to get some answer out of her...

>>36802124
because when faceless voice creatures start fucking with my head and my pokemon, I assume the worst has already happened

>>36802124
Assume the worst, hope for the best? fuck if I know. what I do know is that mittens doesn't recognize us.

>>36802169
They don't seem to have done anything to harm us though didn't you hear the thing trying to explain to Mittens that we are her trainer...she could have lost her memory when we tried to show her the dream...
>>36802189
That doesn't mean we have to be so hostile it's not going to get us anywhere and would probably only scare Mittens...

>>36801953

“No…! No, Mittens…” You get down to her level and lower your voice to a soothing whisper. You know that frightening Mittens isn’t going to help, and you don’t want to stress your partner. Her… former self or otherwise.

“It’s okay, Mittens. I’m not yelling at you. You’re a good Pokemon. Come here.” You smile and beckon her over, eliciting some hesitation but seemingly easing her mood somewhat.

“Me no Mittens…? Me…” The little thing waddles over. You take her in your arms, rubbing her back and cooing in the manner you know best soothes her. “Me no have name anymore.”

“Of course you do. Your name is Mittens and you are the best Pokemon ever. We’re partners; best friends.” This sets her little tail to wagging. You look down, smiling at her now-happy form, when…

She disappears.

Once more, it is but you and the voice left. You stand, looking about for your partner. Unsuccessful, you sigh and turn to the voice. “Veda?” The Many incline their head and then you catch a slight shift. The voices of many is replaced with the voices of one, Veda’s.

“We have been watching you, Child. Mittens was guided to you. By showing her your memories you unlocked her own, deliberately hidden from her in her mind. Memories of the Many contacting her. Contacting her so that she might find you, Child.” You nod, understanding enough but mad all the same.

“That is what caused her such pain. It is not easy having mental doors reopened.” You don’t like the sound of that. You try to tamp down an accusatory anger as best you can.

"Still, why did you have her forget her name...? What the hell?"

>cont.

>>36802285

"She cannot forget a name she has not received yet."

"When I found her she had been called Mittens before! Erica used that name!"

"Yes, a name you just gave to her. Just now."

... What? That would mean...

>Why would she repress contacting you…?
>She was named Mittens when I found her; I don’t understand.
>You shouldn’t have intervened in our fates like this; why did you have her contact me? It feels… artificial this way.
>How the hell did I communicate with her past self? Did you distort time?
>Write-in

>>36802308
>You shouldn’t have intervened in our fates like this; why did you have her contact me? It feels… artificial this way.
>No more of these time travel shenanigans!
>Like seriously. Knock it off.

>>36802308
>You shouldn’t have intervened in our fates like this; why did you have her contact me? It feels… artificial this way.
>How the hell did I communicate with her past self? Did you distort time?
>But seriously, she better be alright when she awakes or I'll do my utmost to defy the fuck outta you.

>>36802308
>How the hell did I communicate with her past self? Did you distort time?
or her own memory...

>>36802308
>You shouldn’t have intervened in our fates like this; why did you have her contact me? It feels… artificial this way.
So you're something more akin to a timeless shifting eldritch abomination. .........................Great. This can't possibly end badly.

>>36802308
>>Why would she repress contacting you…?
>>You shouldn’t have intervened in our fates like this; why did you have her contact me? It feels… artificial this way.
>>How the hell did I communicate with her past self? Did you distort time?

>>36802329
>>36802357
>>36802364
>>36802402
Let's not undermine our friendship...it was still us that caught Mittens, helped her, and showed her love...there was nothing fake about that...just because she was lead to us...seriously why so aggressive...

>>36802444
Because we have a Mittens in front of us that was in pain and now doesn't have memories of us

>>36802444
Because It's how I want to vote

>>36802444
>>36802467
Not to mention Mittens and Dani were some of the first things that actually made him happy. He thought he got them by chance, luck and his own choice. Now they were set up like his training with James and the rest of his life. I doubt he's happy at the moment.

>>36802467
Pretty sure she still has her memories, that just her in the past, when she hasn't made those memories yet.

>>36802467
She seemed fine before she disappeared...plus we were the ones who caused her that pain we yelled at her...and this is apparently a past memory, of course she doesn't know us yet...
>>36802509
We made the choices...we could have done anything with our situation...just because they might have been lead to us doesn't mean we are being manipulated...our life is our own...you gotta fight for that...
>>36802503
Fair enough...

>>36802558
That's not immediately obvious to Grey, since as far as he's concerned he hasn't gone back in time.

>>36802580
One of the options is
>How the hell did I communicate with her past self? Did you distort time?
and the last thing he says is "... What? That would mean..."

>>36802580
But it just said that...and one of the options is asking this directly...

>>36802577
True but still think about it, They set it up. In his mind they were puppeting him like mom did. Did they do the same to Dani? Just how much did they screw with his life, for "training?"

>>36802634
I get what your going at but I still disagree with our reaction...leading isn't the same as forcing...also wait how is mom "puppeting" us...

>>36802697
She has her fist shoved up Grey's anus.

Wait... Maybe I misinterpreted that.

>>36802697
Set up our life in exacting detail, paid for our training from hell, remember he's still a kid he had no will or motivation on his own til he came out here. First thing he did of his own volition was Punching Nick for insulting Dani.

>>36802724
kek

>>36802731
Stop me if this is getting too annoying but I disagree with that mentality...while she is to blame for what she choose to do we also choose to keep going even if it was only because we were young and seemingly had no alternative...
Just earlier in the thread we proved that we can go against the options given to us "flip the table"...
Not having thought of another way is no excuse for blaming others...we can't be a kid forever got take some responsibility...

>>36802731
>>36802863
It's like soldiers claiming they were only following orders...

>>36802863
That's bullshit, you can't expect a kid that's superficially well cared for to choose his own path whilst he's growing up.

Grey has been trained since he's young and it's become natural to him by the time he was a teenager and capable of independent action.

Maybe if they were literally beating him daily you might have grounds for saying he should have done something about it but that is not the case

>>36802863
True, but Normally Grey hasn't thought that way. It takes time to wrap your head around that line of thinking. Even if Grey has started to come into his own away from home, dealing with long seated issues take time. I'm not saying he won't stop blaming other, i'm saying he isn't ready to yet. Him flipping the table was more to keep his own happiness than anything else. He may figure it out, still takes time.

>>36802917
Given his training they kind of were, he just took it and went numb instead of rebelling.

I love how much discussion is going on right now.

>>36802944
There's a difference between being told to dodge rocks in an effort to improve your ability to dodge and being beaten for the sake of it.

It's not like he's malnourished, since it was in their interests to keep him healthy and sharp. He's just been trained in an overly harsh manner and deprived of real love from his mother.

>>36802863
Something I neglected to mention before was that there's a difference between defying the people you've grown up obeying and some mysterious weird ass dream thing that's demanding you pick between two evils

>>36802724

“You manipulated me… Mittens… us!” You’re oddly calm, yet raging on the inside. It’s like you’re unable to process this fully, and so instead you opt for a smoldering disbelief.

“The lot of you fucking manipulated us. For what gain? What purpose? What the hell did you do to Mittens?”

“Calm yourself, Child.”

No raise a fist at the Voice, your other hand in a defensive gesture. “No, oh no. Don’t try to downplay this; I want straight answers, damn it, or I swear I’ll do everything in my power to go against you!” You wish for there to be a chair and, sure enough, it’s there. You sit, burying your head in your hands for the umpteenth time today.

“Why would Mittens repress these memories? How are you… manipulating time, and why? Just to lead me to meet a certain Pokemon?” You shout, pounding your hands into your knees. “For fuck’s sake, I thought it was a special kind of lucky shit or something that led me to Mittens, not you fuckers! You can’t manipulate my life like this… It’s like my mom all over again, fuck!”

Veda seems to deflate at that. The featureless plate that is her face shifts and roils before settling on the visage of a melancholy woman cast in bronze. Then, she actually “moves” closer to your form, coming to rest beside you. You flinch when a cold, air-like touch envelops your shoulder. You suppose this is supposed to be comforting. Somehow.

“Your friendship forged by your actions is meaningful and ‘real,’ Child, because you have made it so. We needed a psychic conduit nearby in order to better monitor and contact you. It was necessary, but… The two of you were chosen for your compatibility. Mittens, however, still made a conscious choice to seek you out. It was not forced.”

>cont.

>>36803023

“And what did you do to her mind?”

“Child, you must understand that it is difficult for one such as Mittens to conceptualize and communicate with us. Had the memories not have been repressed it might have done damage to her mentally. It was a necessity."

A necessity. Necessity for what, exactly?

"Bringing your consciousness back in time to communicate with her was also a logical part of the bonding process; your presence here also indicates that we do not wish to hide such interference from you, Child. We could have should we have deemed it necessary.”

And you’re supposed to be grateful…? “Fine. Just stop Mittens’s pain and let us out of here. And stop calling me Child, god damn.”

“As you wish.”

You return to the world with Mittens in your lap, sleeping peacefully. The rain seems to have mostly stopped, now.

>What do?

>>36802917
I'm saying if he had that much of a problem about it he would have done or said something...obviously we didn't mind enough to merit it...or he was to scared of the change it would cause...either way is still a choice...our choice...
>>36802944
Maybe I am being a little hard on him...I still maintain it was a choice and we shouldn't blame some alien voice thing...
>>36803004
I personally don't see a difference...but that might be just me I've never really had strong ties with anyone...

I think I'm gonna stop arguing now unless someone wants to keep going...no hard feelings...

>>36803046
>Plot the destruction of the needlessly cryptic douchewaffle voice

>>36803004
Fair enough. He was given no real choice in the training however, which does have a psychological effect on him.


>>36803046
Ruminate on what happened, try to think it's all fake, no better. Get out your other mons, play with them and train them. Come to the conclusion that something big is about to happen and you should see the professor soon. He's like to be deep in it already. Also scratch Mittens ears.

>>36803090
Fair enough no hard feelings.

>>36803046
Spend time with mons. Take a second to just sit back and relax and not have to deal with weird dreams and voices.

>>36803090
I have hard feelings.
It's my penis.
Discussion gets me going...

>>36803147
I know what you mean anon

>>36803046
Let's just comfort Mittens and the rest of our 'mons whats done is done we should just do whats best for them for now...
>>36803147
I hear ya...but I think it was going on long enough we might have started to loop back on ourselves...

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>>36803147
Indeed.

>>36803208
No need to pokeception right?

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Shit man, I just wanted to catch mons, not deal with mysterious space-time manipulating extra dimensional beings who only speak in cryptic omens.

I am SO confused.
I hate time travel shenanigans with a fiery passion.

>>36803295
>>36803296
Considering there are mons who can warp space time, this isn't unprecedented. Think we just saw our first legendary boys and girls.

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>>36803295
i know right, its great

>>36803322
oh shit...I didn't even think about that...they have been know to do this type of shit in the show...Damn anon, even if not right good on you...

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>>36803295
what can I say anon, Gotta Catch 'em All

https://plug.dj/pokemon-southern-shores

Seems to be back up now, welcome back Warp

>>36803296
Grey's some kind of chosen one(?) who's journey is being orchestrated by MYSTERIOUS entities. Said entities were the ones who set up his and Mittens' meeting. Mittens got her name from TIME TRAVEL MAGIC where Grey from the FUTURE-PRESENT talked to PAST Mittens.

Each Pokemon is called out, one after the other in quick succession, and you descend into a sort of cuddle pile.

When you finally finish it's a veritable rainbow of love and camaraderie. Apollo and Nereid are lounging near your lap. The two of them nuzzle into head scratches and Nereid has stopped squirting you, which is nice. You notice that she, like the rest of your team, has definitely grown. She's still a pup, yeah, but maybe she's in the double digits now. Bonnie is nestled in your back, and Sheldon is lying beside you. His tufts are much bigger now, and his tail has changed colors and shape. You're confident he'll be a Wartortle soon enough.

>cont.

>>36803389
=D

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So my bets on the voice being a Deoxys, not completely sure why but I gotta feeling. Thoughts?

>>36803420

Phoenicia is roosting nearby, watching your group in between preening. You'll have to get a better look, but she seems to be a Fletchling for the most part: larger, change in coloration, change in plumage... Perhaps very close if not fully there yet. That battle with the Scythers certainly did age your group.

Speaking of which, your Scyther is… well, he’s not murdering anyone, so that’s good.

You take time grooming or playing with each of them; fuck the Voice and the people trying to control you or whatever they’re doing. Damn it, you’re angry and playing with your team is in everyone’s best interests right now. Oh, best interests, like how it’s in someone’s best interests to invade your dreams..

“Fuck!” you mutter, tossing the handball furiously against the wall. Apollo catches it, impressively enough, and tries to return it to you. You pet him on the head but neglect taking the ball. Stupid dreams… You’re going to have to maybe see the Professor about this. He must be involved, or his research. Something. You resolve to see him in Jay City soon.

You take the ball from Apollo with a “thanks,” and then go to throw it again when the sight of Dani stops you. You check your watch quickly... 7:00 AM, already. Damn.

Dani's still wearing her pajamas but she threw on a light raincoat. You note with some mirth that she's wearing Buneary slippers. They're just going to get dirty!

She meekly waves to you. You wave back.

You watch as Dani walks up to you, arms crossed and eyes avoiding your gaze. Is she upset with you? You listen when she finally finds her voice, her usual chipper tone replaced with the nervous one she seldom takes on. “I was, uh…” She coughs. “I was worried, Grey… when you weren’t in bed. I hope you weren’t uncomfortable or something. Was something wrong...?"

"You can talk to me,” she looks up at you and tries to smile, “You know that, right?”

>Response?

>>36803478
A really, really messed up dream or.... something. Apparently there is some sort of time warping entity interested in my fate. I WISH I was making this up. It's not nearly as cool as the chainsaw duel.

>>36803478
>Just a dream, Dani
Force a smile

>>36803478
>>36803524
Whoa, whoa let's not get sent to the happy house just yet...we should at least have some time to think on it...I mean look what happened when we tried to talk about it to Mittens...
>>36803542
This...

>>36803478
"Fucking time traveling pyschic dream invaders"

>>36803542
Seconding
"Needed to clear my head out here, sorry."

>>36803478
>>36803542
Hug her as well. Though I think that'd be more for our sake rather than Dani's.

>>36803572
How about a "You wouldn't believe me if I told you"?

>>36803478
"Just a bad dream. And possibly someone to add to the people-that-I-want-to-fuck-up list. Maybe."

>>36803612
That leads to more questions...a "Justa dream, Dani" gets the we don't wanna talk about it right now point across...

>>36803468
naw, gotta be Mew. it said it needed a psychic and mew's like the top legendary psychic type
>>36803478
smile, maybe a comforting hug/kiss
"I know. Its just.... a lot of stuff got knocked loose after everything that happened with my mom. Not that I don't think you putting her in her place wasn't one one of the greatest moments in my life! I'm just new to this whole thing, all this really, I have the greatest girlfriend a guy could ask for, friends and partners, and for the first time in a long time I feel... happy. Its not a bad thing just something I'm not used to i guess. I'm just glad I have loved ones to help me now"

>>36803468
Oh a very good guess...but let's not talk about it too much...let's just wait and see...

If we are not going to tell her right now, can we not straight up lie to her?

Okay guys, going to cut it here. Apologies but I have a very important dinner to make!

Next thread will be Thursday. I would appreciate if you guys could vote on where you want Thursday's thread to end:

>End with the end of date night
>End with approaching gym
>End with approaching talk to Professor
>Other

Just to give me an idea on what pacing you guys want!

Thank you so much for playing!

>END OF THREAD

>>36803692
Agreed, but I don't think just a dream is really a lie...

>>36803717
>>End with the end of date night

Good run Harold.
And now, to cuddle up with my very own Mittens.

>>36803717
>End with the end of date night
Gym is Saturday and depending on when it is we can talk to prof first or after.

>>36803717
>End with approaching talk to Professor
After the date of course...

>>36803717
>End with the end of date night

>>36803717
>end with approaching gym

Also, I request brownie points to be used to bring the dream sequence from one cuil to four cuil.
heres a video for reference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfdEdE96En0

>>36803770
I think it may be wise to see the Prof. first...
Also Great thread today Herald...I can't wait to see where the hell we're gonna end up...

>>36803717
not sure where we'd end, but I'd prefer we go
>date
>talk with prof
>gym

>>36803798
This.

>>36803798
So go on a date with the prof at the gym?

>>36803717
>>End with approaching gym

>>36803870
We could probably spend a brownie point for that.

>>36803916
I'd rather take Dani out moonwalking, on the actual moon.

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>>36803798
arent we on a time limit for the gym though?
also these bullshit fucking capthcha!

>>36803870
no, go on date, talk to prof before gym, then gym

>>36803961
we can get all that done in a day if we try. dates don't take all day unless you want them to and gym battles are relatively quick

>>36803961
Yeah, fuck the captchas.

Also, from the chat where Herald is trying to make us guess the entity's identity:

TheHerald:
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ - _ _ - _ _ _ _ _ _ *

That was a fill in the blanks .__.

I, personally, think it stands for:
AllYeDoThe Ho Oh Wobble
The best kind of dance

>>36804039
Welp. Now I'm convinced!

>>36804039
but Ho Oh isn't a dick that fucks with people and pokemon's heads

>>36804039
nah, it stand for "illuminati is an mitten

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>>36804039
>mittensride on an insect

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>>36804131
Nonsense, it's obviously
>mittensride on an pinsir

>>36804039
Legendary is an Arceus?

>>36804320
Don't be ridiculous

>>36804472
What would be ridiculous about it?

>>36804490
arceus isnt real, he's just a myth

>>36804320
Quattro is a Char?

>>36804513
Heh, no way a reality warper like it would be interested in a guy like grey even if it was real. You're right still what other six letter named legendaries start with a vowel?

>>36804531
What?

>>36804540
Palkia and Dialga both fit the six character limit and represent space and time respectively

>>36804586
Oh, and then there's Celebi too. Lotta legendaries fit the bill really

>>36804540
Zapdos.

What do you MEAN "Z" isn't a vowel?

>>36804637
It's right next to 'Y' which is half a vowel, so that means 'Z' is at least a quarter...

>>36804586
>>36804609
They don't start with vowels though....

>>36804637
Nope Y is sometimes though.

>>36804662
And it's three away from V, which is short for vowel. So that's gotta be another eight or so, right?

>>36804694
Eighth rather.

>>36804665
well, "is an" doesnt have to be the middle two words. It could be "is of" or something else. The other two words also dont have to be pokemon, necessarily

>Just finished Chanukah dinner.
>come back, read through
>you guys are so close

>>36806113
I knew it was 'AllYeDoThe Ho Oh Wobble'
I knew it!

>>36806113
Prometheus?

It is Arceus

>>36806113
I think your just saying that to keep us from finding the REAL answer!

wait, with the many voices thing, could it be a collective of legendaries?

>>36806271
Anon, the real answer has been inside us all along!

>>36806299
My baby jesus butt plug?...

>>36806292
Or the voices could all be the same legendary from multiple points in time, all speaking to you as one with their oddly different sounding beings.

Or maybe it's a hivemind of abras.

Abras always struck me as being inclined to hiss a lot.

'hivemindss ss of abrass'

It fits. Plus there's a triangle formed by that 'v' in hivemindss. Abra Illuminati confirmed.

>>36806292
Nope. It's us.

>>36806366
You mean... the greyminati?!?

>>36806391
>greyminati
10 letters

>_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
10 letters

>>36806363
Laughing my ass off

>>36806363
I think this is the best theory so far