peridork | Video; January 3rd, from a dark room in Goldenrod...

[The Pokegear camera focuses in just a little too close on an eager face, beaming broadly. It's a young woman, the same one that was broadcasting in a hysterical panic from Ilex Forest more than a month back... except, y'know. She's not green anymore. And there's something kind of unsettlingly wicked about her expression?]

Hello, Johto. I hope you're prepared to be awestruck, because have very exciting information to share with you all.

[She clears her throat, sits up a little straighter before continuing. Clod the Elgyem is visible, too, hovering at her shoulder as usual.]

It has now been well over one full Earth month since I was first abducted into this world. In that time, I will admit, it has been something of a... struggle, trying to understand the ways of this dimension. [a brief, dark scowl:] Yes... It hasn't been easy. But! I have remained determined throughout my time here to master the ways of this world, and the horrifying monsters that inhabit it. Well... Today, I have achieved something that I previously thought impossible!

[She starts to lean out of frame briefly.] BEHOLD--!

[Pause. Clod drifts a little closer to gaze right into the camera with its abyssal green eyes, while Peridot is distracted: There's angry grunts and mutterings coming from off screen.] Hey! No, come here you little-- a-ha! [She sits up again. Frowns at her Elgyem briefly before pushing it sort of gently out of the way with her elbow, so that she can hold up the most stunningly average, run-of-the-mill looking Rattata up to the screen. It's clearly nothing special, but the way Peridot's grinning about it, you'd think that the little creature was blessed by the Diamonds themselves.] BEHOLD! Just this morning, I subdued and captured this small purple beast and bent it to my will, and now it obeys my every command!

[She leans in again, snickering.] Be very afraid, Johto, for this is only the beginning! Very soon, this small purple beast and I will be unstoppable!

Until next time... Peridot, out.

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Oh, right. You haven't seen this face before. It's me, Twilight. I've just been turned back into a human by this place's... strange forces.

I still don't know what causes that...

Twilight… [Frowning. Frowning. She doesn’t quite remember—] Ah! The purple creature, yes... I recall now. I see we’ve both regained our unfortunately human forms, then.

Pony. Unicorn, to be precise, though I'm guessing neither of those words mean anything to you. It... well, it doesn't much matter anyway, I suppose. I mean, like you said we're both human now, and we're going to be so for the majority of our stay here anyway.

[She can't blame Peridot for being a bit disappointed about that either.]

But that's all beside the point. We were talking about your new companion.

[All good points. Peridot really likes this person's pragmatic way of dealing with things.]

Yes. I've been receiving much advice and the occasional criticism from other trainers across this region's network. I suppose I'll need to decide exactly how I want to train her, now...

Right, and when it comes to that there are three main things to take into account. The first is typing. Now, how well do you understand the eighteen different Pokemon types so far?

[She knows they had a bit of discussion about that last time they talked, but she's not sure how much study Peridot's put into learning about it.]

Pffah. Please... I'm fully aware of all eighteen, and the strengths and weaknesses of every single one.

[She's very studious, when she gets right down to it. And also frighteningly good at memorizing infinite amounts of garbage information.]

Good, very good. That's not always the case, so I figured I'd make sure, but if you already have a thorough background in that part of team building then I can skip over it.

Now, how about the other two important factors: Moves and Statistics?

I've studied up on those as well. But I'll admit, my experience with applying that knowledge in a practical manner is.... minimal, at this point in time.

Well that's to be expected. Let's go over what you do have. When last we spoke I seem to recall you had an Elgyem and a Houndour, and now this Rattata. Is there anything I'm missing?

Well... I do have a bug type as well? But I don't really use it.

[Twilight may not know it, but she is (kind of) acquainted with Mud, the weedle that Peridot never even meant to catch, and who she has still not forgiven for getting all up in her grill during that whole incident when she got glitched into Ilex Forest.]

Is there any point in my asking why that is, or should we just proceed as if you don't have it?

[Honestly, she can think of a number of reasons, especially if it really is the Pokemon she thinks it is, and there's no point in her getting pushy or nosy about this.]

[She adjust her glasses, scowling.]

I must insist on the latter.

Alright. Then let's see... Houndour and Rattata serve largely the same role statistically speaking, except that Houndour is powerful in special attacks and Rattata is better at physical ones. Both are fast and strong, but somewhat frail. Your Elgyem, meanwhile, is balanced in most areas, but somewhat slow in exchange for special attack power.

So we have an obvious leaning in your team's specialization already. The question is, do you want to try to balance that out, or pursue it? Both strategies are legitimate.

Pffff, is that even a question? Specialization is the most sensible and efficient option.

[Pause.]

Although... It does take gems of all kinds to keep an operation running smoothly.

[Oh no. WHAT DOES SHE DO...]

[Twilight can sympathize. It's a tricky balancing act. She offers an encouraging smile.]

Recall that although the limit of Pokemon you can carry with you is six, you have a great deal more that you can keep with the storage space afforded to you on the computers here. It's perfectly feasible to try it both ways and see which method works better for you.

...OOoohhh.

[That's RIGHT...

Peridot sits up a little straighter, her eyes become unfocused for a second, like she's having some kind of astounding revelation. She focuses back on Twilight, announcing in a hushed voice:]

...I need to catch more Pokemon.

[Ah, that moment of dawning comprehension. It's actually quite charming.]

The vast majority of us tend to come to the same conclusion after some time spent on this world.

I... I understand now...

[All of a sudden she springs back to life, snatching up her Pokegear and glancing around for her other belongings.]

I have to go, I-- I'll call you back later!! Nyeah!

[She abruptly cuts off the video feed there. THERE'S NO TIME TO WASTE. GOTTA CATCH EM' ALL]

I... um... bye?

[She hadn't expected such an... intense reaction, and she just sits there blinking at the gear for a moment before turning it off.

Well, at least Peridot has a goal in mind now.]

Video; January 3rd, from a dark room in Goldenrod...

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