|5.5| [Action]

[wing_attack]

[Today is a good day. Not because of the weather, but because when Tobias wakes up, he's back in his old body. Not the human one, but the one that's become incredibly comfortable for him over the past few years.]

[You might catch him flying high above people, but he's more content to perch in a tree and watch as people go past. The local birds seem uncomfortable with him, but that's okay. He can't exactly use a Pokeball while like this anyway.]

[Eventually though he calms down and morphs to human (and puts on clothes) long enough to make a post.]

[Video]

[Tobias' cheeks are flushed with excitement, and he's grinning from ear to ear.]

They're back! I mean I'm back. I mean I can do it again. Is anyone else getting... uh... 'abilities' back? I'm kind of curious...

[Regal butts his head into the shot and Tobias jerks his head away to avoid getting a feathery mouthful.]

Sorry, Regal. I can't exactly ride you like that...

Comments

[alonearisth]

< Well, I was referring more to the constant threat of capture, but I believe you. >

[....sorry Tobias, he's just so offended.]

[wing_attack]

<Oh. That. Yeah. That's... just something I've had to deal with today.>

[alonearisth]

< ...While I am here, I still would like to examine those capsules, by the way. I want to see how they work. >

[wing_attack]

<Sure. Like I said, I have some spares. I usually carry some in case I find a Pokemon that might be useful. There's these challenges called 'gyms' that you can take on, and each specializes in a Pokemon 'type'. I already beat the flying-type one, but there's a lot more to go, and it's useful to have Pokemon of multiple types so you have an advantage in battle.>

[... Feel free to just cut him off if you need to, Ax. Tobias has been jumping into the deep end of Poke-nerdery.]

[alonearisth]

[Actually, Ax finds it to be a good thing that Tobias knows as much as he does. It shows that he's been spending his time wisely, living here as he has been. That, and Tobias wouldn't be talking so much if he wasn't comfortable where he was.]

< You will have to explain it to me in more detail sometime, Tobias. It sounds very interesting.

...But for now, I would like to see if there is somewhere safer that you and I can go. I feel as if someone will run into us here eventually. >

[wing_attack]

<Yeah. Let's get going. We're not too far from Azalea Town. We can morph when we get there and get a room at an inn. I've got some spare clothes that will probably fit you.>

[He spreads his wings and takes off, wheeling around to get some height.]

<This way!>

[alonearisth]

< Right behind you. >

[Ax speeds into an easy gallop, trying not to pay attention to the incessant rustling of the trees overhead as he goes. He's too focused on keeping Tobias in his line of sight. Now that he thinks about it, perhaps he should have morphed into human a...long time ago. He'll just blame his lapse in judgement on the situation he had been trying to get out of.]

[wing_attack]

[This world is kind of startling - and besides, being a human without clothes probably would be bad, too. But it doesn't take long to get near the edge of the forest, and Tobias stops.]

<Okay. We should morph here and then Regal can fly us the rest of the way. Any further and we're going to start running into people.>

[He lands on the ground and drops his bag, starting to morph behind a tree. Modesty and all. But it doesn't take long and he scrambles to put on clothes, before handing the bag over to Ax.]

... Here. They might be a little cold, but you'll be warm enough holding on to Regal.

[alonearisth]

[Ax takes the bag carefully, and though he doesn't really attempt to morph anywhere but where he's actually standing, he asks while his thought-speech is still intact.]

< Regal...and he can carry both of us? >

[wing_attack]

Yeah. He's pretty strong. I wouldn't do it for a long time, but it's only about a mile or so.

[Something like that. Distance gets weird from the air.]

sob I don't have any human icons I'll have to pretend

[alonearisth]

[It takes Ax a minute or two to morph and then another to get himself dressed properly, mostly because his shirt ends up on backwards. Still, he's gotten better at it over time, and faster too.]

Okay. I think I am ready. Eady. Eeeeady.

It's okay. <3

[wing_attack]

[Tobias whistles for Regal, and he lands in front of them. The bird lowers himself, and Tobias offers a hand to Ax.]

You get on first, and I'll get on behind you to make sure you don't fall.

[alonearisth]

[The Andalite in human morph takes Tobias' hand carefully, still as amazed as always at how strong human hands and arms can be. He's able to pull himself up onto Regal's back easily, letting his hands settle on the feathers at the back of his neck.]

[wing_attack]

[Tobias climbs up after him, and makes sure they're settled.]

Let's go!

[Regal flaps his wings and pushes off, gliding towards the town. It'll be a few minutes until they get there. Tobias adjusts his position so that Ax can lean back. He knows how much trouble he has keeping his balance on the ground, let alone in the air.]

[alonearisth]

[Yes, this is...certainly a new experience for Ax, to be sure. It's not quite like flying with wings, but it's a lot different than walking with two legs, as well. After a while he seems to say something, but most of what he says is lost on the wind. Thanks to Tobias, though, he doesn't seem to be in any danger of falling off.]

[wing_attack]

[Soon they land at the edge of the town, and Regal lands. Tobias hops off and offers a hand to Ax, and gives Regal a fond pat.]

Thanks, buddy. You can take a break.

[Once Ax is off, he takes out Regal's Pokeball and returns him.]

[alonearisth]

[Ax watches Regal disappear back into the ball with rapt attention, nodding as if confirming something he'd been pondering.]

Fascinating. The technology of this world is far more advanced than that of Earth, it seems. Suh-eeems.

[Then, he pauses for a moment.]

Of course, it is still lightyears behind that of the Andalites.

[wing_attack]

Of course. And you can store them in the computer, too.

[He gestures to Ax to follow along.]

You can only carry six with you at a time. The extras automatically get sent to the computer. It's pretty cool, but I have no idea how it works. I usually have at least Regal and... uh. ... There's a Pokemon that looks a lot like a grizzly bear so I... named her Rachel.

[alonearisth]

[That causes Ax to smile, or at least something of one before he starts playing with the way he can move his mouth or wiggle his nose.]

I can see where that would have reminded you of her. How many of these creatures do you have?

[wing_attack]

[Oh, Ax.]

Let's see...

[He takes a moment to count them up in his head.]

Twenty seven, I think. Though five of them are the same species.

[alonearisth]

[...Gracious child.]

...Why so many?

[wing_attack]

Well, different types have different advantages, and even if they're the same type it doesn't mean they learn the same moves. A few of them were presents, and... a lot of them are birds.

[He couldn't not get birds, Ax. Come on.]

[alonearisth]

[Well yes, but. ...that's a lot of birds.

It sounds like they're not all birds, but...mostly birds.]

I see. Still, that is quite a number. Ummber. Number. Of them.

[wing_attack]

True. I've been trying to train up the ones that are a little weaker. Some of them don't like to battle as much as others, and some evolve late.

[... Oh yeah. He should explain that.]

Rather than just get bigger, a lot of Pokemon change form when they get strong enough. Regal used to be about...

[He holds his hands about a foot apart, vertically.]

That big. Then when he got strong enough, he changed into... what you saw.

[alonearisth]

[Man, these things keep getting stranger by the moment.]

And this is normal for them?