|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]

[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?

[wing_attack]

Yeah, it is. I don't know how or why, but it just... happens. I've only been here a few months. Someone else probably knows more about that kind of stuff.

[alonearisth]

Well, there will be plenty of time to learn.

[wing_attack]

There will be. We don't have that far to get to the inn. We can relax there. And I can show you more of my team, if you want.

[alonearisth]

Alright. Perhaps while we are there, we should keep an eye out for the others.

[wing_attack]

We will. And I'll keep an eye on the network to see if anyone posts.

[alonearisth]

Network?

[wing_attack]

[He pulls out his Pokegear.]

It's a communication network. A lot of the time new people will post to it, wondering where they are.

[alonearisth]

[Tobias what have you done.]

...May I?

[wing_attack]

... Sure. I can get a new one if you break it by accident.

[No offense meant. Just in case.]

[alonearisth]

I am not going to break it. EAaak-uh. Eeak it.

[He takes the Gear carefully, focusing his attention on the device with interest.]

[wing_attack]

I know, but accidents happen.

[They get into the inn, and Tobias pays for a room. He leads Ax along into the room and closes the door behind them. He puts down his bag and digs through it before taking out a Pokeball marked with a brown spot. He opens it up and releases a... very large bear.]

Rachel, this is Ax. Ax, this is Rachel. She's an Ursaring.

[alonearisth]

[Ax turns his attention from the Gear long enough to look up at Rachel and smile.]

Ah, yes. She is remarkably similar to a grizzly bear. An Ursaring. Urr-sah-ring. Urrrr. That word is fun to say.