siarachan

Taking care of a newborn, and the drama from moving from one team to another, then regretting it.

yes, pls come back gunthug ;~;

It would be cute seeing like the character heads on the map where they are currently located (if on the same channel as them), but now that the friend list has been expanded so much, it could look very very cluttered on the map with all the current location icons. For this reason I think Greck's suggestion is better. Even then, it's laregly unecessary. Can just send a 'where u at?' and knowing where everyone is at all times could get stalker-y.

So as we know since weather was introduced, every round of every battle has to remind us that it's still raining (or other weather effect). -What if it tells us the first round only? Then on subsequent rounds a 'rain icon' shows up to indicate that it is still currently raining. The icon would go away if the rain stops, and perhaps one more notification could be sent in battle to let us know it stopped raining. That way we are only notified twice during a battle per weather effect (at most), which would streamline battling, EV training, and egg move training greatly.

I just want to say welcome back and you do some awesome work here! :D

This idea keeps getting better and better! For those of us who need to transfer to other characters on one account, this would be a God-send.

Looking forward to it^^

I really enjoyed reading the entries so far! This is my favorite thread in the forum <3

Nobody in this thread got hacked (that I know of) ^^; Having an in-game safe would just be a bit more peace of mind for people with very valuable things. The game server could get compromised one day, you never know.

It would be a treasure chest only your character can see and access, and only you know where you put it. (Spamming the world with everyone's treasure chests would be awful!! Can't believe this game u speak of did such a thing.)

Okay, how about a treasure chest you can hide somewhere in the world then? :P I was vague on purpose about password options so the devs could design something interesting.

Yes, a safe. That way if someone hacks your account, they won't get your most valuable stuff. You can put your shinies, best breeders, stash of money etc. in there in case of a break-in. I see people who get their account compromised and they quit forever. This would help mitigate that problem.

This guy gets it^^

Change is a tough theme; It was difficult for me to tell an upbeat story about change. So that was one of my goals. I ended up weaving dual themes: 'change' and 'learning to take your time'. Another goal was to stay within the Poke-realm; Any short stories I write outside of the Pokeverse, I'm too tempted to submit elsewhere </3 The third goal was to get my WC to around 2,000 because it sounds like the judges are hoping for some longer stories to sink their teeth into, perhaps? Shout-out to HUGZ teammate MadameScarlett for saying something yesterday night that sparked this story idea^-^ "A Joy-less Experience" [spoiler] Siara stumbled through the electric eye and the Pokecenter door slid open. "Whew! What a battle," she said to no one in particular while wringing rainwater from her dress. "Aaand we totally need umbrellas." Her loud entrance elicited a few chuckles from the patrons, but not much else. It was a bit crowded, but there was a dismal tone to this place. It needed some Siara-brand enthusiasm, she decided. Pointing across the room with gusto she said, "Nurse Joy, I need your help. This random uguu froze two of my Pokemon in battle--Two!" Nurse Joy gave a blank stare. Siara was getting used to such stares from the service receptionists in Kanto, but this one was far more vacant than usual. None-the-less, she presented her six Pokeballs. "Bliss!" said Blissey as it reached for her Pokemon, but Siara snatched them back. "No, no," she scolded, "These are for Nurse Joy." The nurse continued to stare off into space. Siara waved her hand. "Nurse Joy? Hellooo?" Finally, the nurse reached out with a pair of stretchy, rubbery arms ... and managed to drop every ball. "Um, are you okay?" Sia asked as she went about gathering them up. Wait a minute, she thought. Those beady eyes, that derpy smile. "Ditto! Ditto!" said the nurse. Siara face-palmed. She felt embarrassed falling for such a trick, and tried to laugh it off. "Okay, whose idea--Is this a prank show or something?" "Don't worry about it," said one of the elder patrons in the lounge, sipping a tea. "These other youngins are waiting on her too. The real Nurse Joy is over there." He gestured to the opposite wall. "Don't know what's wrong with her, though." Sure enough, the real Nurse Joy was curled up, staring out a window. "How long's she been like that?" "Oh, few hours, I'd say." Well, Siara could hardly stand around waiting. She rolled her sleeves and marched on over. "Excuse me," she said, poking the nurse's pink fluffy sleeve. But Joy didn't even turn her head. "It's raining." Siara blinked. "Uh, you want me to-?" "It never used to rain like this," she sighed. Siara set her Pokeballs on the windowsill, one-at-a-time. "Frozen, frozen, dead, burnt, poisoned, and dead. They need healed." "Things are changing," said Joy. "The world's changing." The girl's eyes looked tired, sad. Siara found herself removing her witch hat in earnest. "Don't they ever ... let you out?" "Sometimes," said Nurse Joy, "when there's judging to be done. And other such events. I'd much rather travel the world like you," she added, "Maybe become a Pokemon Ranger. It's silly, I know." "No, it's not silly. Just ... talk to your manager or something. Put in your two weeks. But for now these Pokemon need your services." "You really care about your Pokemon, don't you?" Siara nodded. "Then why did you let them go for so long without using an Ice or Burn Heal? Or even an Antidote?" "Those cost money, and time is money. So let's go-go-go!" But her trio of claps didn't rouse Nurse Joy at all. "Go behind the counter and do it yourself." The room grew quiet, save for the occasional roll of thunder and the pitter-pat of rain. To hear a Nurse Joy say such a thing. "Alright. Fine." Siara hopped the counter and shoved Nurse Ditto aside. "How hard could this be anyway?" She started dropping the Pokeballs into the six moulded indentations. "They need to be button-up," called Nurse Joy from across the room. "Once they're situated just right, pull the lid closed and press the switch." "Okay, I get it--Bit like a copy machine, but with a little tune. Dee, dee, dee, doo-dee," Siara sang. Nurse Joy shook her head. "Sadly, mine doesn't do the song. The manufacturer's manual says something about 'NYI'--Wait!" "What?" "Stand up tall and face me." Sia was caught off-guard, but complied. Nurse Joy had this sudden sparkle in her eye. It was nice to see her happy again. "Do you have a Blissey on your team?" The nurse held her fingers and thumbs in the shape of a frame. "Um. Yes I do." Joy stood up, excited. "Take out your hair please. Just for a second." Had Nurse Joy gone mad? "I don't think so," protested Siara. "Please?" she begged. "Please?" Her eyes were so hopeful, it was hard to turn her down. "Well, I don't see the harm," she said. Sia took out her pigtails and a swell of dark purple hair with pink ends flowed down and settled mid-waist. "Perfect! You're the same height. You've got the training. You've got the proper Poke-assistant." "What are you saying?" asked Siara bluntly. "Trade clothes with me." "What?!?" "Please! I want to adventure. Just for one day. Your eyes aren't the same color as mine, and we have to do up your hair, but everything else works! If my manager comes in, just keep your eyes closed and smile--and bow. Oh yes, you have to always smile--or one of my sisters might catch on and--oh--I'd hate to find out an Officer Jenny arrested you." "This is crazy! Didn't you hear me say time is money?" Sia demanded. "Oh come child," chided the old man. "I forgot about you," said Siara flatly. "This young Missy has saved you time and money nearly every day of her life. The least you can do is repay her with the rest of your evening." The other patrons nodded in agreement. "But--but--...." ~#~ Several guilt trips later, Sia found herself upstairs, getting her hair dyed a festive pink. Nurse Joy was methodical, pinning her hair just right for the nurse hat to sit atop her head. "Let's go over a few things," Joy said over the sound of the blow-dryer. "M'kay." "You'll bow to greet each trainer. Sometimes they don't want healing, and sometimes they'll even ask you to heal their Pokemon twice in-a-row. I know that's weird, but--don't ask. You'll say, 'Would you like to rest your Pokemon?'." "That's the most awkward sentence I've ever heard." "I know ... but ... just trust me, okay? After you're done, you'll hand the Pokeballs back to them and say, 'We hope to see you again!' Got it? Bright, cheery smiles all around." Siara hesitated, but acknowledged with a nod. Their dresses fit each other well, so Sia slipped on the white tights, put on the regulation shoes, and with the apron tied and the nurse hat pinned on, the illusion was complete. Sia looked in the mirror and--save for her arguably evil red eyes--a Nurse Joy was staring back at her. "Okay," said the true Nurse Joy, "Cross your arms over your waist, one hand over the other, close your eyes, and smile." Siara did just that. Joy couldn't help but laugh. "What's wrong?" "It's just--If you can manage this for the next six hours or so, I'll be able to have a real adventure. This means so much to me. You have no idea." "Well, it better," Siara sneered. ~#~ Seven hours of being Nurse Joy and it had become a mind-numbing experience. The monotony of moving the Pokeballs in and out of the machine was compounding with her aching back, and even her cheeks felt sore from all that smiling. "We hope to see you again!" she said more cheerily than was meant. What a sicko that boy was, pre-poisoning his Pokemon before matches like that. Next in line was a wealthy man in a dark suit wearing sunglasses. "Would you like to rest your Pokemon?" she asked with all the enthusiasm she could muster. "Where's your Blissey?" he asked. "It's store policy to have an assistant available at all times." How could I forget?!? "Of course, sir." She bowed and kept her eyes closed tight. This guy must be the manager, she thought. Blissey should be the fifth Pokeball. One, two, three, four... . "Go Blissey!" "Misdreavus!" She pulled it back. "Sorry sir! Wrong one." Her Pokeballs had gotten all mixed up from earlier. She opened her eyes briefly to spot the Safari Ball, then closed them again. "Go Blissey!" "Blissey!" "That's all well and good, but where's Blissey's nurse hat?" Siara bowed again. "I-ah-must have left it upstairs, sir." "There's something different about you, Nurse Joy two-four-six." Siara laughed innocently. Two-four-six? Did management really keep track of them like this? "Do you have a cold?" he asked. "Yes, so I should go home straight away, right?" she said with a hopeful smile. "And leave the Pokecenter unoccupied?" He laughed. "Don't be silly. Just take it easy and let your assistant take over. That's what she's there for." He turned to leave. She bowed. "Have a nice day, sir." He stopped mid-stride and raised an eyebrow. "W-we hope to see you again," she added hastily. With that, he nodded and left. What an uguu. "You're doing quite well," said the old patron. "I must say I'm impressed." "Shove it old man. This is all your fault." "It's alright. I know it's not easy being friendly all the time." He shook his head, laughed, then continued sipping his infinite tea. A familiar boy came running in. This was his eighteenth visit or so. "The elite four whipped me again! I might need to raise my Pidgey to level 100 before I have a chance." "You again," snapped Siara. "Seriously? In the name of Arceus take my Starmie. Please. Spare your Pokemon the humiliation and torture." "Um ... thanks ... Nurse Joy?" Perplexed, he ran off. Arceus knew he'd fail again. Siara wanted to hop the counter and just go. But something stopped her; the thought of how much fun Nurse Joy must be having, and how rough it would be dealing with sunglasses guy if he discovered she wasn't at her station. She couldn't blame Joy for staying out just a bit longer. Two more hours passed, and oddly Siara found herself beginning to enjoy the job. For some of these Pokemon, she had become their moment free from the abusive hands of bad trainers. She was their safe-haven. Even if their time together was short, she started to feel an attachment to these Pokemon and did Nurse Joy's job as best she could. Nurse Joy finally did return--She had so much fun that she'd lost track of time. But in the end the nurse decided she was ready to return to her job. She spoke to Siara about how being out in the elements can take its toll on a person, and how some of the trainers were just too ruthless in battle. They had a nice chat, and even shared some tea with the old man. Turned out his name was "Harry". And he, too, had spent his formative years in the service industry. Siara found herself more resilient to leave than she expected. "Maybe ... I can do this for you again, sometime?" Nurse Joy simply smiled. Before she left, Siara looked out the window one last time. It was raining. She promised herself that, from now on, she'd take better care of her Pokemon. ~END~ [/spoiler] WC: 1,866

pegged me :P