MISSION 008 [VIDEO/ACTION FOR JUST OUTSIDE GOLDENROD CITY]

[sculpted]

[The feed opens to the sight of a rather frazzled-looking Alex Louis Armstrong, who is in the middle of placing his Gear down on a flat surface. He’s shirtless, squatting down in front of the camera with a bemused expression on his face.]

Greetings, my friends! I was wondering if any of you had advice for dealing with a Pokemon who doesn’t really-

[Suddenly, Armstrong rises quickly, twists, and opens his arms, just in time to take a rather furious charge from a rather furious Mamoswine. Digging his feet into the earth, Armstrong fights to keep the Pokemon from trampling him, managing to stay standing and refusing to budge. Grunting and growling, the two struggle for a minute before the beast backs off, galloping away to prepare for another attempt.

Wiping sweat from his brow, Armstrong places his hands on his hips and turns back to the camera, exasperated.]

-doesn’t...really seem to like you all that much. I raised my dear Seldi from an egg, but she’s never taken to me.

[In the background, Seldi is scraping a foot against the ground, kicking up a small cloud of dust as she prepares to charge once more. Armstrong’s frown deepens; he doesn’t appear scared, just frustrated.]

I must admit that I am at a loss at what to do. Nothing seems to help! So, if any of you have been in this situation before and have any advice, it would be most appreciated-!!!

[The next charge is far faster than the last and far more aggressive, the Mamoswine roaring angrily as she pounds towards her trainer, who grimaces and prepares to intercept her, fists flexing. Again, she slams her tusks into him, but even with all her force he manages to stop her cold, dirt piling up around his boots as he forcefully digs his feet into the ground, sweat pouring down his back as he fights to stay up, teeth clenched and (exceptionally beautiful) muscles straining.

For a moment it looks like she might have overwhelmed him, as Armstrong drops to one knee, but it’s all part of his plan; suddenly unbalanced by the lack of force from one side, Seldi stumbles, allowing her trainer to hurl her sideways onto the ground. Once she’s down, he collapses onto hands and knees for a moment, panting, before straightening up and returning his eyes to the camera.]

Thank you very much for listening.

Comments

[video]

[enjoymyatelier]

[...given that he's actually in the city proper, it actually makes sense to video this...]

Have you considered not trying to use her at all, or trading her to someone who she seems to get on decently with? At some point, it really just stops being worth it.

[video]

[sculpted]

[Honestly when it comes to Armstrong, video is usually the safest option....]

Mr Archibald, I can't just give up on her! That would be far too callous!

[Even though she just...tried to kill him, um]

Besides, I'm sure it's nothing too serious. We're just going through a rough patch.

[video]

[no_ufo_ending]

My Hoot Hoot hated me ever since I caught it, but once I tried to tell it to leave, he warmed up to me all the sudden. Then we got attacked by Jigglypuffs and he saved me. That was pretty cool.

[video]

[sculpted]

Hmm....I would prefer to not have to use such harsh tactics. It doesn't seem fair.

[NEITHER IS TRYING TO TRAMPLE YOU but nbd]

[ video ]

[gracefall]

Maybe she wants you to prove yourself to her! [ though he seems plenty strong from that little broadcast... she's staring at those bulging muscles a bit. ]

Or um, maybe treats? Xiao'yu seems to be liking me a bit better with some treats. [ when in doubt, use food. but Xiaoqiao is the simple sort. ]

[ video ]

[sculpted]

[Don't be afraid to stare; he knows his muscle are simply fascinating!!]

Alas, I have tried using treats, but it's useless! She simply refuses!

[Really, he's at a complete loss.]

How do you think I could prove myself to her?

video

[islandshore]

[...It's something he's seen plenty of times before, both from personal experience and with other trainers. Applejack's 'Dozer comes to mind. Pardon Riku if he shuddered a little-- if Armstrong weren't so... well, massive, those charges could've flattened him.]

So she was like that even as a Swinub?

video

[sculpted]

[Armstrong nods grimly, crossing his arms over his chest.]

She was always angry and standoffish, but it really only came to this level of aggression once she evolved to her final form. I can't get her to do a thing I say.

[...that's because she's got a Rocket Microchip, but Armstrong doesn't know that...]

Have you ever suffered this sort of thing from any of your Pokemon, my friend?

video

[3_butterflies]

Um... I could try talking to her, if you want...

video

[sculpted]

[...!!]

You can talk to Pokemon, miss?

Video

[naive_nature]

You...you took it down with your bare hands!

Video

[sculpted]

Of course! Wrestling with my Pokemon keeps me on my toes.

[ video ]

[colorsofthewind]

When my Alun was a Pidgey, he didn't like anyone really. I gave him some responsibility to show I trusted him, and he warmed up to me after that. He is still fairly grumpy, though.

[ video ]

[sculpted]

Responsibility? I see! What sort of things did you give him to do, my dear?

[Video]

[begetsvengeance]

[Well...that happened. Honestly, if she was one for giving out compliments she'd say that was impressive.]

Have you tried asserting your authority? None of mine have given me any problems, mostly because they know better. If she sees you as a push-over, then she's going to walk all over you.

No matter how far you can throw her.

[Video]

[sculpted]

[Armstrong is shaking his head - he knows what Jeane means (having been in the military, and all) but he disagrees with that line of thinking.]

I understand what you're saying, my dear, but that's just not how I train my Pokemon; I don't want them to fear me.

[Well. That and the fact that he knows he's absolutely terrifying when angry, but details...]

My other nineteen Pokemon have responded well to this particular manner of training so I'm....really at a loss when it comes to my Mamoswine. I don't want to have to start yelling at her, however.

[Video]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[... Wow. She's had her issues with aggressive, disagreeable Pokemon, but she's never actually had one that's attacked her out of pure rage before. Unless you count that thing with the Totodile....]

[So she's torn between being sympathetic, and impressed at the fact that he can fight that massive thing off with brute strength alone.]</sub>

... Jeez... she REALLY looks mad...

What have you tried so far?

[Video]

[sculpted]

[Sighing, Armstrong runs a hand along the back of his neck.]

A better question to ask would be what I haven't tried; treats, talking to her, letting her do what she pleases...nothing works.

Somedays I fear she hates me.

[He's not crying, but there's a serious aura of sad surrounding Armstrong. He's pretty down about this whole thing.]

[buckyouup]

[...It's not every day Applejack is jealous of someone else's strength.]

An' here I thought I was the only one havin' trouble with Mamoswines. Guess it's just in their nature t'be unruly, huh?

[sculpted]

Oh?

[Well, this is interesting! He never really considered that it could just be the species, rather than an issue with his particular Pokemon.]

Are you also struggling with a Pokemon of this type?

[video]

[nobel]

[Unfazedly fending off that scary pig monster? She thinks you are so awesome!]

I'm not exactly experienced with Pokemon, but when you end up sparring with her, the cause can possibly be read in her movements! There's a soul in every fighting fist- [She balls both of her palms into fists and firmly butts them together.] -that other fighters can connect to and gain a mutual understanding of each other, and why they fight.

[But then again, Allenby's solution to everything is fight fight fight.]

[video]

[sculpted]

[Don't worry Allenby, you are speaking his language]

Oho! I sense that you also have the noble soul of a fighter, my dear!

[...just let him flex for a sec]

Did you happen to read anything in Seldi's movements as we were grappling?

[video]

[lieutenantantichrist]

[That is not something you see every day. Blake tries going with it.]

Not everybody gets along. Sometimes mammoths and shirtless guys just don't hit it off.

[video]

[sculpted]

But surely there must be a way to get her to warm up to me? I've never had such a negative reaction to these beautiful muscles....

[Honestly, it's just plain unnatural!!]

[Video]

[hoperaider]

[holy mother of god

This guy would be awesome to have fisticuffs with.

Wait, that's not the topic of discussion right now.]

Erm, I had a few snags with Halley, my Growlithe, before. I had to assert dominance over the chap or else he'd continue to bite the ever-living tar out of my hands. He didn't hold back on those bites, either! I'm awfully glad he's gotten mellower after evolving to Arcanine, but he'd attack people if they got too close to me or him. I mean, he doesn't do that so much now, but....

[He taps his chin.]

Valeria, a friend of mine, had the same bit of trouble with her starter, a Scyther. I think she resolved that issue through actually combating it to gain its respect.

[Video]

[sculpted]

I have tried so many times to win Seldi's respect through combat, but every time we battle she just seems to get angrier.

[Only because she hasn't managed to kill him yet, but...details....]

Although I am glad to hear you stopped having trouble with your Arcanine! I have raised two of them, myself, and find them to be the most majestic of beasts!

[And far less violent than his Mamoswine, which is always good!!]

[video]

[togetherforever]

[Wow.]

[No one from her world has EVER done a task like that before. That was...like really impressive.]

[Now on to the actual response.]

I have a Solosis who is... fairly rude to me but he's kind of rude to everyone else.

If it helps in any way, I could ask him if he could talk to your mammoth to see what's wrong. If you're willing to put up with him, I mean.

[video]

[sculpted]

Ah, is a 'Solosis' one of those 'Psychic' types?

[He really really needs to get him one of those.]

If you wouldn't mind, my dear, I would love to try!

[video]

[darkenedgales]

... Sounds tough. Kinda like Sirocco, only worse.

[He's learned to live with the Fearow being a constant threat to his well-being, but he imagines it would be even more difficult to deal with when the Very Angry Pokémon in question was a freaking mammoth.]

Well, for starters, do you know something she does like?

[video] 1/2

[sculpted]

....

[....um

hang on

there must be

....something....]