#wildmons

[ask-wildmons]

[ Thanks @ask-guardian-gallade and @asksavel for the asks! ]

Their arm gives a few subtle twitches as the stick jabs into it. At least thanks to Kyogre, they weren't going to wake up with a mouthful of sand. Though that begs the question, how did they get here...?

(They appear to be alive at least. Their arm twitches reflexively as it's poked.)

However, it seems that the jabbing was enough to get them to wake up at least. They quickly sat up, already in a state of alarm. Whatever had caused them to black out, it was clearly quite bad, from what they shouted at least.

"The storm!! This ship is falling apart!! We have to.. to..."

They took a moment to gather their surroundings, looking at the two that arrived to check up on them.

"What... Where am I...?"

Ask for their name, about the storm, or about the ship?

[ask-wildmons]

[ Thanks @ask-prince-manaphy and @asktheisle for the asks! ]

"That would be the case. And thank you for not trying to force it. Maybe I'll tell that story when I get settled and get some people I can trust."

Ari turned their gaze towards the other human that had approached them. Never a dull moment, it seemed like. Least this one seemed friendly. Though Ari visibly kept their guard up, since they could never know for sure...

"It's personal experience. I hope you can forgive me for being hesitant here..."

At Nat's offer, they just let out a sigh. They knew all too well that they'd have little chance of surviving out here, even with their camping experience and supplies. As much as they hated to admit it, having their help would definitely be appreciated.

"... But right now, I don't have many other options but to accept. So, thanks."

[ Ari's Bonds Page has been unlocked! ]

[ask-wildmons]

[ Thanks @symphonies-of-silver and @shaymincafe for the asks! ]

The human form Ginjiro has seems to put Ari on edge… However, even without proper training to sense aura, they eventually figure out that this isn't really a normal human. Knowing this, they relax a bit.

"I have experience at training a variety of types since I originally got my license. Though I've never been the sort to stick to any one type in particular."

"Though I only had enough time to bring one of my Pokémon with me when I left. My Machop, Lea. He's been my friend through all of my stupid mistakes." "… He's the only one I could bring with me. Any more, and there'd be… issues getting away from some people…"

"Though the swim off that deathtrap wore him out. He's only got a sliver of HP in him right now." "It'd be best to let him rest up. He'll come out on his own when he's ready to meet you all."

["Ari's Pokémon" has been unlocked!]

[Ask Hints have been added!]

Why so tense with humans?

Why were you in a hurry?

Who were you avoiding?

Aura?

[ask-wildmons]

(@pokege-ne-project (ty also for the previous ask!)) Wesn pops out! Hoping to offer a shoulder at least, he'd chime in a question of his own. "Oh, did you need to get away form somethin' too? I don't mind listening, if you need it!"

(Heyo, thanks for the ask friendo! Sorry it took me an eternity to get to!)

Ari thinks for a moment, remembering all the things they did back then that they won't ever forgive themself for. Even if they did get some payback on the people that caused them to lose their way, it won't make up for all that they've done.

"Well, let's just say, I got on a lot people's bad sides when I came to my senses." They let out a chuckle, imagining the reaction they had when they saw Ari's little farewell present. "I'll bet they weren't too thrilled to see that I'd unleashed one hell of a virus on their network as my resignation."

Ask Hints have been updated!

Your biggest regret / came to your senses?

The virus you unleashed?

Press them for more information?

[ask-wildmons]

(Askthewhiterocket) Kyo: A virus hm? I presume you mean some sort of computer virus? Was it anything fancy or did you just trick some poor sucker with a phishing email?

( Thanks for the ask Noble! )

"Well, let's just say that even underground, there's a lot of people that didn't like my former... employers... So it didn't take me too long to find someone willing to make something to do what I wanted."

"From there, I just had to bide my time and not alert anyone that the virus was there. It basically had a built-in countdown timed to my escape. Course, I had to activate it a bit early because they were starting to catch on."

"First, it copies itself to everything connected to the network. Including computers, phones, smart devices... As well as any other locations that were in peer-to-peer connections with similar network IDs. Then it opens all the cages the Pokémon were kept in, since I wanted to atone in some small way for what I'd done while I was there."

"It then locks every door except for where Pokémon were kept. ... As an added bonus, it changes the lock combination for all digital locks every 3 seconds. Then every device on the server is wiped. This basically ensures that the only way to stop the lock randomization is to completely disconnect the network."

"Cost me a lot of time and all the money I got from working with them, even quite a bit extra, but I'm nothing if not intensely vindictive against those that have wronged me."

[ask-wildmons]

(@gimmighoulcoins) Hestau: "Sounds like you did a good good job at getting back at your old bosses. Are they who you're running from? 'Cause you broke their stuff and they're mad about it?"

( Heyo, thanks for the ask @gimmighoulcoins! )

Ari looked at the Gimmighoul that had taken a temporary seat on their shoulder while they'd been gathering fallen sticks and branches from the forest just by the beachside. They didn't mind, of course. They were always happy to talk to Pokémon.

"Not quite. They'd probably hunt me down regardless. They're that cuckoo." If Ari didn't know any better, they'd probably call it a cult, with how its members operate. "That whole thing was just a goodbye present to light a fire under their rears."

"But yea, they're the ones that were chasing me. Don't think I'll be running into them out here, though. Doesn't look like any humans have been through here in a long time, if at all."

[ask-wildmons]

Snow@Ari The AI seemed rather scared upon hearing about the virus… “The virus sounds terrifying… Wiping everything connected to the network… If I was there and connected to it…” She couldn’t bring herself to finish that sentence, needless to say, in the scenario she imagined, she wouldn’t have made it…

(Thanks for the ask!)

Ari tried to come up with some retort, some excuse for their actions. Some way to play it off like 'don't worry that wouldn't happen'. ... But they were ultimately just lying to themself. That possibility could've been very real.

"Yea, I was short-sighted, more focused on revenge than anything at the time..." Ari admitted. It was a bitter pill for them to swallow, realizing that if Snow were still there, they could have easily put her life in danger.

Even after realizing how wrong they were before, they supposed old habits die hard. They still endangered Pokémon, even when they didn't mean to...

The sun is beginning to set...

[ask-wildmons]

The sun begins to rise, illuminating an isolated island. On one of the island's beaches, a young trainer lies face first in the sand, unconscious.

Attempt to wake them up?