[NRP] DoDo & Melomar's Journal (204 views)

[Jirachi's Wish]

POKEMON CHILD

Name: Dominic and Reagan

Gender: Male

Pokemon: Doduo

Stage: Child

Player: Melomar

Artist: Orpheus Solon

This journal belongs to Melomar, no posting without permission.

[melomar]

Welcome to the thread dedicated to my first character to have multiple personalities, simply because he has multiple heads. This is also the first time I have developed a complete learnset before a character reached a human stage. Beginning life as a silly doduo on the Moldavite plains, he has a long, complicated journey ahead of him, or should I say they and them?

Rules
- Please do not use this thread to chat.
- Follow Gaia ToS in my threads. PMs may be another story.
- No, you may not copy my layout. You may use it for inspiration in your own design, though.
- Be happy. Or leave! Or you could just leaf. *puts on leaf hat* :B
- Yes, these were copy-pasted from my other threads, why do you ask?
- I reserve the right to pun. Repeatedly and beyond the point of poor taste.
- I reserve the right to add more rules.

Notes
- Sometimes the sprites hide things.

Updates
- 19 Dec 2013: journal is finally completed enough to post
- 22 Jun 2013: won a doduo in Massive Rehome Event

[melomar]

Page One
- Post 01: Introduction by Orphe
- Post 02: Rules, Notes, Updates
- Post 03: Table of Contents
- Post 04: Personal Profile -- all the heads
- Post 05: Pokémon Basic Stats
- Post 06: Evolution Basic Stats
- Post 07: Child's Learnset
- Post 08: Trainer Info
- Post 09: Relationships
- Post 10: Home
- Post 11: Photo Album and Art Gallery
- Post 12: Family and History
- Post 13: Growth and Forms
- Post 14: Reservation Post Limbo
- Post 15: Disclaimers

Page Two
- Seeing double vision

[melomar]

Dominic, Reagan, and eventually Mikael are three very separate personalities sharing one "community" body, so to speak. As is common to many of the doduo evolutionary family, they do not always get along, nor do they want to. In fact, each has his own set of opinions, dreams, and goals. So, when it is difficult enough for most singular people to do in their lifetime, just how are they to live up to the expectations of three individuals?

DoReaMi
- Pronunciation(s): doh ray mee
- Meaning(s): This is a reference to the first notes on the musical scale, "do re mi." In setting up this thread, references were made to the song in The Sound of Music.

Physical Stats
- Gender: Male
- Stature: Small-boned, generally speaking, but with a barrel-chest and wide shoulders to support two (someday three) heads. Lung capacity is huge, great both for running long distances as well as singing. Necks and legs are long and strong.
- Feathers/skin: Skin is jet-black, and covered in tawny-colored downy feathers. (Any 'hair' will as a result look fluffy and unkempt despite and attempts otherwise.)
- Optical Orifices: Beady and black.
- Other Features: Looooong, straight beaks (will become long noses at child stage). These and the skin covering his legs/feet are a paler but similar color to the down. Toes face three in front, one in back.

Clothing
- Style: None yet. A distinct interest will be shown by each; they will try to coordinate when they go out, but when casual wear whatever each wants, regardless of how it clashes.

Personality:
- Nature: Naughty
- Summary: Though each head shows a distinct personality and are often found bickering, they all like to pull pranks and bend the rules. As they tend to default to a mob mentality, they can together as one to pull stunts that each might never develop on his own. Unless, perhaps, we're talking about Head Two.

Dominic Monday
- Pronunciation(s): doh mi nik
- Given: Latin, "of the Lord," given to children born on Sunday, the first day of the week.
- Hidden Meaning(s): Dominic, the first (his right) head, represents joy.
Nickname(s)
- At Home: Dom (pronounced like "dome")
- Friends: Nick
- Professionally; collectively: DoReaMi

Personality:
- Summary: Generally carefree, he worries about little beyond what interests him or what/whom he cares for. He has little sense of responsibility and focuses only on what he likes or wants to do. If something comes in the way of this, he will deal with it (remove it). Careless, he can sleep soundly through danger.

- Myers-Briggs Profile:
- - ISTP
- - Introverted Sensing Thinking Perceiving
- - The Craftsman is adventurous, independent, spontaneous and adaptable. They do not play by conventional rules, though they do go about life in a realistic and logical way, understanding in depth and mechanically how something works. They become masters or walking encyclopedias of their craft. Unemotional, focusing on the intellectual.

- Likes: Music and entertaining others with it, attention
- Strengths: His carefree nature gives him great adaptability to a situation
- Abilities: His sweet-sounding singing voice can even gentle wild or angry pokémon

- Dislikes: Ray's annoying voice
- Weaknesses: A debilitating dependence on those around him
- Fears: ...

Reagan Monday
- Pronunciation(s): ray gaan
- Given: Irish, "impulsive"
- Hidden Meaning(s): Reagan, the second (his left) head, represents anger
Nickname(s)
- At Home: Ray
- Friends: Ray
- Professionally; collectively: DoReaMi

Personality:
- Summary: In a perpetual sour mood, Ray is accustomed to his brother's bullying whenever he tries to join him in his fun. Being left out gives him plenty of time to be jealous of his brother, but he has also turned his thoughts into keen observatory skills and can take charge at a moment's notice. In such a situation Dom has the common sense to do whatever he says, which has saved their life on numerous occasions (even if sometimes Ray got them into that mess).

- Myers-Briggs Profile:
- - INTJ
- - Introverted iNtuition Thinking Judging
- - The Strategist: is a natural leader that prefers to work in the background, provided their leader is competent. Independent and determined individuals, they will not give up on a problem (a perfectionist). Objectively and analytically assesses any situation, the needs and abilities of others, etc., and is flexible enough to change any strategy or system if it does not work. A strong sense of self-confidence comes from thorough knowledge base in their specialized areas.

- Likes: Watching a natural vista (like the plains), it is rather meditative; baiting aggressive types (like Dom and Rory)
- Strengths: Quick thinking in dangerous situations, alert and observant
- Abilities: ...

- Dislikes: Dom's abusive treatment
- Weaknesses: "Tone deaf," but a great accompaniment in harmony
- Fears: ...

[melomar]

Laugh if you will; after all, a doduo's heads are said to share one brain between them. However, could it not also be said that their telepathy between the two heads is a sign of their advanced intelligence? No! Stop Pecking each other! Stop! Hey! .... Well, off they go... Time to fetch the net.

Designation
- National Pokédex Number: 084
- Type: Normal/Flying
- Species: Twin Bird Pokemon
- Habitat: Wide-open spaces such as grasslands and savannah
- Diet: unknown?

Physiology
- Overview: Doduo is a fluffy, brown bird with a long, sharply-pointed beak. It is a long-legged and long-necked bird with vestigial wings and large feet. The most striking feature is its dual set of heads inset with beady, black eyes.
- Height: 4 feet 07 inches / 1.4 metres
- Weight: 86.4 pounds / 39.2 kilograms

Behavior:
Breeding
- Egg Group: Flying
- Gender Ratio: 50% male, 50% female
- Gender Differences: Males have black necks; females have tawny necks.
- Courtship: unknown?

Abilities
- Run Away
- Early Bird
- Tangled Feet (hidden ability)
- Other: Its heads can speak telepathically with one another. It has been known to run at speeds of 60mph / 96.6kph.
Base Stats:
- Hit Points: 35
- Attack: 85
- Defense: 45
- Special Attack: 35
- Special Defense: 35
- Speed: 75
- Total: 310
Type Effectiveness
- Damaged Normally By: (1x) Normal, Fighting, Flying, Poison, Steel, Fire, Water, Psychic, Dragon, Dark
- Weak To: (2x) Rock, Electric, Ice
- Immune To: (0x) Ground, Ghost
- Resistant To: (½x) Bug, Grass
- Notes:
- - Ghost-type moves damage normally (1x), if given Ring Target
- - Ground-type moves damage normally (1x), if Gravity is in effect AND if given Iron Ball, or a a Ring Target, or if affected by Smack Down or Ingrain.
Base Learnset:
- Peck: Flying-type, physical attack (STAB bonus)
- Growl: Normal-type, status effect

Lore:
- Japanese Name: ドードー, do do, like the dodo bird
- Pokémon Origin: Though named after the dodo bird, after which it's "dumb" nature seems to be based (one brain shared between two heads), it bears a physical resemblance to larger flightless birds such as ostrich, emu, and the extinct moa, as well as the smaller kiwi.
- English Origin: Doduo is a combination of do from "dodo" and duo, meaning "two."
- Trivia:
- - Though Doduo can run 60 mph, Dodrio can only run up to 40 mph even though its Speed stat is higher. Talk about contradictions.

[melomar]

You thought two bickering heads were bad? Try three, which not only tower over you but also do not always see eye-to-eye.

Designation
- National Pokédex Number: 085
- Type: Normal/Flying
- Species: The Triple Bird Pokémon
- Habitat: Grasslands, often in arid conditions
- Diet: possibly foragers; omnivorous?

Physiology
- Overview: Dodrio is a large, long-necked and three-headed, bird with brown and black plumage, and long legs. It is about the size of a small ostrich. Its large feet have splayed toes ending in wicked claws. Other distinctive features include a black, V-shaped crest on each head, and a bright-red feathered tail.
- Height: 5 feet 11 inches / 1.8 metres
- Weight: 187.8 pounds / 85.2 kilograms

Behavior: Each head has a distinct personality, which, though they may be telepathically linked, are known to disagree harshly with the others. Strangely, eating seems to quell their disagreements when all else fails. Alert and unpredictable, a Dodrio should never be taken lightly, as it has been known to lash out at the unwary. Dodrio loves to run and is capable of doing so when one or two heads are sleeping.
Breeding
- Egg Group: Flying
- Gender Ratio: 50% male, 50% female
- Gender Differences: males have black necks, females light-brown
- Courtship: unknown?

Abilities
- Run Away
- Early Bird
- Tangled Feet (hidden ability)
- Other:
- - Its three sets of lungs and hearts, plus long legs and wide feet are optimized for running. Constantly.
- - Each head is generally considered intelligent and/or strategic.
- - A Dodrio is capable "never" sleeping, as long as least one head is awake at all times.
Base Stats:
- Hit Points: 60
- Attack: 110
- Defense: 70
- Special Attack: 60
- Special Defense: 60
- Speed: 100
- Total: 460
Type Effectiveness
- Damaged Normally By: (1x) Normal, Fighting, Flying, Poison, Steel, Fire, Water, Psychic, Dragon, Dark
- Weak To: (2x) Rock, Electric, Ice
- Immune To: (0x) Ground, Ghost
- Resistant To: (½x) Bug, Grass
- Notes:
- - Ghost-type moves damage normally (1x), if given Ring Target
- - Ground-type moves damage normally (1x), if Gravity is in effect AND if given Iron Ball, or a a Ring Target, or if affected by Smack Down or Ingrain.
Base Learnset:
- Pluck: Flying-type, physical attack (STAB bonus)
- Peck: Flying-type, physical attack (STAB bonus)
- Growl: Normal-type, status move
- Quick Attack: Normal-type, physical attack (STAB bonus)
- Rage: Normal-type, physical attack (STAB bonus)

Lore:
- Japanese Name: ドードリオ, dodorio, "translation"
- Pokémon Origin: ドードー, dodo (dodo bird) + トリオ, trio (group of three) most likely, or possibly 鳥 tori, Japanese word meaning "bird."
- English Origin: Probably dodo + trio.
- Trivia:
- - Dodrio's National Dex Number is the same as its metric weight.
- - Humans can ride and race Dodrio, like ostriches.
- - Though Doduo can run faster than Dodrio despite its lower Speed stat, Dodrio is known for its endurance.

[melomar]

When a trainer catches a wild pokémon, it always knows at least one technique to try to win. Sometimes, like this doduo, it is a great catch and knows several more! Already this pokémon has learned new skills, in the process forgetting unneeded ones while improving upon others.

Ability:
- Run Away: Allows him to flee (in terror) from battle despite any trapping moves in effect (Mean Look, Wrap, Shadow Tag, Arena Trap); does not allow for switching out, only battle-ending escape.

Current Learnset:
- Fury Attack
- Rage
- Quick Attack
- Growl

Level 19: TO BE LEARNED
- Pursuit: Dark-type, status move; to be learned in interactions with captured tauros.

Level 14:
- Fury Attack: Normal-type, physical attack, STAB bonus; weaker individual attacks (similar to Peck), but rapidly executed and amounting to greater damage overall. Learned in Rehome Event prompt. Replaces Peck.

Level 10:
- Rage: Normal-type, physical attack,STAB bonus; multiple hits, raises ATK. Insinuated but not yet demonstrated (will be triggered from Tauros).

Level 5:
- Quick Attack: Normal-type, physical, increased priority attack, STAB bonus; makes a lightning-quick attack before his opponent, with claws or beak.

Starting Learnset:
- Peck: Flying-type, physical attack, STAB bonus; pecks the enemy with each beak (counts as one hit because each is halved; they're a weak boy).
- Growl: Normal-type, status move, lowers opponent's Attack stat by one level; growls fiercely at the enemy.

[melomar]

Nigel grew up on, and near enough to the gutter to see the best and worst of humanity. Magazines and comics, and movie stars (as seen and never heard through a window pane), were his sources of hope and inspiration for something better. Distant relatives trying to help give him a better future provided a moral compass with which to navigate. He does not strive for money, fame, or objects. Having nothing of his own but his sense of right and wrong, he has found happiness in himself and his family. But for others, the victims in this world, there needs to be something more, and someone to depend on... and there needs to be a bridge between the worlds of pokémon and men!

Name
- Pronunciation(s): nye-jell mun-day
- Given: English (from Gaelic Niall), masculine name: "cloud," or "champion". Alternately, from Latin niger, "black."
- Surname: English, denoting the day of the week; also, from Old English mona and dæg, meaning "moon" and "day,"
- Hidden Meaning(s): Original incarnations of Nigel and his umbreon Eclipse were fused into one entity through a science experiment. So certain elements of crossover between the two are bound to happen, despite efforts otherwise.
Nickname(s)
- At Home: Nigel, Nige
- In Town: stupid brat
- Friends: Nige.

Family
- Father: ...
- Mother: ...
- Siblings: ...
- - Name (pronounced), relationship, personality.
- Extended Family:
- - Aunt and uncle, live and work on a ranch studying and rehabilitating pokémon on the Moldavite Plains.

Pokémon:
- DoReaMi ("DoDo") - captured on Moldavite Plains with the unnamed Tauros, rehabilitating
- Eclipse the Umbreon - hand raised him from an eevee
- Lilac the Swablu - she tends to name herself randomly based on her current interests, perches on Nige's head, and sings
- Yu Lin the Shiny Pancham - future 'mon; found him on the streets eking out a sad existence
- unnamed Tauros - later named Rorie, was captured on Moldavite plains with DoReaMi, rehabilitating

Physical Stats
- Stature: Tall for his age and gangly, not in the way of wiry muscles but in the way of malnutrition. He'd probably fill out a lot more if he stayed with his aunt and uncle.
- Hair: Sandy and straight, fluffy in appearance; generally kept short-cropped and wild. It deepens to a reddish-brown in the winter months.
- Eyes: Olive brown
- Skin: Olive tan, and smudged with dirt and grime.

Clothing
- Style: He often wears a duster jacket that is so old, worn, and even dusty as to have achieved a "non-color" status. Maybe it was once black, maybe brown, or maybe even green; nobody knows. He wears sturdy pants and boots (also dirty), but he tries to keep shirt clean at least. When out working he wears heavy-duty gloves, and is not above wearing hat and scarf to keep warm.

Personality
- Summary: Nigel enjoys the company of others, though he does not necessarily focus on it or need it. What he focuses on is a achieving goodwill for others, and especially pokémon. He feels a deep connection with them and wishes that others could feel that connection. He looks to himself to solve this and other conundrums and is often considered quiet, though never distracted; rather, quite focused indeed. He sees a bigger picture but struggles to bring it together into a viable solution.
- Myers-Briggs Profile:
- - INFP
- - Introverted iNtuition Feeling Perceiving
- - The Dreamer: is introspective and private but seeks to help others in a patient and compassionate way. Their actions are given meaning when they nurture in others a sense of wonder for the world and the possibilities of their own talents coming to fruition in otherwise unforeseeable ways. This brings joy, wonder and even a sense of fun in helping to influence something latent or a mere hobby become something constructive.

- Likes: Helping pokémon, open spaces
- Strengths: Intuitive or empathetic way with pokémon
- Abilities: Skills from sanctuary/rehabilitation center: riding/maneuvering on a mount, feeding/tending wild pokémon, physical therapy, basic veterinary first aid
- Hobbies: Does he have any?

- Dislikes: Feeling useless or unhelpful
- Weaknesses: Lack of focus; he really isn't sure what he wants to do with his life, though he knows it will be centered around pokémon. He is careless about letting his worries or other strong feelings show.
- Fears: He really worries for his mother's health.

History: ironing out the details; stay tuned

Timeline
- Age: What happened

[melomar]

Friends
- Name: no interactions yet

Acquaintances
- Name: no interactions yet

Enemies
- Name: no interactions yet

[melomar]

Boop.

[melomar]

Photo Album
- Official art, by Orpheus Solon: In this album are hours of fun at the hands of Nigel and his doduo.


(images link to full-size artwork)

Art Gallery
- Artwork Name, by (name): no artwork yet

[melomar]

Background intro

Family
- Father, ?
- Mother, ?
Infoblurb

- Who is this guy?!

History
- ironing out the details; stay tuned!

[melomar]

Growth is a nebulous unit of measure. It states what happened and when, but does it accurately measure one's growth as a person? Perhaps. And also, perhaps none would be quite as complicated as the measures of growth of this multiple-individual.

Pokémon to Child

SPOILER: Click to show

- Requirements:
☑ 2 Weeks Time - 21 June 2013 --> 5 July 2013
☑ 1 Journal Set Up -
☑ 1 Decision on Gender - male
☑ 1 Solo RP - see prompt
☐ 1 RP with another Pokémon
☐ 1 Receiving a Star from Jirachi
- - no plan yet

- Form:
Name: Dominic and Reagan
- Dom is his right, our left, head
- Ray is his left, our right, head

Stage: Child

Pokemon Breed: doduo

Gender: male

Hair Style: fluffy (like doduo's downy feathers)
- Dom with something carefree, cheerful, adventurous, or fashionable
- Ray with something precise, careful/conservative, or maybe even emo... >>;

Eyes: solid black, expression indicating their demeanor

Attitude/Nature:
Nature: Naughty (when they get their heads together, they get into LOTS of trouble!)
Dom: The Craftsman; carefree, creative, spontaneous, an attention-seeker
Ray: The Strategist; introverted, perfectionist, a worrier with an ever-present sour mood

Clothing Style: Rodeo Clown! This is Ray's dream. He loves picking fights with bullies and testing his physical limits. Dom will naturally be horrified by such antics but as a team they are great at outsmarting the... bull-y. (I meant it about the rodeo clown get-up, despite the puns, really!)

Pokemon Features:
- fluffy hair (can include covering the body if you want)
- two heads (I thought maybe having stalk-necks would be easiest for you?)
- light-brown and/or peachy skin/fluff at your discretion
- include the beak only if you want
- long limbs and aerodynamic body for running

reference images:
1
2
3

Child to Teen

- Requirements:
☑ 2 Months Time -- it's been long enough
☐ 1 Response - to the growths/changes caused by the star they found.
☐ 4 PDs
☐ 2 Solo RPs/Journal Entries

☐ 1 Skill Learned - or more. =D

☐ 1 Evolution -doduo  > dodrio

- Form:
Name: Dominic, Mikael, Reagan
Stage: Teen
Pokémon Breed: Doduo > Dodrio
Evolving: Yes
Gender: Male

Hair Style: Poofy.

- Dom's hair is about chin length, a little longer, all one length and brushed back and neat.

- Mike's hair is about chin length or a little longer, all one length and brushed down and neat.

- Ray's hair is a bit lower than chin length in front, and brushed down. In back, it curls a little around his neck and touches his shoulders. It is messy and kind of emo. Maybe some strips of bangs if you want.

Eyes: Black. Dom has a vertical slash over his eye and it is blind
Attitude/Nature: Naughty
Clothing Style: Track star! Tanktop and shorts, any color.
Body Style: Long and lean. Barrel chested.
Pokémon Features:

- three heads

- long noses

- black eyes

- hair color is like the feathers of dodrio

Teen to Adult

SPOILER: Click to show

- Requirements:
☐ 3 Months Time
☐ 1 Response to Growth
☐ 5 PDs
☐ 2 Solo RPs/Journal Entries
☐ 2 Skill Learned - there may be more
☐ 1 Evolution - nope

- Form:
Name: Dominic, Mikael, Reagan
Stage: Adult
Pokémon Breed: Dodrio
Evolving: No
Gender: Male
Hair Style: (if any)
Eyes: Black. Dominic has a vertical slash over one eye.
Attitude/Nature: Naughty
Clothing Style: ...
Body Style: ...
Pokémon Features:
- three heads on stalk necks

[melomar]

All sprites and pokémon concept art obtained from Bulbapedia's Bulbagarden Archives; Bulbapedia (the unofficial, online pokémon encyclopedia) was the primary source for pokémon info. Character concept art was created expressly for Jirachi's Wish. Each piece is listed below, and owned by its respective artist. Any omissions from this list are unintentional; no infringement is ever intended. If anything seen here is in error, please let me know in a nice way, and I will do my best to correct it in a timely manner.

Characters and Content
- Pokémon (Pocket Monsters) © Nintendo, concept by Satoshi Tajiri.
- Jirachi's Wish concept (and star thumbnails) by Orpheus Solon.
- Character concepts for the doduo, Nigel Monday, Eclipse the Umbreon and other supporting characters, by Melomar.
- All other character concepts (such as for the children and their trainers) by their respective owners.

Sprites and Concept Art
- Doduo's pokémon concept art, and the art for his consecutive growth stages, by Orpheus Solon.
- Original doduo and dodrio pokémon concept art by Ken Sugimori.
- Animated doduo and dodrio sprites are the menu sprites from the games.
- Nigel's large sprite is "Palmer" from Diamond/Pearl.
- Nigel's small sprite is "Cool Trainer" from Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald.

Layout Design
- Pokémon stats informational layout borrowed heavily from Bulbapedia.
- Some design layout ideas were borrowed from MoogerMint and used with permission.
- Banners by me (Melomar) for this journal only. Do not use!
- Banners use Ambient shareware font (personal use only), © Eric Oehler, Kiwi Media, 1993. Based on the font used for Moby's album, Ambient.

[melomar]

Rehome Event Prompt: 'Vacation! Summer! Fun! It's time to get away from the day to day and have a little fun! What's the plan? A day (or week) at the beach? A trip to the mountains? Maybe just spending time with friends? Tell us about how relaxation and fun is found!'
Date: June 2013
Word count: 2222
Interaction with: Nigel, Eclipse the Umbreon, unnamed wild Tauros
In which a boy starts a summer internship and a young doduo distracts a raging tauros from attacking their herd only to get attacked instead.

SPOILER: Click to show

Nigel Monday would never argue the fact that he was cityfolk. But he would also never deny his roots. His family, and more specifically his aunt and uncle, were pokémon rangers. They serviced a pokémon sanctuary on the Moldavite Plains, and often brought sick and injured wild pokémon back to the pokémon center for treatment and rehabilitation.

Nigel loved nothing better than to spend time with that family helping them at work. But this summer he was old enough to call it an internship and actually get paid. He was very excited. Soon he would be able to make his own living working with pokémon.

But just what exactly would he spend his life doing, with regard to pokémon?

Just this morning, his aunt had asked him that very same question. “Have you decided what you want to do?”

With his mouth full of breakfast, he had merely shaken his head negatively. (He knew better than to speak with his mouth full; he had only needed to feel the wrong side of her spoon once to understand the consequences.) All he really knew was that he liked to help -- to help both people and pokémon alike. He liked to make things easier on them, especially when they weren’t able to help themselves.

“Would you like to be a nurse?”

“I’m no Nurse Joy,” he had laughed, finally at liberty to do so. They both had laughed. No one was as good as Nurse Joy, neither this Nurse Joy nor the one back home. “All I know is that I want to work with pokémon.”

While Nigel had finished up the last of his meal, his aunt considered their conversation carefully. Her husband was already out on the plain wrangling up some unruly tauros that had recently been causing trouble for other pokémon, so she could not discuss it with him just now. “Well, then I think you should make it the goal of your internship this summer to decide once and for all what your calling in life should be.”

Her intentions were only for the best, of course. She wanted him to choose not only the “right” path in life, but also the one that would make him happiest. But an ultimatum was not really going to help matters.

Nigel sighed and kicked at the bone-dry earth. He wore a duster jacket and boots but the dirt still managed to cake everybody’s clothes. Not that he noticed. He just wasn’t sure what direction to take himself, other than toward his uncle. He sighed again and mounted one of the homestead’s resident ponyta; it was one that had grown with him through the years and never failed to recognize him. It made an inquisitive little snort, upset by his apparent distress. He cracked a smile and the tension subsided for now in the face of his friend’s worry. “It’s fine. Let’s go find my uncle,” he said, patting its neck.

When the man finally saw him, Nigel still felt unsure of himself. As he trotted up to the boy on his prized wrangling rapidash, Nigel attempted a grin, but his uncle wasn’t fooled. “Nige! You look worn out, like you just blew in off the plains. You all right? You gettin’ enough sleep?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” He certainly didn’t want his uncle to worry. “Auntie wants me to decide what I want to do with my life so it’s been weighing heavily on my mind.”

His uncle grunted and nodded, then turned the rapidash around so they could ride side-by-side. “Sounds like you’ve got a lot to think about.” He turned back to Nigel and grinned. “Nigel, only you can choose what you wanna do. It’s got to be you because only you will know that it feels right to you.” He shrugged, “There’s probably somethin’ you like to do best and you just haven’t thought much about it yet.”

His grin slipped away and his face suddenly became like steel. “But now it’s time for more pressing matters. Don’t let this distract you today, or you’ll regret it. We’ve got a rogue band of tauros runnin’ amok and you’re going to need to be alert.”

“Yessir.” Nigel understood that while he had a lot to think about, he would have all summer to do so. And it was thanks to interesting challenges like the tauros today that he would get a variety of opportunities.

- - -

Many pokémon made their homes on the Moldavite Plains, not just the tauros. One such pokémon was a young doduo. His heads had never seen eye-to-eye, not even when they were glaring at one another.

The head on the doduo’s right side, for now known as Head One, liked to sing. When he did, the sweet sound lilted on the breeze. Pokémon from all over the field stopped whatever it was they were doing to listen. They gathered around and sat quietly, eyes wide and glittering, as if in a trance. Even the wildest pokémon were gentled by his song.

Head Two (on the left) seemed completely tone deaf. He was jealous of the attention his brother received. There was nothing he could do once a concert was conducted; he was expected simply to listen like all the others. He used to try to sing along, but the noises that erupted from his throat were nothing short of hideous. Once he opened his mouth, calm pokémon became enraged and the well-mannered kicked dirt at them.

Head One had learned their lesson. Whenever Head Two tried to sing, Head One pecked at him. As a result of Head One’s diligence on the matter, Head Two rarely managed more than one flat note.

Head Two was ever in a sour mood and today was no exception. While his twin napped, he kept watch, brow furrowed. His brother had had another successful performance and had fallen asleep feeling very accomplished. And what had Head Two to feel so great about? Absolutely nothing.

Sullenly, Head Two surveyed the vast grassland and the hazy mountains beyond, eventually spying some strange behavior among other pokémon. A lone tauros pawed at the ground and lowered his head while trotting around. Sometimes he flicked his tails and a distinctive snap! could be heard hopping across the tops of the breeze-touched grass.

Earlier today the doduo had witnessed from afar a commotion among the herd of tauros. One bull had challenged the leader and won. The loser had not lost in many years (never in the doduo’s lifetime), and now he was taking it out on whomever he could.

The doduo twitched. Head One stirred but did not wake; Head Two would wake him if danger was imminent. Head Two watched his slumbering twin for a few heartbeats then steeled himself before letting out a loud, reverberating honk! Throughout the scattered pokémon body, heads lifted and glanced around until they saw the culprit. GWAH. Yes, he sounded horrible, but his cry made an excellent warning call. Even his twin blinked awake and peered up at him with sleepy curiosity. When everyone realized his reasoning was the irate bull, they closed their ranks and as one began to move away. And Head One realized that while danger was indeed imminent, Head Two had done the right thing. It was surprising, admirable. Had his brother always been this courageous?

The ousted bull would have none of this. He was practically itching with fury, and now he had just one target available to him. He snorted a low, deep-chested chuckle. Someone was going to pay, even if it had to be this scrawny little bird. Pawing the ground once again, he focused on the lone doduo and charged.

The twins honked with fright as one and leapt two feet in the air. Head Two suggested that they lead the bull away and try to lose him. Perhaps they could find a tree or rock face to put between them. The twins were in agreement on this and fled at top speed. Doduo is known for its high landspeed, even if they are weak fliers. This pair was no exception.

But now that he had begun his charge, the tauros would not rest until he fought them or something stopped him.

- - -

“Nigel, look!” The boy’s uncle pointed out across the grassland as a multitude of pokémon ran past them. Beyond, they could see the chase unfold.

“He’s going to catch that doduo, isn’t he?” Nigel asked.

“At this rate, he probably will. Come on.” They raced after the two runaway pokemon.

- - -

It was only a matter of time before the doduo tired. The tauros was fueled by rage, but the doduo only had fear to draw upon. Eventually the doduo was cornered between the tauros and a large old tree; their round, fluffy body heaving. Head Two had a plan, but it would take inner strength he wasn’t sure they had available to muster. Head One, drooping a little with his tongue lolling from his long narrow beak, watched the tauros approach at full speed, booming out a bovine bellow.

Get ready.

The doduo planted wide feet firmly in the grass and crouched, two sets of beady eyes narrowing. Ready, brother.

We have to time this just right.

I trust you. It was probably the first time Head One had ever consciously felt, let alone mentioned this sentiment to his brother.

Jump! The young doduo could not fly like other birds, nor could it jump like a ponyta (which one head thought he could see out of the corner of one eye -- perhaps a good omen?). But it could jump off to the side! And as it did so, twin beaks struck viciously at the battle-scarred tauros. Fury Attack!

The enraged bull tossed his head in frustration when he saw the doduo leap out of the way. He swatted them with his trio of tails in retaliation, from which he heard a satisfying pair shrieks. But in his inattention, he knocked himself senseless on the ancient trunk of the tree.

The doduo watched the world whirl completely around, with a ponyta and a rapidash spinning with it. Each equine pokémon had a rider that jumped off his mount and ran to the scene.

Ah! It hurts!

You’re pecking me!

I can’t see!

Stop pecking me!

Now you’re pecking me!

Then stop!

Ahh! I can’t!

Me either!

“Uncle, is there anything we can do?” Nigel asked, feeling a bit winded, but more from fear than anything else. The tauros lay on his side, legs twitching in midair. And while he watched, the doduo ran haphazardly, its twin heads attacking one another.

“Nothin’ we can do for the doduo for now. Those heads won’t stop until its fainted.”

Nigel frowned with worry. After a moment of consideration, he pulled a pokéball from his belt and cried, “Eclipse!” When his hand-raised umbreon appeared he pointed to the frenzied doduo. “Keep an eye on that doduo! When it faints, come get us!”

“Breo!” With a bright flare of his golden markings, Eclipse bounded off after the doduo and slipped into the grass like a shadow.

Nigel turned back to face his uncle, who had carefully moved to the tauros’ side to investigate his condition. “So he was finally ousted from his herd,” the man muttered to himself, shaking his head.

“You know him?”

“This was the leader of the herd that roams these parts. That is, until today he was. One of the younger bulls was causin’ trouble for weeks now. They musta finally squared off in a duel this morning. I’ve been watching them closely to make sure they don’t hurt anyone over it.”

Nigel watched the tauros closely, studying his face. Even though he was out cold, his twitching spoke more of energy and fire than of nerve damage. “What’s going to happen to him now?”

“Well, it’s only proper to take him back with us and make sure he isn’t injured too much from that blow to the head. He also has some cuts from earlier. Nige, tauros pride themselves on the scars they carry but there’s a wound that may never heal. We’re going to keep him for observation for a while and decide what’s best for him.”

The boy was still frowning, but he nodded in understanding. The rest would be up to the tauros. “And the doduo?”

“Brrreee!” Nigel’s umbreon returned, hopping through the grass like a gazelle, calling out to them with each leap. He seemed to love it out here, despite the blazing sun. Perhaps Nigel would have to keep Eclipse out of his pokéball a while longer. It suited him just fine; it was a bit lonely without him nipping at the boy’s heels.

“Well, well,” his uncle chuckled. Eclipse was always a kick to have around. “Let’s go check him out and see how he’s doing. I’m worried about the eyes, one of the heads was acting like he’d been blinded. A doduo relies on keen eyesight to watch out for predators. That way, one head can always stay awake and keep watch. So if his eyesight’s permanently damaged he won’t be able to come back out here.”

Had the doduo’s eyes really been damaged? Would they heal completely? If not, what then?