[AUDIOVISUAL] ☆ 1

[endsuffering]

U-um... Hello?

[She’s peering at the small device, pressing a few buttons at random to test their functions. She’s clearly not looking into the camera.]

What is this...? Where am I?

[Her gaze is cast around the small town she’s in, searching for any familiar faces. She gives a despairing frown behind her when she finally reaches it, clearly realizing she can’t get back into that house, then turns to the PokéGear again with a slightly more hopeful expression.]

Hello? Is there anyone there who can hear me? _{I hope this isn’t just something made by that Witch… Oh…} It’s Madoka- Hitomi-chan? Are you there? Can you hear me?

[It’s just then that she seems to notice she can see herself in the device, and there’s a light on- blinking. The moment she realizes that it’s recording shows on her face like the dawn, and she blushes, hiding her face slightly while still looking at the display.

To the side of the screen, her bag visibly shakes, though it takes her a moment more of staring at herself to actually notice. Her hair and ribbons are all messed up from getting out of that bed, and she’s trying to tidy herself up... But what’s that?

A purple cat’s head sticks up out of her bag with something in its mouth, and she startles, dropping the PokéGear in the dirt.]

Ah! There’s...!

[The sounds of turning around in the dirt are picked up by the microphone. It can be assumed she’s gone over to it.]

What are you doing in there, kitty? That’s my stuff...

[The Purrloin yowls at her, and she can be heard falling back onto her bottom as it escapes with its prize.]

W-wait! Come back...!

[The PokéGear is left to record the sky for a few more seconds before automatically turning off; it can be assumed she forgot it there in her haste to chase the thieving Pokémon.]

Comments

[Video]

[grapeeater]

[... Oh. He recognizes that confusion.]

Ah... are you all right?

[The Pokegear is kind of important, after all. Even if it's replaceable... but she seems new and unaware of things.]

[Video | About an hour later]

[endsuffering]

[It's a while before she comes back and picks up her PokéGear again, and a few minutes still before she can turn it on again with a wiggly Purrloin in her lap.]

Eh?

[She blinks at him.]

Oh, ah- yes, I'm fine... At least, I think so. This cat almost ran away with the bento that was in that bag I was given...

[Seemingly having remembered something, she brings the PokéGear closer to her face and stares worriedly into the viewport.]

But my friend might not be! I got so wrapped up in everything that's happened, I almost forgot...

Have you seen a girl in a uniform like mine, but with green eyes? Maybe a mark on her neck...? Her name is Hitomi, she's my friend- she and a lot of other people were in serious danger!

[Video]

[grapeeater]

Ah, no... I haven't. But don't worry about it - your world is going to be exactly as you left it when you go back. Or so I've been told, at least. So you have time to find your friend.

[Video]

[endsuffering]

So, you mean- ...

[A pensive stare is given to the ground. Hi ground! You're real, aren't you.]

This isn't...

Oh...

But what if she's not here? ...And where is 'here'...? That old man in the middle of town didn't really tell us much...

[Video]

[grapeeater]

Ah... the region you're probably in right now is called Johto. There's a Kanto region, too. This is a world with creatures called 'Pokemon', like that cat you have. People train them and battle them, or breed them, or just have them as companions.

[Video]

[endsuffering]

...Oh...

[That's a rather lot to take in. Madoka goes silent for a few minutes, pensive again and petting her Purrloin idly while this processes and she assesses the situation.]

The Johto region, of the world of Pokémon... I guess that's better than being... _eaten...

[If he caught that mumbling, Micchi would at least have a vague notion as to why Madoka suddenly looks sad. She's even tearing up a little- but catches herself, rubbing the tears out of her eyes hastily. Now is not the time to break down and cry.]

Ah- um... So, I'm Madoka Kaname... Who are you? I can't thank you properly if I don't know your name...

[Video]

[grapeeater]

[... He did, but he's not going to push it. He doesn't want to make her even more upset.]

My name is Micchy. It's nice to meet you, Kaname-san.

[... He's guessing that she's from Japan, based on that name, but he could be wrong. The worlds represented here can get pretty weird.]

[Video]

[endsuffering]

It's nice to meet you, Micchy-san.

[If the mutual use of honorifics didn't answer his question, it's a tossup as to what will.]

Um... You said 'the region I'm probably in'... Are you not also in Johto?

[It's almost as if she hadn't been about to cry just a minute ago.]

[Video]

[grapeeater]

Ah... no, I am, but with the way this world sometimes has... odd things happen... I wouldn't be surprised if someone ended up somewhere else. It would be unusual, but not out of the question.

[Video]

[endsuffering]

...Oh.

Where else is there to end up? Even if it's unusual to be there...

[Video]

[grapeeater]

Well... there have been a few weekends where people end up all over the place in both regions and then disappear. Most people show up in New Bark Town, though.

[Video]

[endsuffering]

Oh. That is strange...

New Bark Town is where I am, or, at least, the Professor said that this is New Bark Town. But I don't...

[She trails off, casting her glance around town again, briefly.]

...Where are you?

[Video]

[grapeeater]

Right now I'm in Goldenrod City. It's about two weeks of traveling... and yes, you'll have to sleep outside when you're not in the cities. In the cities you can find inns to sleep in, but you have to pay for a room.

But your Pokemon should keep you safe while you're traveling, and if you can weaken enemy Pokemon enough, you can catch them too. There should be some red and white balls in your backpack. They look like these.

[He pulls one out to show her.]

If you throw it at a Pokemon, you can catch it and it'll fight for you. ... It sounds strange, but that's how things work here. And most don't seem to mind being on your side once they warm up to you a bit.

[Video]

[endsuffering]

[Sleeping outside. She hadn't done that since her mother made a misguided attempt at taking them on a camping trip as a way to relax after a bad business venture. She adjusted well at the time, but... Madoka had no choice this time. Suddenly she was very much missing her home.

Purrloin nuzzles her cheek gently, pulling her out of her little reverie.]

Oh...

I... I don't want anyone, people or animals, to hurt each other unnecessarily, but... I guess if it's to befriend them, it's not so bad. Not good, but not terrible, either...

Um... How far away is the nearest town after this one? If it's dangerous, I don't want to stay on the road for very long...

[Video]

[grapeeater]

It's three days. And it's okay. Most Pokemon actually like to battle. Most of the Pokemon in that area aren't very strong, so you shouldn't have too much of a problem.

[He smiles at her again.]

It'll be okay. And it's the beginning of summer here, so the weather will probably hold out and it shouldn't be too bad at night.

[Video]

[endsuffering]

Oh... Well, I... Okay... [Her mom told her when she was younger that having your own opinions and feelings on things, even if they differ from other people's, is okay. Madoka plans to remember that for the rest of her life. Of course, this also means she doesn't necessarily agree- the "Okay" is more of an "I understand" than anything.]

I hope so... Being stuck out in the rain is bad enough when you're near somewhere dry, much less when you're out walking in the wilderness without an umbrella or anything...

[Video]

[grapeeater]

[He doesn't blame her, honestly, since most of the Pokemon here seem much less naturally violent than Inves, but it's just one of those things that people have to see for themselves.]

I think there's some towels in your backpack if you need it. It won't be the best protection, but at least it's something? And there's trees to hide under if the weather gets bad. I'm sure you can pick up an umbrella just in case in Cherrygrove.

[Video]

[endsuffering]

Yes, I guess you're right... Where is Cherrygrove? Is it far? I don't want to be outside without an umbrella for longer than I have to be...

[Is it obvious that she's a city girl?]

[Video]

[grapeeater]

It's about three days' worth of traveling to the west. It's not so bad.

[He knows that feeling. He's a city kid, too.]

[Video]

[endsuffering]

I see...

[Madoka still seems hesitant, hugging her Purrloin close as a form of comfort, but says nothing else for a long moment.]

...Thank you for your help, Micchy-san...

[Video]

[grapeeater]

You're welcome. It's a lot to take in, I know, but you get used to this place pretty quickly. It's actually really nice, even if it's not home.