[AUDIOVISUAL] ☆ 2

[endsuffering]

[The video opens to Madoka sitting on a bed in a Pokémon center, an Espurr and her Purrloin in her lap, a Pidgey resting on her shoulder, and a Hoppip sitting on her head. She seems to be doing well, though there's a sad note in her smile if one were to look hard enough.]

It's been a long while since I said anything, myself, on here, and I have a lot of good news!

[She tries to gesture around without disturbing any of her napping Pokemon.]

We made it to a place called Violet City a few weeks ago! I've been staying in the Pokemon Center, in return for helping out here part-time... I'm not the best, but I think Nurse Joy and the Chanseys really appreciate the help, anyway.

[She gingerly picks up her (obviously very young) Espurr, showing her sleepy self to the camera. ...mrr?]

When we got to Cherrygrove, I checked my PC- Greed-san's egg was there, and safe, like he said it would be in the PC! Amy hatched about a week ago, and she's been a big help at helping us find things around here... She's also very cute, hehe.

[Amy is tucked gently back into her lap, curled up against Purrloin's belly, who starts grooming the top of her head as a token of affection.]

I also have caught new Pokemon! Sandy, [She gestures to the Pidgey on her shoulder,] was the first Pokemon I ever caught, and ever battled against. She's really tough- between Sandy and Purrloin, we made it through the Routes here fairly easily.

And I caught Hoppip just a day or so before we arrived here. It's getting into fall now, and the monks in Sprout Tower are really grateful for Sandy and Hoppip's moves that kick up wind- they move the leaves around a lot more easily than their brooms...

How is everyone? I know it's a little late, but I've put this off too long anyway...

Comments

[Video]

[bylight]

[Light is, for one, relived to see the younger girl on the screen. With so many people leaving, she's not quite sure how to take more loss. She knows how to cover it well.]

Greed is good about that. I got my Ponyta and Tyrunt from him. Have you been keeping inside with this weather?

[Video]

[endsuffering]

[Awwww, Light cares about Madoka. Pink-haired girls gotta stick together.

Madoka gives her a fond smile, reply hushed so as not to wake her Pokemon anymore.]

Yes, the rain's made everyone stay in but I don't mind too much. This isn't my room, but with everyone beside me, the thunder and lightning aren't bad at all.

How have you been, ...? [Oh no! Madoka blushes and looks away from the camera, the slightest bit ashamed.] ...I'm sorry, I don't remember your name...

[Video]

[bylight]

Lightning.

[It's okay. Stress can do that to someone. Thankfully Light is not afraid of the element she chose to take the name from.]

Ah, there's someone I'd like you to meet.

[She pans her camera, and there is a golden pillow bird sitting beside her.]

This is Lorelei. She's my Altaria.

[Video]

[endsuffering]

That's a pretty, and, kind of unusual name! But that's okay. It suits you, I think. [Smile smile. That reminds her somewhat of Homura, but less... scary. And cold. Actually, Lightning is much warmer than Homura was in general... She really feels like a friend, even though they don't know each other as well as friends do.

Madoka's face lights up when she sees the golden Altaribird, and she puts her Pokedex up to the screen in an effort to see what sort of Pokemon Altaria is.]

Altaria, the Humming Pokemon. Altaria dances and wheels through the sky among billowing, cotton-like clouds. By singing melodies in its crystal-clear voice, this Pokemon makes its listeners experience dreamy wonderment. [...But the 'dex entry's color is blue. Maybe it's a fluke?]

Ah... Sorry, I've just never seen one- an Altaria before! Hello, Lorelei. [Tiny wave.]

[Video]

[bylight]

Lorelei is the name of a Siren in Germanic legends, it seems. Sirens have beautiful vioces, which lead men to their deaths. This Lorelei isn't like that.

[Said Altaria sings softly to Madoka. Light pets her before turning her attention back to Madoka.] She's a shiny Altaria. It's why she's gold, not blue. I got her from a breeder, and when she hatched, I was quite as confused as you are.

[Video]

[endsuffering]

[Lorelei sings, and Madoka closes her eyes to listen intently. Her mama would sing her to sleep when she was younger, but that doesn't compare well to a Pokemon's singing, does it? And of course, any music that isn't the BGM is a welcome relief to Madoka's ears, so she's only mildly disappointed when the fluffy dragonbird stops her melody.]

A shiny? What does that mean?

[Video]

[bylight]

Most Pokémon are normal colored. Then there's ones, like Lorelei, that are born different. Each Pokémon has a shiny equivalent. They're the same as the others in terms of strength and moves.

[Lorelei chirps in agreement. She doesn't think she's anymore special than the others.]

[Video]

[endsuffering]

...Why are they different? Are they all golden?

[But Lorelei, you're super pretty, and would be even if you weren't shiny. Don't undersell yourselfffff.]

How do you tell if they're shiny if you've never seen them before? Other than... the Pokedex, I guess, ah... oops. [Didn't think too hard about that one, did you, Madoka?]

[Video]

[bylight]

No one really knows. And no, not all are golden. My friend Molly has a Furret, and it's a rather bright pink instead of brown.

[She nods.] That should tell you. If you see a Pokémon, and it looks like a strange color, check your Dex.

action if you don't mind? otherwise i can redo this!

[stonebones]

[He'd liked camping out on the loveseat, being able to turn in and face the back of it to sleep, but he understood why the nurses had requested he take a more permanent spot instead of being there day after day, whenever he wasn't out working.

He recognizes the voice as it speaks, having heard it not only around at the center but when he was helping out the monks, but he hadn't really gone through the effort of learning the girl's name or getting to know what she was like. Emil tunes in a bit more now, putting a finger to his lips to hush the playing of his own pokemon so Madoka can talk in peace. Lua in particular looks like she wants to chatter, eyes fixed on the other cats and the bird, but she obediently waits, sinking further into Emil's mattress.

When it seems like she's done, Emil nods over to where he felt Lua crouch to let her know it was okay to move, then moves to his feet. The Meowth trails closely behind him, in that stomping way of kittens.]

I don't think people will mind that it's late. I know I've been staying up later since I got here.

[Action] No problem! Madoka totally needs more friends

[endsuffering]

[It's hard to turn with Sandy on her shoulder, so Madoka gingerly picks the Pidgey up and sets her on her knee to snooze instead, receiving the faintest chirp of complaint before she settled into her new spot.

This way, Madoka can turn to face the blindfolded boy she's seen around and reply to him more politely.]

Hello- I'm sorry, I didn't notice you before or I would have tried to be more quiet... Were you trying to sleep?

[Action] Yikes, sorry about disappearing like that!

[stonebones]

[Lua lets out a disappointed mrrt, her position on the floor making Sandy no longer visible after being moved. Still, she plods closer, ears perked up to show that she wouldn't be deterred for long.

Emil isn't disappointed at all, though, soft smile settling into place. He can tell that she's shifted to face him more, even if there wasn't actually a need for that.]

Oh, no, don't worry about that. My pokemon and I aren't really tired, yet... Actually, I was worried about them being too loud in the background.

[Action] likewise! also it's totally fine.

[endsuffering]

[The Meowth's sound made the dozing Purrloin in Madoka's lap perk his ears and raise his head, turning to face the source of the noise. He mrrrps sleepily in response, and Madoka smiles, petting his head gently while speaking.]

No, you were fine... I hardly knew you were there, like I said. It's no problem.

[Action]

[stonebones]

Oh, good.

[He's still a bit stiff, formal, but already some of the awkwardness is leaving him. He gestures over to the Meowth, who chirrups back at the Purrloin. Her paws go up, stretching up to hook into the bedsheets, though she's lacking the muscle to drag herself up that way.]

Um, I'm Emil. And this is Lua! She hatched from an egg, too. I've never actually seen her interested in a lot of other Pokemon, before.

[video]

[no_ufo_ending]

Hey, congratulations. The first Pokemon that I caught was a bird too. If you take good care of her, she'll eventually get big enough to help you fly across Johto.

[video]

[endsuffering]

Thank you. There were a lot of birds along the Routes on the way here, so I don't think that's terribly uncommon... But that's cool! I've seen the enormous birds Falkner-sama shows off in his performances, but I haven't thought about what might happen if Sandy got that big...

Have any of your Pokemon grown big enough to fly on, mister, ah...?

[video]

[no_ufo_ending]

Oh--sorry. Henry.

_{[Still learning those normal things people do in social situations.]}

I have a Tropius that lets me ride him on the ground, but he can't fly me to different cities yet. I have to earn the right badge first.

[video]

[endsuffering]

It's okay, Henry-san. I'm Madoka.

[Aww, don't worry too much, Henry. You'll get the hang of it some day.]

A Tropius...? I don't think I've seen that kind of Pokemon...

And, ah, which badge is it? We have a gym here in Violet, but I don't know what rewards there are for beating it yet...

[video]

[no_ufo_ending]

He's a long-necked dinosaur with big leafy wings.

_{[However, at her next question, Henry opens his mouth...then shuts it.]}

You know, I'm not sure...I'll have to ask Heather.

[video]

[endsuffering]

Oh! That's very cool! Where did you catch him?

Okay. With all of the bird Pokemon at the gym here, it could be this one! But not necessarily.

[video]

[no_ufo_ending]

My friend, Envy, actually sold him to me when he was just an egg. He still has the mother and sometimes they play together.

[video]

[endsuffering]

Envy? I got Amy from a man called Greed- do they know each other?

And, ah... How long did it take him to hatch, then?

[video]

[no_ufo_ending]

They do! They're almost like brothers, I think.

_{[That's what he's gathered anyway.]}

It's been so long, I can't remember. It helps if you have a fire type or a way to keep the egg good and warm.

[fourwayconnection]

Violet City is really awesome! I caught a Pokemon over there for a friend of mine. Have you gone to visit that tower over there?

Video

[endsuffering]

Yes, I have. The monks who live there are very kind. Why?

Video

[fourwayconnection]

It's just the best place I had visited over there, even when it was raining cats. You don't get tall views like that out in those kind of areas, so getting to see it... It's awesome!

Video

[endsuffering]

Raining... cats? [She doesn't seem to know the idiom.]

In "these kinds of areas"? What do you mean?

Video

[fourwayconnection]

Yeah. It was literally raining small gray cats. Um, Espurr! That's what they're called.

[That moment when you're actually completely literal. Thanks, Johto.]

Y'know, out in complete forests, or plains, where you'd need wings to get up to see things.

[video]

[codeforhope]

It sounds like you've been enjoying yourself. I've actually never been to Violet City myself, but I've heard that it's a very nice place.

As for me...a friend of mine and I are traveling further north. We're in Ecruteak at the moment. If you plan to keep traveling, you should stop here. I think it's one of my favorite places next to Goldenrod...or maybe Olivine, perhaps.

[video]

[endsuffering]

It's very nice, yes. The local gym leader shows off his flying Pokemon once or twice per week, the Sprout Tower to the North has monks who are very kind, and a hotel besides the Pokemon Center. [She doesn't think Chihiro would be interested in the local bar, so that's left out.]

For right now, I'm pretty happy here in Violet... But maybe in a while! I would like to maybe be strong enough to challenge Falkner-sama with confidence before I leave, even if I don't win, so that I know I'm well-protected on the road. ...Could you tell me about Ecruteak? I know many people live in Goldenrod...

[video]

[codeforhope]

Oh, of course! Ecruteak is popular for its theater scene. The Kimono Dance Theater is a good place to visit, and there is a Museum here too. They hold community plays and musicals here now and then, too, so there's always something to do and see, really.

[video]

[endsuffering]

Oh, wow! For some reason, I didn't even consider that this world had theatres, or museums... It sounds like a very fun place! Maybe I will go there next...

[video]

[codeforhope]

It's considerably smaller than Goldenrod and even some other towns, but the sights there are really worth going to see, I think.

[Video]

[garbagechild]

Sandy?

Isn't that a bird?

I thought birds went in the sky, not the ground! Sand is supposed to be on the ground, isn't it?

_{[HELLO I WAS RAISED BY WOLVES AND DON'T UNDERSTAND NAMING CONVENTIONS]}

[Video]

[endsuffering]

...Yes? Sand is on the ground, and Sandy kicks it up by flapping her wings a lot, so...

[Video]

[garbagechild]

.... Ohhhhh!

I never thought of that!

_{[Clearly, there is more to birds than he had previously considered...]}

[Video]

[endsuffering]

[Amazing. Madoka mostly just blinks at the wild-haired little boy, honestly astonished by the thought that he hadn't considered Pokemon do things.]

Y...es... Um...

Do any of your Pokemon know Sand Attack...? [HAVE YOU EVER SEEN YOUR POKEMON DO THINGS WRATH, MADOKA YOU ARE BEING A LITTLE CONDESCENDING WITHOUT MEANING TO.]

[Video]

[garbagechild]

_{[HE'S STILL LEARNING, OK?! You should have seen his reaction when he encountered a potted plant for the first time.]}

I don't think so.

Mama likes to dig holes to lie in when it's hot though.