01--VIDEO

[shatterings]

[ There's a curious someone fiddling around with her PokéGear. She's a little surprised she managed to click it on, since she's never actually dealt with much technology. ]

Ah... um, hello. [ Her surprise is replaced by a reserved sort of smile. It's pretty brittle--she's not supposed to be here. So why is she, then? Carefully, she tucks a bit of hair behind her ear. A nervous habit, but it's not one she actually notices. ] I'm a little... confused. I'm not sure what's going on, and-- [ Wait. Is that... music in the background? It's faint, and she hadn't really noticed it until she was lost in thought. ] I think I might be hearing things, but... is there music playing somewhere?

[ She lets out a little sigh and gives the Minccino beside her a pat on the head. ] I think I just need a little bit of help, or... an explanation.

Comments

[dressofheaven]

[It's okay, she didn't really have any before this world either.]

Not all of them, but usually our starters are quite nice to us. I'd show you mine, but Berserker's far too big to let out indoors. The wild ones will attack you, but don't misunderstand. They're trying to show off their strength so you'll catch them.

[shatterings]

[ Naminé's starting to get the hang of this... maybe. ]

We catch them... with Pokéballs, right? And we raise them... [ Her voice is getting a bit quieter. She's used to being alone for the most part, and it's a hard habit to break. ]

[dressofheaven]

That's right. You're starting to get the idea. You'll have to weaken them first, that's one of the things battling is for. The other part of that is that when you beat the enemy, your Pokemon will learn a bit about battling. That's how they get stronger, you see, it's through experience.

[She can still hear Namine alright, and she figures she's half talking to herself right now given the subject, so she doesn't bring it up just yet. She takes note of it though. The girl does seem rather shy.]

[shatterings]

[ Naminé nods, giving her companion a little pat on the head. It sounds like a pretty big responsibility, but honestly, that's nothing new. Now, to do it right... ]

... I hope I can raise them well, then.

[dressofheaven]

[And that makes Ilya go straight to serious business.]

That's very nice and all, but hope isn't enough. If you want to do this right, Namine, you have to put in a lot of effort, and spend a lot of time. If you think you aren't doing it right, you have to think hard about how you can do better. You have to be the best you can be, so your Pokemon can be the best they can be. Understand?

[shatterings]

Ah...

Yes, of course. I haven't known her very long, but... something like this... There's a lot of trust involved. [ Naminé holds her Minccino close. ] ... I can't let them down.

[dressofheaven]

Good. As long as you realize that.

[And she softens pretty quickly.]

Don't worry though. There will be plenty of people willing to help you do this right, including myself.

[shatterings]

[ It's strange, being offered help by someone she just started talking to. It's not a bad kind of strange, just... she's not used to it. Naminé gives a little nod. ]

... Thank you, Ilya. I think I'll need it.

[dressofheaven]

Indeed you will, but there's no shame in that. Trying to do everything yourself is just asking for failure.

Speaking of which, I really should get you Riku's guide.

[shatterings]

[ She knows about doing stuff alone, honestly. It's something she's going to try to work on, but... it doesn't seem to likely. To her, anyway. ]

If it's not too much trouble... Thank you.

[dressofheaven]

You're welcome. One moment.

[And after a bit of searching on Ilya's end, a link to this pops up.]

There! That should help a great deal.

[shatterings]

Ah... that does help.

[ People here come from different times. Just because one of your friends is here doesn't mean they're on the same page as you. That sticks out to her--and explains why this Riku has been here for a pretty long time. ]

... The background music really is permanent, then?

[dressofheaven]

I'm afraid so.

[And the face she makes leaves absolutely no question about how she feels about it.]

You can drown it out with other music, but you can't ever make it go away.

[shatterings]

[ It definitely doesn't seem well-received. Naminé at least can ignore it from the most part, if she doesn't think about it. She doesn't look too thrilled, though. ]

... Does it... at least change?

[dressofheaven]

It does, actually. Each path and each town and city has its own music. Some people actually move based on which one they like best.

[Of course, she doesn't really see what's so great about Goldenrod's music, but she's one of the ones who's just kind of sick of that city in general.]

[shatterings]

... Has anyone... figured out why?

[dressofheaven]

No. The best I can guess is that's the equivalent of birdsong, but with wild Pokemon making the noises.

[shatterings]

I suppose that does make sense... They must get bored, maybe.

[dressofheaven]

That could be it. Or it could be some sort of way they talk to each other. Pokemon all seem to understand each other, but they can't talk to us except for a few exceptions.

[shatterings]

A few exceptions?

[dressofheaven]

The psychic types, mostly. They can send their thoughts into our minds and speak to us that way. Some people get bothered by that, though.

[shatterings]

I... That does seem a bit... intrusive.

[ Though she doesn't really have room to talk, she thinks... Still, having something inside your head is a bit hard to swallow. ]

[dressofheaven]

[Ilya, however, waves off her concern.]

It's just a quicker and easier way for them to speak with us. It's not like they can actually change anything about us while they're talking.

[shatterings]

Can they... read your thoughts or memories that way?

[dressofheaven]

Yes, but only if their trainer orders them too. So if that happens to you it's not really the Pokemon's fault.

Unless they're wild, of course, but then they're usually too busy fighting.