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]

How many people with Kairi's voice are there?

[Ilya only realizes she responded to the post with that statement after a moment of confused staring. Once she does, she hastily tries to cover.]

Ah, never mind that. If you just arrived, it makes sense that you're confused. Did you listen to what the woman who calls herself "mom" told you before she pushed you out the door?

[Video]

[crackpotcrocker]

YES! That's music. After all you're just as sane as I am!

[Which there's something about him that doesn't look sane]

BUT THAT'S BESIDES THE POINT!

[As he continues on there's a creepy edge about his voice]

You're in a magical world that's filled with these creatures called - POKEMON!

[How even with his body?]

[shatterings]

[ The comment doesn't go unheard, and the surprise--and more confusion--shows right on Naminé's face. That can't be right, though. Maybe she just misheard... ]

I... yes, that's exactly what happened. Is that... normal?

[dressofheaven]

For this world, yes. She probably mentioned something called a Pokemon journey, right? Well, that creature you have there is a Pokemon. Everything here revolves around them, so keep yours close.

[Now she remembers why she doesn't usually talk to the newbies. It's always so confusing figuring out what to tell them.

Wait a minute...]

I think Riku might have made a guide of some sort... I'll see if I can find it.

[Well, maybe she didn't mishear after all.]

[shatterings]

I--

[ oh no now she's even more confused. She takes a deep breath before answering. The Minccino at her said is peeking up from the bottom of the screen. You've got its attention, at least. ]

I-I see. [ It's a relief that she's not hearing things, at least. She's still a little dazed. ] I'm... I'm not sure how I got here. Can you... I mean, do you have any idea how...?

[shatterings]

[ Naminé stays quiet as she listens, and for a little longer as she processes everything. She's a little calmer, at least, as she nods. There's still an intense worrying building up, though. But the name gets her attention. Maybe it's the same Riku, or maybe it's a different one.

Won't know until you ask, right? ]

... Does this Riku have silver hair and blue-green eyes?

[dressofheaven]

... So you know him. Do you know Kairi too? Xion? Sora?

[She's a little surprised, but not that much. There's always the chance someone from one of their worlds can get brought in, and it looks like this is one of those times. Now she just has to wonder if this means their little group will be getting bigger.]

[shatterings]

[ Hesitantly: ] Only Sora... but... I've heard Kairi's name before.

[ She doesn't feel comfortable going into how she knows Kairi. There's still a lot of guilt pent up there. Well... might as well make an introduction. ]

I'm Naminé.

[dressofheaven]

Namine... I don't think they've told me about you yet, but I'm Ilya. I'm a friend of theirs here.

Hold on just a moment.

[She switches over to text and sends a message to her travel buddies: "If any of you know a girl named Namine, she's just arrived and she's at New Bark. Should we go get her?" Once that's sent, she switches back.]

There, I've told them you're here. With any luck you'll hear from them soon.

[shatterings]

[ Honestly, she doesn't expect them to tell Ilya about her. ]

It's nice to meet you, Ilya. [ Even if the meeting is a bit... odd. She shifts a bit nervously as she stops to take in her surroundings. ] ... Thank you. [ It's not that she's not grateful--she is, but she's a little nervous about meeting them, aside from Riku. ]

[dressofheaven]

Don't mention it. If you're a friend of theirs we'll be friends soon too, anyway.

[She won't allow it to be otherwise.]

Anyway, you should stay in town for the moment. Get to know your Pokemon. Wild ones are all over the place outside so it's better to go out prepared.

[shatterings]

[ Friends are kind of a new concept for her--forgive how surprised she looks. ]

Oh... yes, of course. Thank you. [ The Minccino comes into view beside Naminé as she kneels down (out of the way, of course!). It seems pretty friendly and gives a wave to the screen. ]

... Are they all this friendly?

[crackpotcrocker]

[Denzel peers rather closely at the screen at the Pokemon for a moment as he wonders what the Pokemon is. That is before he starts to fiddle with his glasses]

Originally I'd say - FAIRIES!

However, I've now come to believe it is a Pokemon move that we're not aware of yet.

[shatterings]

I... suppose that would make sense if this world centers around Pokémon...

Ah... I'm Naminé.

[video]

[faintwaves]

N--

[Okay pause for a second, reconsider. Calm down, Xion, Namine doesn't know who you are regardless, reacting with shouting would just scare her. Kairi clones are a skittish bunch.]

...Y-yeah, the music is...um, always playing.

[Pause for another second. Oh no, what does she say now??]

Namine...uh...what's the last thing you remember?

[crackpotcrocker]

WHY OF COURSE! After all - there is a move called 'teleport'! And with what the legendary Pokemon are 'supposedly' capable of doing -

[However Crocker is thinking something on a much grander scale and what he heard happened at the Falls with the mysterious Pokemon with the legendaries doesn't sound that far -fetched.]

I'm Mr. CROCKER!

[shatterings]

Teleport? That sounds like...

[ Can these creatures really use dark portals? Or is it a different ability entirely? Naminé briefly glances down at her companion. Doesn't seem like the type to be able to do something like that, but...

That shout catches her off-guard, and she jumps a bit. Let her compose herself before answering-- ]

I-it's nice to meet you, Mr. Crocker.

[video]

[walkersystem]

Hi ... Did you just get here?

_{[There's a lot of sympathy in the way she asks that. She remembers how disoriented she was.]}

[shatterings]

[ She feels like, maybe, she should know this girl. And she looks so much like Kairi that it catches her off-guard. Naminé is quiet for a little while before she finds the words she wants to say. ]

A-- [ Would it be appropriate to call him that? He's the closest thing she's got, other than Axel. ] --friend helped me out of a bad situation. And then... I ended up here.

[shatterings]

I suppose it's not hard to tell... is it?

[ She's beginning to think this happens a lot. ]

[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.

[walkersystem]

_{[She nods.]}

Don't worry. I was really lost too. And pretty scared.

[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.