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[grapeeater]

[There's an unfamiliar face peering into the Pokegear. One would be forgiven for thinking that it's a newcomer, except...]

Ah. Well... this is a problem...

[He brushes his hair back, looking a bit... troubled.]

I woke up this morning like this. Somehow I've aged ten years in one night. Is anyone else having a problem like this?

[Later, he can be found wandering around Goldenrod, with a Lucario, shiny Greninja, and shiny Pawniard trailing after him. The two shinys look pretty calm, but the Lucario looks slightly distressed at his trainer's predicament.]

Comments

[grapeeater]

I... ah...

['I'm your friend from the future, but I don't know if we're friends and I look too old anyway' isn't going to cut it.]

I'm from Zawame, too. I've seen you around.

[dancermai]

Oh! You know my parents then. My daddy is the priest of the shrine.

[She was very proud of that.]

When I'm bigger, I'm going to be the priestess that dances for the festivals.

[There's a childlike smile now as she goes right up to him and sits. She stares up at him with almost a look of awe.]

I don't know where I am but daddy said to always stay where I am and he'll come find me. Do you know where I am?

[grapeeater]

[A shrine? But there wasn't any shrine in -]

[He swallows hard, recalling an idle comment once tossed to him by Ryouma. 'This tree used to be part of a shrine. Did you know that?']

[... There was no way there could have been multiple shrines in a city Zawame's size. It just wasn't big enough. So Mai's family had... oh no. He offers a gentle smile, shaking his head.]

We're a long way from Zawame right now. I'm not sure how we got here, but... I can keep you safe until we find a way home.

[Hopefully that... doesn't sound creepy.]

[dancermai]

[Those weren't the words she wanted to hear. Far away from home? Her little face frowned slightly, trying to figure out exactly what was going on but completely not being able to understand at all. She sniffed a few times. So her parents weren't here. She wasn't even just a little bit lost.]

You'll take me home...?

[For some reason this person felt safe. Like there was an inkling deep down inside that told her she should know him. She leaned forward now and places a small hand on his knee.]

I'll be in trouble if I don't go home for dinner.

[grapeeater]

[Oh great. Wrong thing to say...]

I'll explain when we get back, all right? It's not your fault, so he can't be mad.

[He digs into his bag and pulls out a tissue, offering it to her.]

[dancermai]

[She sniffs again and takes the tissue. This big brother was going to make everything okay. She knew it. The Gods wouldn't turn their backs on her and her family. They were there to protect the city and in turn, they'll keep protecting her too. She believed that with all of her heart.

Ryugen now moves, carefully watching Micchy up and down. He's making the little Mai cry. Despite being very low levelled, he'll take on all these pokemon if he had to. He was about to charge and tackle one of the surrounding pokemon to make an escape route when Jam hurries over and picks him up off the ground by the little cherry, dangling him in the air with a laugh.]

Okay...

[She now shuffles a little closer to him and leans up against his knee. Meanwhile, the eggs were now moved into the little circle with them by the espurr and the hoppip. While Jam and Ryugen were still battling it out and arguing as to what they should do about this intruding man.]

You won't leave me alone until I get home...?

[grapeeater]

I promise. I know it might be scary, but I also know you're a very brave person. So we'll keep trying to get home until we find a way.

[Even if he doesn't want to go home, even if he doesn't want to say goodbye... it's what Mai needs to hear right now.]

Are you hungry? We can find something for you and your friends to eat if you are.

[dancermai]

[She was a little bit curious as to how he knew she was brave. Daddy always said so. But it wasn't enough for her to be distracted from the mention of food. She smiles brightly and nods enthusiastically at that suggestion.]

Cake...?

[There was a cheekiness to her smile as she mentions that. Like she knows she shouldn't be allowed this but this nice man might let her have some. Then there was a pause as she points to the squabbling pokemon nearby.]

They can eat cake too...?

[grapeeater]

... All right. As long as you eat something else, too.

[Not like he can resist Mai, after all. But he looks over to the Pokemon.]

I'm sure we can find some kind of cake for them, too.

[dancermai]

[The smile widens and she laughs now at that response. This was going to be a good day after all. But as she turns back to her pokemon, she can see that Gaim, the espurr is not motioning towards one of the eggs.]

I think it's breaking.

[One of the eggs was starting to show more cracks and the other egg was starting to follow suit. Soon a togepi and an amaura would be born but that wasn't the important issue to Mai right now. She hadn't seen this before. She tugs anxiously on the fabric of Micchy's top.]

They're breaking, onii-san. Make it stop!

[Considering that she had no idea what else to call him in this form.]

[grapeeater]

Oh!

[He puts a hand on hers, smiling.]

They are breaking, but it's okay. They're hatching. Soon you'll have some new friends.

[The shiny Pawniard wanders over and sits down near them. He's never seen this before...]

[dancermai]

[Hatching. That was new. The bright smile returns as she slips away from Micchi and goes to sit right next to the Pawniard to watch the eggs hatch. As she sits there, her little feet wiggle and her body moves to from side to side according to the endless pokemon music that plays through the world. Even as a child, Mai always wanted to keep moving her body.]

It's hatching.

[She says to the pawniard as if she knew exactly what was going on. Then quite some moments later, an amaura breaks free, followed shortly after by a togepi. Her eyes widened. Then she picks up the togepi and walks back over to Micchy, holding it up towards him.]

This one didn't hatched all the way.

[grapeeater]

Oh. Um...

[He pulls out his Pokegear and points it at the Togepi. He blinks in surprise and turns it so she can see the picture.]

It's supposed to look like that, apparently.

[Weird, but... then again considering some of the Pokemon here, maybe it's not so strange.]

[dancermai]

[She looks from the Gear to the wiggling pokemon and then back to the screen. Huh. Then she puts it down and smiles brightly as all the pokemon start greeting each other.]

Mai has one too!

[She reaches into her kimono pocket and pulls out her own Gear quite proudly. Mai had no idea what it does but she also has one and that is a very proud moment indeed. It must mean that she is also an adult.

Now she sits right by Micchy again and pokes the gear. The first image that pops up on the screen is a picture that Micchy had sent to her of himself and his pokemon. She had set it so that it would come up pretty much straight away. Not that he was ever supposed to know. Now she holds the Gear up to him again.]

I think he is also Mai's friend.

[grapeeater]

[... Oh. Oh that's...]

I think so. I'm sure he'll be back soon, too. Hopefully this won't last very long.

[He glances at the newly-hatched Pokemon, smiling.]

It's always nice to see Pokemon hatch. That's what all these creatures are called. So that's a Togepi, and that's a...

[Ooone sec let him check -]

An Amaura.

[dancermai]

Poke...mon...

[She repeats the world carefully and watches over all the little creatures. Then she pulls out the little pokeballs that she had kept by her waist and holds them up to Micchy. She had a feeling...]

They live in here... right?

[She holds out one of the balls at random and a little red light shoots out and picks up a very angry and disappointed cherubi. Most likely going to be very not happy when released later.]

Fun!

[She pulls out the other pokeballs and returns them all to their little homes, as she puts it. All except, Jam. When she attempts it with Jam, he stubbornly refuses and jumps away from the light. He has never really enjoyed staying in the ball and Mai has never forced it on him before. She seems rather disappointed that it didn't work and looks up to Micchy for help. Now there were only three pokemon left out of Mai's. The two newborns and Jam.]

[grapeeater]

They d -

[Oh, boy.]

... Some Pokemon really don't like staying in there. Come on, let Ryugen out. I don't think he'll be happy with being in there. It doesn't hurt them, but as long as we're sitting here you might as well let them out, right?

[He... he may have to have a Talk with Ryugen. At least if his personality is anything like his own...]

[dancermai]

[She thought she was doing a good thing. There was a slightly disappointed expression as she looked through all the balls and picked out the first one.]

Go!

[She throws the ball into the air with a small twirl and out pops a very angry Cherubi, who then immediately about turned and dashed towards Micchy while chattering like it was his decision to keep him away from his very important role of protecting mini Mai.]

Ryugen mad....

[Very astute observation by the little priest girl as she watches the very animated expressions made by the smaller cherry.]

[grapeeater]

Yes.

[He sighed and held a hand out to Ryugen. It's okay, he didn't mean for this to happen.]

Sorry about that. She's small, she didn't know. ... Don't get mad at me. I didn't do anything. I promise I didn't hurt her. Just ask the others if you don't believe me.

[dancermai]

[Ryugen huffs and butts at the hand lightly as if it's accepting the apology somewhat and then trots back over to stay close to Mai. The larger cherry now appeared to be more relaxed and happy since being able to get closer to her while the smaller cherry still had a slightly more serious, slightly angry face. Had to keep a watch out for any danger.]

These are your... Pokemons...

[Then without much warning, she wanders over the Lucario and attempts to climb onto him.]

[grapeeater]

Yes, they a -

[Isamu yelps for a moment before he realizes what's going on. He crouches and holds out his arms. Here. He can hold you, tiny human.]

Be careful. Don't pull on his fur.

[dancermai]

[She smiles brightly at the offer and giggles as she bundles herself into Isamu's arms. This was more fun than anything she's experienced before.]

You're a nice Pokémon.

[Following micchy's instructions, she lightly clings to one of Isamu's arms instead of tugging at his fur and then watched expectantly at Micchy as to what they were going to do next. Cake?

Meanwhile, Ryugen is not happy and is trying to chatter at Isamu and Micchy both to put the little human down. Jam meanwhile is keeping an eye on the two newborns and is hoping to perhaps get them into pokeballs soon so they wouldn't have to look after them much longer.]

[grapeeater]

[Isamu yips quietly, giving her a careful hug. Humans like hugs, right? Micchy ignores Ryugen for now and looks in his bag for some Pokeballs to put the babies in. They... can wait. He grabs a few and puts them in, handing the Pokeballs to Mai.]

Here.

[He returns Yuudai and Kazuki to their own Pokeballs. Now he crouches to look at Ryugen again.]

... She'll be all right. Isamu is very gentle.

[dancermai]

[She accepts the pokeballs and tucks them into her kimono before snuggling down into the warm and safe hug. Isamu was doing a wonderful job in making her feel happy and relaxed. A part of her never wanted to leave this comfy embrace. She speaks directly to the pokemon, staring at him with a very ernest expression.]

You give really nice cuddles.

[Ryugen gave Micchy a look that was almost came across as sceptical. It was his job to protect this trainer and he couldn't do it when she was off the ground. As if sensing the situation, Jam comes over and picks Ryugen up off the ground with his tail. Teasing him as per the normal everyday antics. The distraction usually helped. Sometimes it just pissed him off more. But usually...]

[grapeeater]

[Isamu just nuzzles Mai a little gently. He likes you, small human.]

Once you guys are done, how about we get some food?

[Maybe food will help distract Ryugen more...]