[Video]/[Action]

[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

[donoteateither]

[Yachi looks a lot more tired than usual as she staggers up to the pair a few moments later, arms full with a dozing Aipom and Hoppip, two of the Pokemon she felt would most likely run or float away unattended.]

Ryugen, do you have Mai's Pokeballs? I managed to--

[Is... Is Mai crying? In the less than five minutes since Yachi saw them last?]

What did you do to her?!!

[grapeeater]

[Micchy pulls himself up from the awkward landing position he managed to get himself in, and looks at Mai, then looks at the Pokeball, and groans.]

He's not gone... shh, Mai. Here. It's okay.

[He bounces her gently, stroking her hair.]

You know those round balls that your other friends came out of? When you have too many, the extra ones get put on the computer. So if we go to the Pokemon Center and check your account, he'll be there and you can switch him out for someone else on your team and play with him. All right? He's not gone, I promise.

[dancermai]

[She bundles up against him, a pout all over her expression as she sniffs a few times more and rubs at her eyes with the kimono sleeve. Definitely not an action that would have been approved by her father.]

Not gone...

[She watches Micchy very intently. Trusting his words more than anything. Her hands grab onto the fabric of his top as she settles down and nods her understanding of what he's saying. Micchy is more than likely a lot better with children than he thought. Or...there was something in Mai that inherently trusts him. Probably the latter. ]

[donoteateither]

[Mai might trust him, but Yachi sure doesn't. Because come on, Pokeballs disappearing out of thin air and ending up in a computer? That sounds as much a lie as any, like something you tell a child to soothe a situation, and she doesn't want to be there for the fallout when the lie is uncovered.

Here, Mai, take your Aipom and Hoppip back, they're getting heavy. While she transfers the Pokemon to Mai's arms, Yachi looks over at her caretaker.]

Are you two staying somewhere in Goldenrod, or staying at the Pokemon center?

[grapeeater]

Not gone. I promise.

[He smiles at Yachi's question. She really does care about Mai, doesn't she?]

I paid for two rooms at the inn. Mai has her own room, but I'm nearby in case she wants to talk.

[Him staying in her room just... isn't right.]

[dancermai]

[The promise is all she needs and the return of Lindyhop and Jam brighten her up even more. She cuddles the two of them gently before returning both of them to their pokeballs. Possibly odd behaviour for Mai as she never would have put Jam into his ball before but little Mai doesn't know that. She smiles earnestly up at Yachi.]

Onii-san lets me eat cake.

[She then hops up and dashes back to her other pokemon, returning each of them into their balls after giving them a small cuddle.]