2 � [VIDEO/ACTION FOR GOLDENROD CITY]

[fauxtographs]

[ACTION]

[Having grown tired of the stifling atmosphere of the Rocket Base, Emmy has decided that today, she'll train her Pokemon in one of Goldenrod's parks. She's not quite silly enough to do anything too serious in the middle of the city (something tells her that practicing moves like Flamethrower in such an area might be frowned upon), but that doesn't bother her too much. The training she wants to do is fairly simple, anyway.]

Keep your guard up, Lulu!

[And by training, she means...well, sparring rather aggressively with her Lucario. Her Pokemon can't have all the fun, after all!]

That's it!

[It's been a long time since Emmy has had such a good training partner, and she's taking full advantage of it. The pair punch and kick with gusto, blocking each other's moves and responding with faster ones, with Emmy occasionally shouting the odd instruction or word of encouragement. While Emmy has strong technical knowledge, Lulu has pure PokePower on her side; as an opponent, she's formidable. They begin to move faster and faster, completely oblivious to their surroundings, until Lulu happens to let her guard down at just the wrong moment-]

Gotcha!

[It's a move she's done many times before; launching herself into the air, Emmy twists and nails Lulu in the forehead with a powerful back kick, sending her tumbling onto the grass. It's rather clear that she's uninjured, however; talented as her trainer is, she's nowhere near strong enough to do any real damage. Rolling up onto her knees, Lulu pats down the fur on her forehead, waiting for instructions from her-

...ah.]

Lulu...

[Huffing, Emmy places her hands on her hips and pouts down at her Lucario, who is looking...rather guilty, like a child caught with their hand in the cookie jar. She thought she was being sneaky...

...]

What have I told you about going easy on me?

[Looks like they might need to take a break...]


[VIDEO]



[The feed opens to the sight of Emmy and Lulu sitting under a tree, apparently taking a well-deserved break from all their sparring. Taking a sip from a water bottle, Emmy contemplates the camera.]

Hello! I have a question for anyone out there listening, today! How do you train your Pokemon? I'd especially like responses involving Fighting-types! I prefer to be out there on the field with my Pokemon, but they tend to get a bit nervous when I do that! Don't you think that's far more rewarding, though? I get so antsy just standing around!

[Leaning back against the trunk of the tree, Emmy folds her arms behind her head and looks up at the leaves, still thinking.]

Although I suppose I can understand their fears...we humans are so fragile in comparison to them. I just wish I could keep up!

[Hmmm...

...ah! Right, the camera is still on!]

Ah, sorry about that! It just reminded me of a puzzle, you see. Do give me a call if you'd like to chat about training, anyway!

Comments

[Action]

[quickattackjack]

<sub>[Jack had been out walking One, his Houndoom, when he happened upon the fighters. He stops to watch in awe and lets his doomdog lope off after a flock of Pidove.]

[Once the fight looks like it has wound down, Jack applauds them loudly.]</sub>

That was fantastic! Now that's what I call Pokemon training!

[Action]

[fauxtographs]

[At the sound of the applause, Emmy turns, a look of confusion on her face. Who...?]

Oh! Goodness, I didn't realize we had an audience!

[She'd been so wrapped up in trying to dodge Lulu's moves, after all...]

Thank you, though! I think it's a good idea to train alongside your Pokemon. Good exercise, really!

[quickattackjack]

One and I go for jogs pretty often but I never thought about actually battling with him...these old bones might not stand up too well though.

_{[He grins anyway and crosses the lawn to offer his hand.]}

I don't think I've seen you around town before.

[fauxtographs]

If One is the type I think he is, I wouldn't want to battle him either. I don't know how well I'd do against flames!

[That's not to say that she wouldn't try, but...well, anyway, that hand is happily clasped!]

As for me, I'm actually rather new! I've been here for less than six months, so. My name is Emmy - Emmy Altava!

[quickattackjack]

_{[Speak of the devil and he shall appear! One comes bounding back over and stands excitedly between the two of them, wondering in his doggy mind if either of them have toys to throw for him.]}

Welcome welcome! You've found a great city, I can say that much! Never a boring day here! Goldenrod has been my home for...oh, four years now? I forget!

_{[He gives her hand an enthusiastic shake.]}

My name is Jack Skellington and if you ever need anything, anything at all, just let me know!

[fauxtographs]

Four years? Oh goodness...are you a local then, Mr Skellington?

[You know, she's not sure which answer would be more incredible - that he is a local, and she's actually managed to befriend one of them, or if he's an outsider like her who has been in Johto for four years...

Unfortunately, she has no toys for you, One...but Lulu the Lucario is looking at you curiously enough!]

It's a pleasure to meet you, regardless!

[quickattackjack]

You know, in a few more years I just might consider myself one! But no, I'm in the same coffin as you! This place gets stranger by the month.

[fauxtographs]

[Well, that's a rather odd way of putting it...but she's heard worse, so why not!]

You must have seen some bizarre things...I can only imagine the sorts of shenanigans that would happen over the span of four years!

[quickattackjack]

You don't have to imagine because I'll tell you!

<sub>[STORY TIME.]

[One starts losing hope in getting anything out of his trainer and his new friend so he turns his attention to Lulu and wags his long, whip-like tail.]</sub>

Years ago, right around Halloween if memory serves me right, the whole world turned flat! Flat like paper! Everything was jagged and the music became strange. And then--skeletons! Floating skeletons!

[fauxtographs]

[...]

What? Floating skeletons?

[This sounds like something right out of Misthallery...]

You know, if I wasn't so familiar with this place, I'd have to doubt you...but I've seen how bizarre things can get here! What did you do about all those skeletons?

[quickattackjack]

What did I do? I stayed inside. I was still a stranger to this land and though I'm not the least bit bothered by skeletons--we're all skeletons on the inside you know-- I had no idea what these were capable of.

[fauxtographs]

That's perfectly understandable...I can't say I would have been too keen to fight them myself!

[Although she would have been tempted...]

Did you end up finding out what they wanted?

[quickattackjack]

_{[He shakes his head.]}

They disappeared as suddenly and as mysteriously as they appeared!

[fauxtographs]

[...

...]

That sounds like quite a headache...

[If only because it's so confusing...]

[quickattackjack]

And then there are the mysterious missing days...and the odd dreams that follow them. Only after the most recent one...I'm not so sure those were dreams.