Gardevoirite Arc: What's Going On?
"I really don't understand what's going on right now, but... I'll just take it for now", Mari said and entered the hut they were assigned with Jacky. "That Satsuki guy was rambling something about me and Gardevoir and I can't get any order out of it.",
"I didn't get it either..." Jacky sighed, "But it must be something very important. To them, at least."
Haruka peeked in at them curiously. "You guys look weird!" she giggled in her childish voice, tugging at Mari's pants a moment later. "I bet they're comfortable, aren't they?",
"I always walk around in comfortable clothes", Mari replied. "I'm not into fancy stuff." Haruka looked at Mari closely. "Is that what everyone in your towns wears? Mom always told me that you guys never have to hunt or gather your own food. And that you keep your Pokémon in little balls." She pointed to Mari's belt, where her Pokéballs were attached. "Those, right?",
"Yeah, that's right.",
"I've never been to a city before!" Haruka gently tapped the capsule of one ball. "That's unbelievable... How do these work? How does a Pokémon fit into these little things?",
"Well, its actually quite easy to understand", Mari started explaining. "These Pokéballs aren't cages. They were developed with the progress of technology. They are complex devices that work with virtual reality. They shrink Pokémon to a keepable size and then project their natural habitat as a virtual hologram within, so that the Pokémon feels at home. These balls help trainers to carry their friends with them, even communicate with them... and protect them as well. Inside their balls, Pokémon cannot be harmed. The balls work with complicated codes and marks, which means that a trainer's Pokémon cannot be caught by another trainer, as it will cause a rejective reaction.",
"Whoa... That sounds really cool! And they come with different colors, too!" She tapped on Gardevoir's Pokéball. "I like how this one looks!",
"It's a Premier Ball", Mari explained. "Actually, the different looks of Pokéballs have a function, too?",
"Oh, really? Which one?",
"Well, that way, you can distinguish what kind of ball it is. Pokéballs are the standard version, then you have Great Balls, for example...", she tapped on Combusken's Pokéball, "...that are improved versions of the standard ball, with higher catch rates. Then, you have balls that are coded to work better in the dark, or after a long period of time, or on Pokémon with specific types.",
"Oh! And what does this one do?" The curious little girl again tapped the Premier Ball.
"Uh... it's actually much like a regular Poké Ball", Mari replied. "It's been made to commemorate some sort of special event way in the past.",
"What kind of event?",
"I think it was the opening of the first Pokéball Factory..." Mari muttered. "The production of Poké Balls has been booming ever since then, and many more factories were opened. They're all ran by a company called 'Devon Corporation'. The opening of the first factory though was a milestone.",
"Ah! That's cool!"
Jacky took the chance to ask a question of her own. "Yuna said she travels around outside the forest too, right?",
"Oh, Yuna's pretty great! She always has a lot of stories to tell because she travels so much! Her mama Sayuri worries about her all the time, and she cried for days when she was gone..." Haruka sat down with her legs crossed. "She and her Mienshao are unique and they have won many battles. I want to be like them later!" Her eyes literally shone. "Seeing a lot, meeting other people, fighting... It must be so exciting!",
"It's not common for anyone of your kind to venture beyond the woods, is it?",
"Mhyeah. It's safer here, Mom says. Well, considering the circumstances." She drew invisible circles on the ground with her index finger. "You know, Kaze was very sad, too. He didn't want her to go. That's why he blames himself so much for her being captured.",
"Hmph..." Mari nodded thoughtfully and exchanged a glance with Jacky. "Well. We'll free her, for sure.",
"I'll go with you!" Haruka announced proudly. "Then, nothing can happen!",
"For sure." Mari just smiled. "Do you actually have a partner Pokémon, too?",
"Of course! Do you want to see it?",
"I'd love to.",
"Then come with me!" Haruka jumped up and waited excitedly for the two girls.
"Satsuki told us to wait here," Mari said.
"Oh..." Haruka lowered her head in disappointment. "Some other time, then. My Pokémon likes to live in the treetops...",
"Why don't you just bring it here?" Jacky asked.
"Hmm, yeah! You're right!" She tightened her belt. "I'll be right back!" And with that, she went on her way.
"Haruka's really cute, isn't she?" Jacky said, giggling. Mari nodded. "Yeah.",
"Could be my sister.",
"You don't have a sister.",
"No, but I'd like one.",
"Why don't you ask Haruka if she'd like to be adopted by you?" Mari joked. Jacky laughed and held a hand in front of her mouth. "Well... A best friend is perfectly fine."
"I agree." Mari gave her a raised thumb.
A woman entered the hut. She had black hair and looked a lot like Yuna. "Are you Mari and Jacky?" she asked.
"Yes," Mari nodded. "That's correct, we are the weird outsiders that have no clue what's going on here but we just roll with it.",
"Hello." She greeted them both in a friendly manner and prudently placed her hands over each other. "My name is Sayuri. Sorry for the inconvenience.",
"Sayuri? Then... you're Yuna's mother, right?",
"That's right." Sayuri nodded.
"It must be hard knowing she's been kidnapped...",
"She's been gone for a long time." Sayuri exhaled heavily. "My little Yuna... I beg of you, you must save her.",
"Ahem..." Mari tightened her legs. "I mean... sure, we'll do what we can. But I'm not so sure how exactly we are supposed to be of any help here.",
"You guys have gone through so much, and you're helping a village you don't know. I'll be eternally grateful should you succeed.",
"Well... we'll try to help, at least." Mari was amazed that this woman was pinning her hopes on her and Jacky. It was weird enough. These folks had been living a secluded life in an isolated village in the woods, and they were quick to trust them. What exactly did these ninja know about the two of them? What had Satsuki seen...? "But surely not everyone here will trust us, right?",
"Many find it strange that two girls from the outside world are suddenly in our midst." Sayuri nodded slightly. "Ninja react differently, you know. Haruka, for example. She immediately wanted to know everything about you, and it seems she's already taken you kids to her heart. Kaze is a very dutiful person and doesn't trust everyone. It seems to be different with you. He would do anything to protect us - especially Yuna. He was there when she was kidnapped.",
"Oh... That must have been a really horrible experience for him then... Seems like he couldn't do much to stop it, huh...?",
"No... he was overwhelmed really quickly.",
"That sucks. Well... what do you think about us?",
"Like most people here, I was suspicious... until I saw you guys go into our elder's hut.",
"He said he saw us in a dream and Kaze said he's a seer. What does that mean?",
"He has the gift of gazing into the future. If he trusts you guys, I thought I should too. ...Even if not everyone does." She cast a sideways glance out of the hut to a small group of ninja standing nearby.
"I'm back!" Haruka shouted, storming into the hut. "And I brought my Pokémon with me! Ninjask, say hi to my new friends!" A low buzzing sound was heard and a bug-type Pokémon flew around their heads. Mari pulled out her Pokédex. "A Ninjask, huh?",
"Yapp! My pride and joy! It took me weeks to find it!" She giggled.
"Haruka, come here!" someone called in the background. "You've played with those strangers enough!",
"I'm coming, Shiro!" She nodded to the two and hurriedly ran to the group of ninja Sayuri had glanced at earlier.
"Who's that?" Jacky asked, turning to Sayuri.
"That's Shiro, Haruka's brother", she replied. "One of those who do not trust you.",
"I see..."
Sayuri waved it off. "I have to go now. I wish you good luck." With that, she walked out of the hut.
"In the light, it rules the enemy's will, with the grace of a thousand butterflies it breaks the evil's shadow blade", Mari repeated the verses Satsuki had been muttering to herself. "What the hell does that mean?",
"He must have seen that in his dream.",
"Probably..." Mari yawned. "It's getting dark already and I'm dead tired... I'm going to get some sleep. After all, it sounded like we were going to have to pull an all-nighter earlier.", "You're like me on that one..." Jacky leaned tiredly against Mari. "I'm sure it'll be a while before Kaze gets back... Until then, we can catch some sleep.",
"Sounds like a good plan." Mari nodded and leaned against the wall of the hut before they both fell asleep.