Chapter 4: Origin and Habit

"Wait, how did you know about me?" Violet asked.

Bryce looked puzzled. "You mean how I knew you were a Pokémon and all of those other things?"

She nodded.

"To make a long story short, Pokémon are known in this world as creatures on a card, video game, or TV."

"I've heard of famous trainers being on TV, and there is a card game in our world for kids that don't have their own Pokémon yet, but in a… what was it?"

"A video game." He replied. "It's like an interactive TV where you can make characters do… just about anything."

Violet still looked confused.

"Maybe if I show you, it will make more sense." He said, leading her back to his room. There, he turned on his Wii, and the menu for the console appeared. He selected Super Smash Bros. 64 and the game started.

"So…they aren't real people, but whoever created…that," she said pointing at the Wii, "invented their own characters with their personalities."

"Yeah, that's actually spot on."

Violet looked somewhat upset. "I don't know if I want someone thinking they know me based on a figure that is the same Pokémon that is me."

"I know." Bryce replied. "I bet the real you is more full of life than some picture on a screen."

She blushed. "Thanks."

At that point, Bryce was distracted by looking at Violet, and Fox went skyrocketing due to being hit by a bomb from Ness.

"What? I thought I hit pause!" Bryce said.

Violet laughed. "Are you normally this bad?"

He laughed. *Not when I'm distracted.*

"Normally, I'm ok. I've had plenty of practice. Do you want to try?"

"I've never even heard of this stuff until five minutes ago."

Bryce thought a moment. "Well, that's what a teacher is for."

The two spent the rest of the day practicing every game he had. Violet was a fast learner, completing half of StarFox Adventures easily. At the end of the day, Violet could give most intermediate players a run for their money.

"That's natural talent. You're amazing." Bryce said. "And now if you ever go to one of these places, you'll have an idea of what to expect."

She smiled. "I don't plan to leave here for a long while."

Before he could stop himself, he said, "good," and smiled. Finally someone cared about him, and he didn't want to lose someone so wonderful after just meeting her. He looked at the clock.

"I didn't realize it was already 10:30pm. We should probably go to bed."

She nodded, taking a blanket and placing it on the ground.

"What are you doing? You're sleeping there." Bryce said, gesturing to his bed. "I don't mind sleeping on the ground."

"I could just sleep in the guest room…" she said.

"Trust me, you don't want to do that."

Flashback

Bryce opened the guest room, and a wave of dust flew into his face. He coughed for a long time before saying to himself, "That's going to need some work."

End Flashback

"Are you sure you're okay with this?" She said in one last attempt.

"Positive, as long as your okay, I'll be fine."

She smiled and hugged him tightly. "Thank you!"

"It's fine." He said, feeling her warm paws around his back.

In a few hours, Violet was asleep comfortably, but Bryce was awake, listing to music. Having insomnia meant Bryce tried several ideas on how to fall asleep, and listening to soft rock before sleeping seemed to work well most of the time. As the chorus of the song began, he felt something brush his shoulder. He looked to see Violet's paw hanging off the side of the bed. He carefully placed it back on the bed under the blanket. She grinned in her sleep. He smiled at her unconscious figure before whispering, "good night" before turning off his music and falling asleep.

Author's Notes: …what? Don't give me that look. I'm a gamer; I've got to have SOMETHING related to videogames.