The sound of a train horn echoed across the skyline of the town as a Silverline train began its departure from Alstan Central Station. Inside, Andrea was fighting to maintain her balance as the carriages jolted to life and began to move; she had just barely made it onto the train before it departed, and she was the only passenger still on her feet. As she stumbled her way to the back of the carriage, she noticed that there were very few passengers aboard; an elderly couple, a man in a snappy suit and a man her age in a salmon pink polo shirt and brown cargo shorts. Of the 48 seats available, only four were taken. Thoughts began to swirl in her mind.
"Will they actually notice... the guy already checked my ticket..." she mumbled to herself, debating whether or not to try sneaking into the first class carriage. She realized that it wasn't, but tried to justify the fact that it was owed to her after previous bad experiences while riding the train. She cautiously looked around to see if any railroad employees were watching, then threw her backpack onto the soft, cushioned seat when the coast was clear. "What's the worst they can do? Throw me in economy where I belong?"
The comm system resonated with a pleasant tone and a gravelly voice followed soon after. "Welcome aboard, this is the conductor speaking! This train is currently departing from Loch Alstan and will arrive in Redfern Crossing in approximately two hours. Passengers who are en route to Silvergarden or are crossing the border into Glastonfell will be switching trains upon arrival. Passengers en route to Silverstream, Aughrim and Tradewind will remain on this train for the remainder of their journey. If there are any questions, you may speak with me on carriage #2. Thank you for riding with Silverline today, and have a pleasant journey!"
She had a look through the window as the train began to pick up speed. The view today was much nicer than it was when she had first arrived in Loch Alstan. Not a cloud was in sight, allowing the sun to pour down onto the fertile valley below. The majestic lavender mountains of the north that separated Lanark from Glastonfell continued their eternal watch of the forests and fields around them. She knew that they were just mountains made of stone at the end of the day, but she felt a deep appreciation for the beauty of nature that they represented, beauty she rarely had an opportunity to revel in.
It didn't take long before her view was interrupted by a sweet sounding voice behind her. "Would you care for some tea, dear?"
She looked up to see one of the railway employees standing beside her with a tea cart in tow. She tried to mask her nervousness with a smile, further drowning it with politeness. "Yes, that would be lovely. Thank you!" She watched as the hostess poured the freshly brewed tea into a porcelain mug, blissfully unaware that she was seated in the wrong section.
"Would you like some sugar, milk or cream with that?"
"No thanks."
The hostess nodded, balanced the mug on a saucer and handed it to Andrea. "Enjoy! Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you."
"That's it for now, thank you," she said. A smile crept across her face as the hostess moved onto the next passenger. "I might actually get away with this..."
It was a long ride ahead of her, so she decided to do a little investigation into what was being reported in Doranshire. With her R-Kit at the ready, she began to sift through the headlines of Lanark's regional newspapers, looking for any articles about Doranshire. Dozens of articles from the past month popped up, including topics such as a charity bake sale, the death of a movie actress who was born in the area, a house fire that left two families homeless and the results of a local referendum. Just as Dr. Reiland had noted, dozens more that covered strange sightings within and around the village were available as well.
One article detailed the 'crazed ravings' of an elderly woman who swore that demons were trying to enter her house, but when police arrived to investigate, no substantial evidence to prove the woman's claims was found. Another article focused on reports made by several people of a ghostly apparition that walked up and down Mill Street, but key differences in witness testimonies led investigators to believe it was most likely a hoax. Another article mentioned that the walls of the first grade classroom at the local elementary school oozed with blood, but this was later attributed to water leaking from rusty pipes.
Other articles discussed strange noises heard throughout the village late at night, floating orbs of light that zigzagged through the nearby forest and small dolls made of woven reeds and burlap being discovered about town, mutilated beyond recognition. One common theme that bonded all of these articles was that they were all dismissed as harmless pranks that were leading to mass hysteria, with calls for the public to remain calm becoming increasingly common in recent days.
The more she read the articles, the more she began to feel like she was in over her head; she had spent the past four years studying to become a biologist, not an expert in the paranormal. "What would I know about any of this?" she wondered. "I really hope that lady I'm meeting knows what to do..."
Even though she had been told that she wasn't going to tackle this task alone, she was nervous. To think that Tamara Dahl, one of the world's most respected and skilled competitive trainers would be working alongside her filled her with near-crippling anxiety. She felt that she wasn't worthy enough to be in the presence of such a legend, and the feeling that just about any lowborne thing she did would annoy Ms. Dahl lingered over her like a thick fog. "Hopefully she'll be patient..." she thought to herself. "But something tells me she won't. Not with how successful she must be."
Curious, she began to look up information about her upcoming partner. Dr. Reiland must have been looking to save time when listing out Ms. Dahl's accomplishments earlier in the day, as they were more extensive than she imagined. Not only had she earned the position of champion of two leagues and dominated most of the tournaments she participated in, she also participated in nearly a dozen Grand Festivals, winning the top position in three of them. Even more, she was instrumental in helping to dismantle an international Pokémon trafficking ring run by the feared criminal syndicate, Team Rocket.
Something that caught Andrea's attention more than anything else was that she was widely regarded as one of the world's most knowledgeable experts in paranormal Pokémon. In her fourteen year career as a competitive trainer, the paranormal was what she lived and breathed; she put together a nearly unstoppable team and developed unparalleled strategies that have been the subject of intense debate and study. If a woman of her caliber was interested in investigating the happenings in Doranshire, she thought, perhaps there was more going on in Doranshire than just a few mean pranks. The thought worried her.
Andrea checked the time on her R-Kit. Only 25 minutes had passed since the train had departed from Alstan Central Station, and nearly seven hours remained on her journey to Aughrim, so she decided to pass the time with a little sleep. It didn't take long for her to find a comfortable position and drift off.
Nearly six hours had passed since Andrea drifted off to sleep. She slept peacefully and deeply, more than making up for the terrible night she went through, but that peace was soon interrupted by the screeching of the train's brakes. She lurched forward in a panic, almost convinced that the train had just derailed, but a look through the window soothed her worst fears. "Ugh... my head..." she mumbled to herself as she stretched.
As she took a drink from her now lukewarm tea, she noticed a feline creature walking down the center aisle in her direction. The creature was small in height, reaching up to her shins at most, and was covered with a thick, glossy coat of black and brown fur which extended downwards towards the ground. Dainty little feet poked out from beneath its fur and carried it forward with an elegant stride. Even fluffier fur sprouted from its long tail, bobbing and waving with every movement it made.
The creature looked familiar to her, but she wasn't certain about it and raised her R-Kit to scan it. "Skitty, the kitten Pokémon!" it droned. "Skitty is among the first Pokémon to be domesticated by humans in ancient times, often serving as garden protectors or as caretaker assistants of the sick and elderly. Now, they are a popular choice as house pets due to their aggressively cuddly and loyal behavior, and are a good choice for novice Pokémon trainers, due to the ease of raising one once trust is established."
The Skitty approached, then stopped in its tracks and stared at her.
"Umm. Hello?" she offered.
The Skitty responded with more silent staring before inviting itself up onto the table in front of her. It was instantly drawn to the strong scent wafting from the tea and rushed over to investigate.
She cautiously extended her hand towards the Skitty and began to pet its luxuriously soft fur. "Aren't you pretty?" she asked. The Skitty began to purr softly as it rubbed all over her hand. "And friendly!" She reached for her purse and began to dig through it for her phone, intent on taking a picture. Before she could, however, the Skitty had bolted and started running down the aisle again.
A young woman soon followed after. "Telandra, sweetie! Come back!"
Andrea watched the scene unfold with amusement. The young woman chased after the Skitty as it employed impressive gymnastics to escape her grasp time and time again. Slow approaches, quick grabs, diversion tactics, none of them worked. There was a hint of mischief on the Skitty's face as it avoided the woman, and while Andrea couldn't be certain, she thought she saw a smile briefly shine on the woman's face. One final attempt to grab the Skitty was met with failure and sent it returning in Andrea's direction. She figured it would be a waste of time, but positioned herself in the path of the approaching Skitty, and with some quick timing, was able to snatch it before it could get any further.
As the young woman approached, she offered the black and brown Skitty outward. "I believe this is your cat."
"Thank you," the woman said as she grabbed ahold of the Skitty and began to rock it back and forth in her arms. "She can be quite the handful sometimes. She must have wandered off while my attention was elsewhere."
"She seemed pretty anxious to get away from you," she couldn't help but note.
"She entered my care only recently. Obedience can be a bit of an issue at times... But she's generally well behaved! My apologies for bothering you."
"No need to apologize..." she said as she extended her hand outward towards the Skitty. "May I?"
The woman nodded.
She ran her fingers through the Skitty's soft, cloud-like fur again. "She's very beautiful."
"Thank you! I put a lot of effort into making sure that she is."
"What breed is she? I've never seen one that looks like this before."
The woman invited herself to the seat across from Andrea and placed the Skitty on the table between them. "Asperian Forest. She's a pure breed."
"Huh..." she pondered as she glanced over the Skitty's features. "What's her name?"
"Her name is Telandra."
"Telandra? Where do I know that name..."
"She's named after our queen, may she rest in peace."
"Yeah, that's it! That's, uh... kind of a silly name for a cat, don't you think?"
"Is not!" the woman protested. "It describes her perfectly! Look at how regal she looks!" She raised a finger towards the sky and continued, "Telandra, show me some pride!"
The Skitty closed her eyes, and with a twirl, she straightened her posture and raised her head upward. Her eyes opened a small amount, and the look of haughty mischief returned to her face. She approached Andrea and began to strut about in a bid for attention. Andrea gave the Skitty what she wanted and in return, she melted into a loud, purring puddle of happiness in front of her.
As the young woman watched over her Skitty, she studied Andrea closely. "I must say, that clothing you're wearing-"
The joy faded as a vague sense of anger began to creep over Andrea upon hearing the words. "Ugh, again! Why does everyone hate the way I dress?" she asked as she shook her hands with frustration. "It's not like I'm constantly nothing but doom and-" She took the opportunity to stop herself in her tracks. She knew that it wasn't right to rant at a stranger about how often people commented on her appearance, and even more, she started to feel bad about the look of shock on the woman's face. "Sorry, I get a lot of mean remarks about I look... it gets on my nerves sometimes."
"Oh! No! I didn't intend to be mean!" the woman replied. She pointed across the table. "Misfit Angel, correct?"
She looked down at her black dress, then back at the woman and raised her eyebrow. "Yes... Why?"
"My childhood friend happens to be the creator of the Misfit Angel clothing line. I helped to design that dress last year!"
"Really? You're friends with Nicole Spencer? What's she like?" Giddiness began to wash over Andrea, and she continued without allowing the woman to respond. "Shit, that's so cool! She's so inspiring! I haven't met her so this will probably sound weird or creepy or something, but she really helped me break out of my shell a few years ago! Oh, I am such a big fan of her work!"
"I can tell!" The woman said with a giggle. "She's... problematic at times, but her heart is in the right place."
"Problematic?"
"Her and I disagree on a lot... mostly methods of how to approach problems, mind. In the end, I can't fault her. She's a good person deep down." she answered. "I hope I haven't shattered any illusions for you."
Andrea shrugged at the comment.
The young woman offered her hand across the table. "My name is Kimberly, by the way."
"Andrea," she said, returning the gesture.
"Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Andrea!" Kimberly said with a warm smile. "Where are you headed, friend?"
"Aughrim."
Enthusiasm swept over Kimberly. "That's my destination as well! What brings you there?"
She grabbed her tea and began to sip from it. "Work. I have some business to attend to in Doranshire, Aughrim is the closest place. What about you?"
"I'm getting started as a coordinator... I'll be participating in my first national competition."
"Coordinator?"
"You haven't heard of it?"
She shook her head in silence.
"Oh, uh... sugar! How do I explain it..." Kimberly muttered to herself. "It's a sort of stage performance that coordinators such as I engage in with our Pokémon. We compete against others in a variety of different styles, but the most popular one, and the style that I hope to get into, involves flashiness, showmanship, and stunning visuals."
The concept seemed vaguely familiar to Andrea, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She'd halfheartedly watched many Pokémon competitions over the years, but couldn't remember if any of them were coordination contests. "I don't think I've ever seen that kind of stuff before..."
Kimberly nodded. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised that you haven't heard of it. It's not as popular as competitive battling. Most people aren't aware that it's even a thing. Personally, I blame the fact that its seen as a woman's sport for its lack of popularity..."
"So... it's a light show, huh? Sounds interesting enough."
"It's much more than a light show, there's music and dance as well. You should come see my performance tonight if you have the time! I'm sure you'd love it if you tried it, and you'll get to see what it's all about." She unzipped her purse and began to rifle through its contents. "I have some guest tickets available, but nobody to give them to. Would you be interested?"
She sheepishly looked at the time on her R-Kit. She was already certain that she couldn't take the time to see the performance, but asked anyway. "What time?"
"The show starts at 8 PM."
"I don't think I'd be able to make it. I'm meeting a business associate when I arrive in Aughrim, and she'll probably want to get to work right away."
"Aww... That's a shame, but I understand." Kimberly looked down at the R-Kit on Andrea's wrist. "Strange looking watch you have there... what time is it?"
"5:33 PM," she answered.
"Oh! Time certainly flies, we should be arriving in Aughrim soon! It was a pleasure to meet you, Andrea, but I should make a few last minute preparations for my routine tonight!" Kimberly tapped on the table to wake up her napping Skitty, then extended her arms outward. The Skitty jumped up into her arms and perched on her shoulder like a parrot. "That means you, Telandra! I have to make sure your fur is absolutely perfect!"
Telandra meowed with joy.
She reached into her purse, grabbed a small plastic card and offered it to Andrea. "I know you said you'll probably be busy, but if you do find some free time tonight... here's a VIP ticket to the show."
Andrea grabbed it. "Sure, why not? I'll see if I can convince my partner to take some time off tonight."
She dug through her purse again and grabbed another card. "Here, one for your partner, too. That might make it easier to convince her."
Andrea let out a laugh. "You really want people to come tonight, don't you?"
"It wouldn't hurt to have a couple of fans cheering me on!" she said with a nod. "If we don't see each other tonight... best of luck with your business in Doranshire. I've heard about strange things happening in that village... Stay safe."
"Thank you," Andrea said. She placed the two tickets down onto the table and began to read from them.
Witness the performance of a lifetime, the biannual event that has taken Aughrim by storm for twelve straight years! This ticket admits one visitor to the Majesty of Aughrim coordination contest, scheduled for the 14th of May and held at the Cèilidh Gailearaidh on West Armory Street. Prepare to have your breath taken away as eight coordinators compete against each other for glory and the chance to be crowned the Lad or Lass of Aughrim!